NEW YORK — The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series for the first time since 1993, when slugger Joe Carter hit a memorable home run to clinch the championship. This year, they will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the series opener on Friday night. The Dodgers are aiming to become the first team to win consecutive titles in 25 years. The last time the World Series was held in Canada, the game was entering a new era. The Steroids Era was just beginning, advanced analytics were not yet mainstream, and complete games were a rarity. Despite the Dodgers being favored, the Blue Jays have the support of an entire nation. “You always feel the weight of the world in decisions you make but when you’re kind of feeling a country, it kind of gets a little dicey at times,” said Toronto manager John Schneider. He added, “Sixth inning with the bases loaded and nobody out and Aaron Judge hitting, you feel like people in Nova Scotia want to come murder you.” Toronto earned home-field advantage by finishing the regular season with 94 wins, one more than Los Angeles. Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts noted the challenge posed by the Blue Jays, saying, “They just got all their guys rolling. They’re scoring seven, eight runs, 10 runs a game, so that’s tough to slow down.” The Dodgers, seeking their ninth title since moving from Brooklyn in 1957, have dominated their postseason opponents. Star player Shohei Ohtani has been exceptional both at the plate and on the mound. Teammate Freddie Freeman remarked, “Sometimes you’ve got to check yourself and touch him to make sure he’s not just made of steel.” Ohtani has had a mixed postseason, hitting .220 with five home runs and nine RBIs, while boasting a 2-0 record and a 2.25 ERA in two pitching starts. He has struck out 19 batters and walked four in 12 innings. The Dodgers are the first defending champions to reach the World Series since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost to the New York Yankees. No team has won back-to-back titles since the Yankees did so from 1998 to 2000. “Realizing how hard it is to do last year, realizing how hard it was in ’20, it’s special,” said Dodgers catcher Will Smith. “Trying to get back-to-back is even more special.” The Blue Jays and Dodgers share historical ties. Toronto pitcher Max Scherzer was part of the 2021 Dodgers team that lost in the National League Championship Series. Additionally, Hall of Famers Rickey Henderson and Fred McGriff played for both franchises. Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers' first baseman, holds dual American-Canadian citizenship, as his parents were born in Canada. The Dodgers also have a historical connection to Canada through their former Triple-A affiliate, the Montreal Royals, where Jackie Robinson began his career. Los Angeles entered the postseason with a record-high payroll of $341.5 million and is projected to pay nearly $168 million in luxury tax. The total cost for the Dodgers this year, including rookie Roki Sasaki’s signing bonus, is estimated at $516 million. Toronto ranks fifth in payroll at $252.7 million, with projected spending of $266 million, including over $13 million in luxury tax. No small-market team has won the title since the 2015 Kansas City Royals. “Before this season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after clinching the National League pennant. “Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!” Los Angeles pitchers have excelled in the postseason, with a 9-1 record and a 2.45 ERA in 10 games. Their starting pitchers have a 1.40 ERA, allowing just 64 1/3 innings in 82 innings pitched. If the Blue Jays win, they will become the 15th team in Major League Baseball history to secure three or more titles, surpassing teams like the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets, which have been around longer. The World Series promises to be an exciting matchup as both teams vie for the championship title.