Whereas Wednesday dawned with the Seattle Mariners proudly owning a 2-0 ALCS lead over the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers heading again to California with a 2-0 NLCS benefit over the Milwaukee Brewers, there may be nonetheless loads of baseball to be performed earlier than we all know precisely which groups will play within the 2025 World Sequence.
Nevertheless, if these 2-0 leads by the Mariners and Dodgers have been to carry, would a Seattle-Los Angeles World Sequence be one which excited baseball followers round North America or triggered them to show their full consideration to the NFL and different sports activities?
Based on Baseball Almanac, the 2023 World Sequence that includes the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers was the least-watched Fall Basic (apart from the 2020 World Sequence following a shortened season attributable to COVID-19) since viewership totals began being tracked in 1973. Simply over 9 million watched the Rangers prime the Diamondbacks, a a lot decrease quantity than final season’s battle between the Dodgers and New York Yankees (14.34 million) or the 2022 matchup that includes the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros (11.78 million).
Relating to curiosity degree, large names and storied franchises matter to sports activities followers maybe greater than storylines. With that in thoughts, let’s rank which of the 4 potential 2025 World Sequence matchups could be essentially the most or least fashionable.
Rating World Sequence matchups by pleasure degree
Key elements thought of:
Market dimension and nationwide following
Star energy and recognizable gamers
Storylines (underdog narratives, payroll disparities)
Geographic/cultural curiosity
Historic significance
4. Seattle vs. Milwaukee
Why: Whereas each groups have passionate native fanbases, this matchup lacks nationwide star energy (exterior of these following Cal Raleigh’s quest to win AL Most Invaluable Participant honors) and main market attraction. It is a small-market vs. mid-market collection that might doubtless have the bottom nationwide tv rankings. Nice for followers of those groups, however restricted broader attraction (exterior of 1 workforce profitable its first-ever World Sequence).
3. Toronto vs. Milwaukee
Why: This might be an attention-grabbing small-market vs. worldwide market matchup. Milwaukee’s scrappy, well-run group towards Toronto’s Canadian fanbase creates intrigue, however lacks the star energy of what can be offered with any matchup involving the Dodgers. It will have East Coast attraction with the Blue Jays, however would it not matter a lot to followers west of the Mississippi River?
2. Seattle vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Why: West Coast rivalry with the Dodgers’ star energy would drive curiosity. Seattle has a passionate fanbase and represents the Pacific Northwest underdog story, with a spot within the 2025 World Sequence marking the primary in franchise historical past. Nevertheless, it is a matchup that feels extra regional than nationwide with no groups exterior the Pacific time zone represented.
1. Toronto vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Why: The Dodgers are all the time a nationwide draw with their star energy and big payroll, plus will draw extra curiosity in Japan because of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Toronto brings a global factor and represents all of Canada, creating a singular cross-border rivalry. The distinction between markets and the Dodgers’ quest to win consecutive World Sequence makes this essentially the most compelling matchup.
Merely put, the Dodgers elevate any matchup they’re in attributable to their model recognition and star-studded roster, which is why they seem within the prime two rankings.
