Major League Baseball has finally gotten its dream World Series matchup, the New York Yankees vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2024 World Series will feature two of the biggest sports markets, with two teams that have the highest payrolls in the sport. The TV ratings could be at their highest in over 20 years.
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 25: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees high fives teammates after hitting a home run during a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 25, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
The Yankees won their American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians in five games. All three games in Cleveland were tight and came down right to the end, but the Yankees clutch hitting, solid bullpen, and deeper starting pitching allowed them to take down the Guardians and advance to their first World Series since 2009.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 06: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammate Mookie Betts #50 after hitting a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 06, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
In the National League Championship Series, the Dodgers won in six games over the New York Mets. The Dodgers relied on their big-time bats, three healthy starting pitchers, and big bullpen arms. The Mets gave them more of a fight than most people anticipated, but the Dodgers are NL Champs and headed to their fourth World Series since 2017.
Welcome To The World Series:
Things could go the distance in this series. The two teams are very evenly matched, and a do-or-die seventh game in Los Angeles between the Yankees and Dodgers would be the ultimate finale to this MLB season. The Yankees will look to win their 1st World Series since 2009 and the 28th in their franchise history, while the Dodgers will look to win their 2nd Championship in the past five seasons, but their first in a full 162-game season since 1988. The last time these two franchises met in the World Series came back in 1981, and it was the Dodgers who beat the Yankees 4-2. The Two teams have played each other in the World Series 11 times, with the Yankees winning 8 times.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees points to the dugout after hitting his third home run of the game against the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium on August 23, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Both teams have stars on offense:
Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton for the Yankees. Judge is expected to win the 2024 AL MVP award, Soto hit the big HR that sent the Yankees to the World Series, and Stanton took home ALCS MVP honors.
Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman for the Dodgers. Ohtani is expected to win the NL MVP. He has already won an AL MVP in his career, and his teammates Betts and Freeman are also former MVP award winners.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – MARCH 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a single in the 3rd inning during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Starting Pitching:
The Yankees definitely have the edge when it comes to starting pitching. They have a true ace in Gerrit Cole, something the Dodgers don’t have. They have a legitimate number 2 starter in Carlos Rodon, who has pitched well in the postseason, and as a LHP, he is positioned well to shut down the Dodgers left-handed-heavy lineup. Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil both had terrific seasons and performed well in their postseason outings.
The Dodgers don’t have a true ace, but they do have three solid pitchers. Yamamoto has great stuff; Flaherty was great for them this season, although he did struggle in his second start of the NLCS, and Walker Buehler, who struggled most of the season, put together a strong start in the NLCS. Only Flaherty has been able to give any length in his starts, though, and in a possible seven-game series, that could become a problem for the Dodgers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 27: Yoshinobu Yamamoto speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium on December 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Bullpen:
The Dodgers might have more depth, but the Yankees top guys proved to be the difference makers in their ALCS victory over the Guardians. The Dodgers had to use their bullpen a lot more in their NLCS victory because their starters gave no length, and they had to have bullpen games because they lacked depth in their starting rotation. The Dodgers can do a better job of bridging the gap to their closer, but the Yankees have the more reliable and dominant arm at the back end of games right now. Luke Weaver has been a revelation for them this postseason, and if he can continue his success, it will give the Yankees a huge boost.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 25: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Texas Rangers during their game at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2023 in Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
2024 World Series Champion:
I believe this series goes seven games and that either team can win it. When the final out in the final game is made, though, it will be the Yankees who are victorious. Juan Soto will win World Series MVP, and the Yankees will be able to take advantage of the Dodgers overworked bullpen as the series goes deeper. Having Cole and Rodon be able to pitch in games 1, 2, 5, and 6 gives the Yankees an excellent chance to win at least 3 of those 4 games, if not all 4.