The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers will begin the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium. It will be the 12th meeting between the two storied franchises, with the Yankees holding an 8-3 advantage heading into the 2024 “Fall Classic.” The last meeting was 43 years ago in 1981. Before the current hiatus, the two teams had met at least once in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. To say that this is one of the most eagerly anticipated World Series in years would be an understatement.
New York Yankees Are Underdogs
The New York Yankees will open the series on the road and are considered the underdogs. The Dodgers regular season record was 98-64, while the Yankees went 94-68, thus ceding home-field advantage to their National League foe. The Dodgers have the advantage of playing four games in LA should the series go seven games, but the Yankees could return to LA up 3-2 if home field were to hold given the 2-3-2 format. If you like to place wagers on your sporting events, the Dodgers opened up -125 to win the 2024 World Series.
Both Teams Are Well Rested
Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers have played two more postseason games than the New York Yankees (7-4 record to 7-2 record), the television schedule has given both clubs a decent rest. The New York Yankees last played on October 19 when they clinched the American League Pennant over the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in 10 innings. The Dodgers wrapped up their series the following night by pounding the New York Mets 10-5. So, the teams will have had five and six days off respectively.
Given the day-to-day nature of baseball, it’s always difficult to gauge how an extended rest will affect each team. Due to injuries in the starting rotation, the Dodgers leaned heavily on their bullpen in the previous two series. Presumably, the rest helps everyone on the staff get back on schedule. The Dodgers announced earlier in the week that Jack Flaherty will start game one and the Yankees will send Gerrit Cole to the mound for the start.
Keys For New York Yankees In Game 1
Pitching is the obvious key to victory in game one for the New York Yankees. The Dodgers scored 46 runs in six games in the National League Championship Series, hitting double-digit runs in a game twice. Yankee pitching must quiet the Dodgers bats. Former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole must be sharp from the get-go. Starting pitching is probably the only significant facet of the game that favors the Yankees.
Dodger starting pitching has a 4.46 ERA for the postseason, whereas the Yankees starters carry a 3.89 ERA from the postseason into the World Series. By contrast, both club’s bullpens are lights out. Ten of the two teams’ 14 playoff wins are credited to their bullpens. The Dodgers bullpen has a 3.16 ERA in two postseason series and the Yankees are no slouches themselves with a 2.56 bullpen ERA. It’s the World Series and the series will likely come down to pitching.
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