The moment has arrived! The season culminates with the start of an exciting World Series that rekindles the historic rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees.
Numerous factors add to this contest, which brings together the best of modern baseball. The two biggest markets in the United States face off for the 12th time in the Fall Classic, the most frequent rivalry in MLB. The MVPs of their respective leagues, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, are coming off a great moment and will experience their first World Series. This will also be the first time in history that two hitters who have hit more than 50 home runs in the regular season will face each other in the World Series. Ohtani even becomes the first player in history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
The rivalry dates back to 1941, and over the years, these games have provided unforgettable moments, from the Robinson-Berra head-to-head, to Koufax and Mantle, to the only perfect game in World Series history (Don Larsen, 1956) and Reggie Jackson's five home runs in Game 6 of 1977.
Although they have not met in a World Series since 1981, the historical parity is evident: in the last 60 meetings, both teams have 30 wins each, which shows that neither has achieved a significant advantage over time.
The Yankees hold a record 27 titles, but have not reached the World Series since 2009. For their part, the Dodgers have won 7 titles, the last one being in 2020, during a regular season reduced to only 60 games due to COVID. This will be the Dodgers' 22nd appearance in a World Series and the 41st for the Yankees.
Calendar
Game 1 - Friday, October 25 - Los Angeles.
Game 2 - Saturday, October 26 - Los Angeles.
Game 3 - Monday, October 28 - New York.
Game 4 - Tuesday, October 29 - New York.
Game 5 - Wednesday, October 30 - New York (if necessary).
Game 6 - Friday, November 01 - Los Angeles (if necessary).
Game 7 - Saturday, November 02 - Los Angeles (if necessary).
New York Yankees: Patience and Power
The Yankees' success this postseason has been based on patience and power to overcome their opponents.
The Yankees have shown impressive offensive power. In the ALCS, Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge joined forces to hit nine of the team's 10 home runs, leading the series with a resounding 10-5 win over Cleveland. Stanton shined with four home runs, while Soto and Judge added three and two, respectively.
Stanton's impact was remarkable, being named ALCS MVP after connecting for five home runs and racking up 11 RBIs. His swing has been sharp this October. Soto, with an outstanding 1.106 OPS in the postseason, is proving his worth in a pivotal year before hitting the open market as a free agent.
The Yankees have also handled on-base traffic with great skill, thanks to their patient approach to hitting and an order that distributes the load among all players. Anthony Volpe, with an impressive .459 on-base percentage, and Gleyber Torres, with a .400 OBP, have been key in this effort.
On the mound, Gerrit Cole looks like a strong bullpen card with a 3.31 ERA in his three starts. He has the potential to pitch up to seven innings in his next appearance which means some breathing room for the Yankees. Although his previous performances have been up and down, his performance in the ALDS against the Royals was pivotal to the team's success.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Offensive Power
The Dodgers have made history by becoming the first team since the 2007 Red Sox to win four games in a series with at least six runs, and the first to score eight or more runs in a championship series.
Throughout the season, the Dodgers' formidable offense, powered by stars Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, has made up for any potential deficiencies in the roster.
In the National League Championship Series against the Mets, the Dodgers unleashed their true offensive potential, racking up 46 runs in six games and setting a record of 41 bases on balls. Tommy Edman, who was named series MVP, along with Max Muncy, shined as they complemented the production of Betts and Ohtani.
In Game 6, the Dodgers finally got what they had longed for throughout the series. Teoscar Hernandez, after a tough start with 0-for-18 at-bats, hit a pair of homers to secure the win and the series. Hernández has had an outstanding season, setting a personal record with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs. In crucial moments, he has been able to shine, including a key solo home run in Game 5 of the Championship Series against the Padres.
Aaron Judge. Shohei Ohtani.
Two of baseball's biggest stars will meet on the #WorldSeries stage. Who will emerge victorious? pic.twitter.com/8EVKynJZDX
- MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024
Forecasts
There is no underdog, both are powerful and dominant in their area, predator vs. predator. Hollywood vs. Broadway. This will be only the fifth time since 1995 that the top seeds of each league will face each other, which, while not decisive, is indicative of the good momentum that both teams have had and their consistency to reach the World Series.
In this context, the advantage is not significant, but for Game 1, the Dodgers are the favorites, with odds of -123 versus the Yankees, who are +112.
Total runs are set at 8.5, with more than -101 and less than -119.
As for the winner of the World Series, if you believe that the series will be won by the New York Yankees, the odds are +115, while for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the odds are -135.
Who will be the World Series MVP?
We are talking about a select list of elite players who not only stand out for their talent, but are also part of the two most expensive payrolls in MLB (Yankees: $306,000,000; Dodgers: $320,900,000).
It is no surprise that media star Shohei Ohtani, the most expensive player in history starts as a favorite with a +205 odds of +205. He is followed by Aaron Judge at +511 and Juan Soto in third place at +578. You can check the complete list on our website as all our lists will be updated dynamically.
It's time to sit back and enjoy the show!
