Seven Bold Predictions for the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to become the first repeat champions in Major League Baseball in 32 years starting with Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

In the other dugout: The Toronto Blue Jays, who happen to be the franchise trying to win its first Series since Joe Carter touched 'em all with a famous walk-off homer in '93.

In the spirit of the occasion, let's make seven predictions about what will happen in the best-of-seven set. Warning: Some of these predictions might contradict others.

1) Freddie Freeman is about to break out the boomstick.

Freeman's results this postseason have been muted so far, but his expected stats look encouraging. He also went cold heading into the World Series a year ago before hitting five home runs and driving in 12 over five games against the Yankees.

Freeman becoming the Dodgers biggest power threat again will prompt the home fans in The Six to deep-six their politeness and boo Freddie despite his parents being from Ontario.

2) The least-bad bullpen will decide who wins the Series.

Blue Jays relievers own a 5.52 ERA this postseason, having allowed an astounding 11 home runs, along with a merely alarming 24 walks, in 45 2/3 innings. It gets kind of scary after Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland and, gulp, Chris Bassitt. No, it's actually scary including them.

The Dodgers bullpen has been trouble (for the Dodgers) all season, and comes in with a 4.88 ERA to go with 19 walks in 27 1/3 innings. Roki Sasaki has shown glimpses, and L.A.'s pen performed better in the previous round, but Milwaukee's lineup had nowhere near the Blue Jays potential thunder.

3) The Dodgers will sweep if their starting pitching continues to perform like it has.

Game 1 starter Blake Snell, along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and two-way superman Shohei Ohtani combined to allow a total of two runs in 28 2/3 innings against the Brewers. Same caveat about Milwaukee's lineup, though.

4) Blue Jays starters have been better in the postseason, but they still have limitations when compared to the Dodgers.

Game 1 starter Trey Yesavage has been a revelation with his splitter after starting the season in the low minors. Coming off Tommy John, Shane Bieber has put too many runners on base and sometimes has gotten away with it.

Kevin Gausman walks too many and strikes out too few. Max Scherzer, who just turned 41, came through with a huge start to help turn the ALCS around, but did you see where he's 41?

5) Bo Bichette is tempting for the Jays to use again after his left knee sprain, but it's a trap.

Bichette hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs in 139 games, producing one of the 25 or 30 best offensive seasons in the league. But he still isn't close to 100% physically and hasn't played at all since Sept. 6.

Pinch-hitting is OK with the DH not an option because of George Springer, but the Blue Jays putting Bichette at shortstop would put their defense in peril. Manager John Schneider just has to hope the lineup that has gotten his team through October so far can continue. Ernie Clement, yay!

6) Vladimir Guerrero can’t be stopped. Unless he can.

Guerrero is having a dream postseason, batting .442/.510/.930 with six home runs and just three strikeouts in 11 games. It's just rare for someone to stay hot for each round of the postseason, though Corey Seager did it for the Rangers two years ago.

The Dodgers superior starting pitchers will have a say, but Vladito did hit a big home run against reliever Blake Treinen in a comeback win in August.

7) Tired of being compared to Rick Wise in 1970-whatever, Ohtani is going to throw a no-hitter and hit two grand slams in his upcoming start.

He will be named MVP of the Series in perpetuity.