The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are preparing to play in the 2025 World Series, but what has caught the eye is the difference in rest time between the two teams. The Dodgers have had a week off after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, a situation that is different to Toronto, whose series went to seven games and had three days less rest.
That extra margin of rest could be interpreted as an advantage in the physical aspect, especially for veteran players or those who have had a heavy workload. However, this time can bring a loss of rhythm, a concern that has historically affected teams with long breaks before the final stage. Since 1969, on four occasions a team that swept its championship series lost the World Series.
Dave Roberts doesn’t see risk in the break before the World Series
Despite the statistics and general perception of MLB analysts, Dave Roberts dismissed the idea that this break represents a disadvantage for his team, saying that “they are much more comfortable”. The manager explained that they planned an itinerary designed to maintain focus and activity within the group:
We fly to Toronto on Wednesday, which breaks up the monotony of not playing
Roberts also detailed the Dodgers’ internal strategy to maintain their competitive pace, as his team has not complicated things, having defined all their playoff clashes in a few games:
We took a day off, but the guys are active and feeling good. I think some of them were recovering from some things, so we could recover fully. We’ll be ready for Friday
History does not favor teams that sweep before the World Series, but Dave Roberts trusts his Dodgers
Dave Roberts prefers not to get carried away by precedents in Fall Classic history and is confident that they planned things well to avoid losing their rhythm. MLB analyst Sarah Langs recalled that in every World Series in which one team swept and the other went to Game 7, the organization that played more recently has always been victorious.
For Dave Roberts, the key is mental preparation and planning during downtime:
It’s an opportunity to rest, heal and stay focused
The Dodgers also have a roster with plenty of experience and used to high-pressure scenarios, which is why they have reached their second consecutive World Series. The first game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays will be played on Friday, October 24 at 20:00 ET at Rogers Centre.
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