2024 World Series Preview: New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 World Series Preview: New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers

The time is finally here! Game 1 of the 2024 World Series begins on Friday between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s simultaneously a baseball fan’s nightmare, but a true culmination of two of the most storied franchises in baseball.

What we know about the Yankees:

Let’s start with the team that took the American League crown for the first time in 15 years, shall we?

After an offseason splash for Juan Soto, New York earned the No. 1 seed in the AL after finishing 94-68, three games above the Baltimore Orioles for the best record in the AL East and 1.5 games above CLeveland for the best in the AL. Soto and Aaron Judge, the likely AL MVP winner, spearheaded the second-best offense in MLB (behind the Dodgers), which led the majors in homers (237) with the third-most RBIs, third-highest on-base percentage and fourth-highest slugging percentage.

That carried over the postseason, where the Yankees plated 43 runs across nine games (4.8 runs per game). So far, they’ve collectively featured a 116 wRC+ (second) with baseball’s best walk-rate, fifth-lowest strikeout rate, second-most home runs and second-highest on-base percentage.

A big part of that has been the postseason surges from Soto and Giancarlo Stanton. Those two have combined to slash .313/.413/.731 with eight of the team’s 13 home runs and 19 RBIs.

New York’s pitching staff has been incredibly strong throughout the postseason, too. They have sported the fourth-best ERA while placing 5th in both FIP and strikeout rate. The Yankees were an above-average unit throughout the duration of the regular season, but really picked up steam over the season’s final two months leading into the postseason.

What we know about the Dodgers:

The Dodgers finished with baseball’s best record at 98-64, earning the No. 1 seed in the NL while clinching their 11th NL West title in 12 years.

Above, we mentioned how potent the Yankees’ offense has been throughout the postseason. Though no team has come close to matching the Dodgers’ remarkable production–amassing 70 runs in 11 games (6.4 per game).

Their 6.4 runs per game is over one run per game more than the next-best team–the New York Mets (4.9), who they eliminated in six games in the NLCS after outscoring them 46-26.

Los Angeles, led by NL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, was consistently the best offense during the regular season. Outside of their aforementioned trio, they have a collection of hitters who can still do damage, including Teoscar Hernandez, NLCS MVP Tommy Edman and Max Muncy, who set a single postseason record by reaching base in 12 consecutive games.

With their depleted rotation, the Dodgers have also leaned a lot on their bullpen this season. They’ve accumulated the most innings out of any team this postseason, ranking No. 7 in ERA and FIP and No. 8 in strikeout rate. It’s been good-not-great but do have a reliable back-end with Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson, Michael Kopech and Blake Treinan.

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Biggest Key To Victory:

Yankees: Continue to smash RHP

All but two of the Dodgers’ arms are right-handers. The Yankees were the best team in baseball against right-handed pitching, sporting MLB bests in wRC+, slugging and isolated power. If they can get to the Dodgers’ bullpen quick, they have a shot.

Dodgers: Length from starters

I’m not worried about the Dodgers scoring runs. What I am worried about, however, is their starting pitching. Jack Flaherty is projected to start Game 1 with Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting Game 2. New York has the clear advantage with reigning AL CY Young winner Gerrit Cole plus Carlos Rodon. Their rotation will need to avoid strung out innings and will need to go deep into games to avoid taxing their bullpen too much, which will be easier said than done against this grind-it-out New York lineup.

Prediction: Dodgers in 7

They’ve been the best team all year, and have proved me wrong time-and-time again.

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