NFL
By George Lopez
For the first time in 43 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees meet in the World Series. This will mark the 12th time the Dodgers and Yankees have met in the fall classic. After winning a thrilling, hard-fought 5 game series against the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers advanced to the fall classic by defeating a determined New York Mets team in 6 games in the NLCS. The Yankees got to the World Series by defeating the Kansas City Royals in 4 games in the NLDS and beating the Cleveland Guardians in 5 games in the ALCS. Both fan bases will be at a fever pitch in this classic matchup.
The Dodgers come into the World Series looking to continue their run with a determined pitching staff. Beset by injuries, the Dodgers entered the 2024 postseason with only 3 healthy starting pitchers. Jack Flaherty will get the call for game one. Flaherty was masterful in his game one start of the NLCS, pitching 7 innings of shutout baseball against the Mets. In his last start, Flaherty was ineffective, allowing 8 runs in 3 innings. The question for the Dodgers is which Flaherty will show up for game 1? Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get the call in game 2. In his last start, Yamamoto allowed 2 runs in 4.2 innings with 8 strikeouts. Having Flaherty and Yamamoto start in the first two games allows the Dodgers to bring them back for games 5 and 6.
Walker Buehler is the third starter for the Dodgers. The team has not announced if Buehler will start game 3 or 4. The Dodgers do know they will go with a bullpen game in either game 3 or 4, depending on when Buehler starts. Dodgers have relied heavily on the bullpen this season and fatigue is a concern. The time off between the LCS and World Series did allow the Dodgers bullpen pitchers to get some much-needed rest. Look for the Dodgers to rely heavily on their high-leverage pitchers of Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, and Daniel Hudson. The Dodgers are hopeful to have Alex Vesia back for the World Series. If he’s available, he will join Anthony Banda as a left-handed option out of the bullpen for Roberts.
The key to the Dodgers offensive success in this series will be the bottom 3rd of their lineup. The Dodgers will look for Kiki Hernandez, Will Smith, and Andy Pages/Chris Taylor to get on base to set the table for the top of their lineup. At the end of the season and throughout the postseason, Shohei Ohtani has been in a groove with RISP, with 18 hits in his last 22 at bats. Yankees pitching will work on keeping runners off base when Ohtani comes up to bat. Look for Yankees pitching to pitch fastballs up and in on Ohtani with off-speed pitches away to get him to chase. Ohtani is the table setter for the Dodgers offense and will need to minimize his swings on pitches out of the strike zone.
Freddie Freeman, still dealing with an ankle injury, is expected to be in the lineup for the Dodgers. The injury has impacted Freeman’s production at the plate. The Dodgers are hopeful the time off and the treatment Freeman has been receiving will get as close to 100% as possible. Mookie Betts, mired in a 2-year postseason slump entering the playoffs this year, seems to have found his swing. A productive Betts is key for the Dodgers as it would serve as protection from pitching around Ohtani.
The Yankees come into the World Series with the edge in terms of starting pitching. Gerrit Cole is slated to start game 1. Cole has the ability to pitch deep into games, which allows Yankees Manager Aaron Boone to set up his bullpen. Carlos Rodon figures to be the game 2 starter for the Yankees. It is presumed Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil will be the games 3 and 4 starters for the Yankees. The Dodgers have one of the lowest rates of chasing pitches out of the strike zone and will look to continue that trend. The Dodgers will look to force the Yankees starters to pitch in the strike zone and build up their pitch count early to but Boone in a position of whether to go to his bullpen early.
Luke Weaver has been close to unhittable in the postseason with anupper 90s fastball and a filthy changeup. The Guardians were able to get to him in the ALCS after seeing him a few times. Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle give Boone two good options as a set up reliever for Weaver. Nestor Cortez has the possibility of joining the Yankees roster for the World Series. Cortez would give Boone another left-handedpitcher in the bullpen and could be used in long relief.
When you think of the Yankees, the first name that comes to mind is Aaron Judge. The Captain of the Yankees makes his first appearance in the fall classic. Judge has struggled in the postseason, batting .167 with 2 homeruns and 6 RBI’s. When needed the most, Judge delivered for the Yankees in the ALCS, hitting a game tying, 9th inning 2-run homerun off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. The Dodgers pitching staff will look to keep Judge’s production down.
Gleyber Torres sets the table for the Yankees at the top of their lineup. When Torres gets on base, it sets the tone for the Yankees power hitters. Keeping Torres off base will be a key for the Dodgers pitchers. Giancarlo Stanton has come up big for the Yankees in the postseason. Stanton has had success hitting at Dodger Stadium, batting over .300 for his career. Juan Soto, at a young age, has shown the spotlight of playing in New York for the Yankees has not affected him. Soto thrives in the spotlight and will be a key for the Yankees success. If Dodger pitching is not on top of their game, look for Soto to have a huge series for the Yankees.
A Dodgers-Yankees World Series match up has been a long time coming. Fans of both teams and baseball fans around the world will be treated to an exciting fall classic. Which unsung hero will step up for their team? Will the Dodgers bullpen continue their impressive run? Will the Yankees pitching shut down Ohtani, Betts and Freeman? How will Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani play in their first World Series? These questions will need to be answered. At the end, look for the Dodgers to win their 2 World Series in under Dave Roberts as the Dodgers win the series in 6 games.
