Yankees vs. Dodgers has in all probability been one of the widespread World Collection predictions of the previous decade. They’re each constant powerhouse groups with a great deal of star energy, and each have made the playoffs in each season since 2017 (save for the Yankees’ 2023 absence). In addition they overlapped within the postseason in 1995, 1996, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2015.
But the historic rivals haven’t squared off in a Fall Basic since Tommy Lasorda’s Dodgers closed out a championship on the outdated Yankee Stadium again in 1981 — lengthy sufficient in the past that skippers Dave Roberts and Aaron Boone have been each Little Leaguers. Over half of Vin Scully’s legendary profession behind the mic for the Dodgers remained forward.
In 2024, the heavyweights are again in energy collectively, able to duke it out like Jackie Robinson vs. Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax vs. Mickey Mantle, and Charlie Hough vs. Reggie Jackson. Right here’s the right way to observe alongside as Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts knock gloves with Aaron Decide and Juan Soto.
World Collection schedule
Recreation 1: Friday, Oct. 25, 8:08pm ET, Dodger Stadium
Recreation 2: Saturday, Oct. 26, 8:08pm ET, Dodger Stadium
Recreation 3: Monday, Oct. 28, 8:08pm ET, Yankee Stadium
Recreation 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8:08pm ET, Yankee Stadium
Recreation 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8:08pm ET, Yankee Stadium
Recreation 6*: Friday, Nov. 1, 8:08pm ET, Dodger Stadium
Recreation 7*: Saturday, Nov. 2, 8:08pm ET, Dodger Stadium
*if vital; all video games will probably be televised on Fox
Now, how do these two groups stack up? As already famous, there are fairly a number of stars, however there are many key contributors who’re removed from family names. Some positions of energy would possibly shock you; others won’t.
Word: Cited statistics subsequent to gamers’ names are from the common season.
Catcher
Dodgers: Will Smith (128 G, .248/.327/.433, 20 HR, 2.7 fWAR)
Yankees: Austin Wells (115 G, .229/.322/.395, 13 HR, 3.4 fWAR)
Smith has a case for essentially the most nameless nine-figure athlete in American sports activities. The previous first-round decide has been remarkably constant throughout his first a number of years within the majors since debuting in 2019, and the Dodgers rewarded him with a 10-year, $140 million extension this previous March. Smith celebrated along with his second consecutive All-Star season and his third 20-homer marketing campaign in 4 years. He’s not a lot of a pitch framer, however he does have a gun, main the NL with a 33-percent caught-stealing fee. Smith is hitting simply .158 within the playoffs, although two of his six hits have gone over the wall.
It’s not yearly that you simply see a matchup of two homegrown catchers. The Yankees nabbed Wells twenty eighth general out of the College of Arizona in 2020, and whereas there was all the time confidence that his bat would make him an MLB hitter someday, there was comprehensible skepticism about his means to remain behind the plate. Undeterred, the AL Rookie of the Yr candidate has cemented his spot because the Yankees’ beginning catcher by turning himself into an elite framer. In an ironic twist from his prospect days, Wells’ protection has been his carrying card within the postseason, because the once-cleanup hitter has gone ice chilly. He has 11 hits in whole because the starting of September, in order that .105 displaying has him pushed all the way down to eighth within the batting order.
Benefit: Dodgers. Neither has performed a lot in October. We’ll defer to LA since Smith has an extended observe report of success. Wells simply doesn’t appear like the harmful bat he was for a lot of the summer time.
First Base
Dodgers: Freddie Freeman (147 G, .282/.378/.476, 22 HR, 4.0 fWAR)
Yankees: Anthony Rizzo (92 G, .228/.301/.335, 8 HR, -0.2 fWAR)
If this text was written a month in the past, I’d in all probability make some pithy remark and finish with “lol in fact it’s Freddie Freeman.” The issue is that this isn’t Freddie Freeman.
Almost all over one other stellar marketing campaign in LA, Freeman badly sprained his ankle close to the top of the common season and beneath regular circumstances, he would’ve gone straight to the IL. He’s tried to intestine via it this postseason. Freeman is 7-for-32 with simply singles (albeit some photographs) and one stroll to his identify. Roberts even sat him down in three playoff video games as a result of the ankle has been in agony and an alternate lineup with Max Muncy at first remains to be nice. Freeman will a minimum of begin the sequence there in Recreation 1; maybe the week off will assist.
That’s one injured first baseman, so why not two? Rizzo was already within the midst of his worst 12 months since debuting with the Padres in 2011 when he broke his arm in mid-June. He didn’t return till September, and on the finish of the month, the lively chief in hit-by-pitches suffered a painful plunking when Pirates lefty Ryan Borucki broke two of Rizzo’s fingers. He missed the Division Collection and nonetheless has gross postgame swelling, however he did handle to hit .429 throughout the five-game ALCS. Even when that’s not his true kind, the previous 2016 champion can a minimum of provide a strong at-bat in crunch time.
Benefit: Dodgers. Though Freeman’s ankle is a complication, the Dodgers haven’t hesitated to easily slide Muncy over the quilt for him. The place as a complete is an apparent LA edge.
Second Base
Dodgers: Kiké Hernández (126 G, .229/.281/.373, 12 HR, 0.7 fWAR)
Yankees: Gleyber Torres (154 G, .257/.330/.378, 15 HR, 1.7 fWAR)
Utilityman extraordinaire Hernández has began at three completely different positions this October. The latest lineup that included Freeman had Kiké on the keystone, so we’ll put him right here (the Dodgers might additionally deploy Gavin Lux or Chris Taylor). In case you’re a believer in vibes, then you definately’re an enormous believer on this man. He’s had one good common season within the final six years, and that was in 2021. However the lifetime .889 OPS postseason hitter has thrived as soon as once more in October, tying Babe Ruth by reaching 15 profession playoff homers. Go determine.
Torres has had a really unusual season, as the approaching free agent seemed like somebody on observe to lose lots of potential cash. The leadoff hitter on Opening Day stumbled to a .231/.307/.347 first half, discovered himself hitting seventh for a lot of June, and even received benched a pair instances. The Yankees largely stored beginning him although, and with no solutions discovered at leadoff, they tried Torres there once more in August. It clicked, and he’s discovered new life with a .313/.386/.454 displaying over the season’s remaining month and a half. Gleyber has an .832 OPS in 45 plate appearances, capably setting the desk for the large bats behind him within the Yankees’ lineup.
Benefit: With all due respect to Kiké’s vibes, Yankees. Gleyber simply seems like his outdated self at this level.
Shortstop
Dodgers: Tommy Edman (37 G, .237/.294/.417, 6 HR, 0.9 fWAR)
Yankees: Anthony Volpe (160 G, .243/.293/.364, 12 HR, 3.4 fWAR)
Years from now, once you would possibly end up answering trivia concerning the 2024 MLB postseason, you could be stumped concerning the Dodger who was named NLCS MVP. It wasn’t Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Muncy, or perhaps a Hernández. As an alternative, it was a man who hadn’t performed in any respect in 2024 when LA plucked him from St. Louis on the Commerce Deadline: Edman. The mix of wrist surgical procedure and an ankle sprain had stored the Stanford product out of motion and the Cardinals had misplaced religion in him. So off he went to the Dodgers in a bizarre three-team, eight-player deal that additionally noticed LA purchase reliever Michael Kopech. Edman was productive down the stretch and then dropped a 1.022 OPS and 11 RBI on the Mets within the six-game NLCS triumph.
Edman is an efficient, versatile defender who received a Gold Glove in 2021 at second base and held down the six with ease within the NLCS. Alas, he received’t be the most effective defensive shortstop on this sequence as a result of Volpe is really terrific. It’d be honest to quibble along with his Gold Glove win from 2023 since Bobby Witt Jr. was elite, however nobody questions that this child can decide it. Though Witt will in all probability get that Gold Glove this 12 months, Volpe has truly managed to enhance on his personal stellar 2023 defensive numbers. The bat is the place it will get questionable as a result of the once-acclaimed prospect has an unseemly .661 OPS and 83 OPS+ throughout 319 profession video games. Volpe does discover his grooves, nevertheless, and he’s hitting .310 with a team-best .459 OBP this October (higher than even Soto). If that’s the Volpe who exhibits up within the Fall Basic, then the 23-year-old might develop into a star on the nationwide stage.
Benefit: Push. Because of Edman’s red-hot bat and Volpe’s large protection, this one is just too near name.
Third Base
Dodgers: Max Muncy (73 G, .232/.358/.494, 15 HR, 2.4 fWAR)
Yankees: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (147 G, .256/.324/.436, 24 HR, 4.0 fWAR)
Nobody’s going to confuse the merely-adequate Muncy for Adrian Beltré on the market on protection, however assuming that Freeman is wholesome for the total sequence, Muncy will spend his time on the scorching nook. This man just isn’t a enjoyable at-bat for any pitcher, as he’s each affected person and greater than able to coming out bombs, too. Within the NLCS, Muncy had one scorching streak the place he reached base in 12 consecutive plate appearances, together with eight walks and two homers. That brief porch at Yankee Stadium will probably be particularly engaging for the lefty swinger within the center video games. Roberts is completely satisfied to place Muncy anyplace in the course of the lineup, from seventh to as excessive as cleanup.
Jazz is … fascinating. There are occasions when he can appear like the most effective athlete on the sector in a crowd that options studs like Soto and Decide. He’s cocky, he can trigger havoc on the bases, he can crush 400-foot bombs, and he picked up third base with exceptional ease midseason after coming over from Miami regardless of by no means having performed there earlier than. He additionally generally goes via stretches the place it doesn’t like he can do something proper. October has been stuffed with that for Chisholm, as he’s 5-for-34 (.147) with 11 strikeouts, lots of dangerous swings, and ugly baserunning. If he nonetheless appears sluggish, then don’t be shocked if Roberts pitches across the likes of Soto, Decide, and Giancarlo Stanton to problem Jazz.
Benefit: Dodgers. Chisholm has the upper ceiling; Muncy is the safer guess.
Left Discipline
Dodgers: Teoscar Hernández (154 G, .272/.339/.501, 33 HR, 3.5 fWAR)
Yankees: Alex Verdugo (149 G, .233/.291/.356, 13 HR, 0.6 fWAR)
Again in June, the Yankees and Dodgers met up within the Bronx for his or her solely showdown of the common season. Teoscar merely took over. The Yankees have been accustomed to giving up photographs to him from his days with the division rival Blue Jays, and this was no exception. Hernández went 6-for-12 with a trio of homers and 9 RBI. It was a spotlight from a formidable “prove-it” season from Teoscar, who didn’t just like the multi-year presents he was getting in free company and went for a one-year, $23.5 million deal to play with a identified winner in LA. He was an All-Star, hit a brand new career-high in homers, and regardless of simply turning 32, he’ll possible get a really good deal within the offseason. However first, he desires that ring. The Yankees must hope they’ve the Mets’ NLCS success towards him (2-for-22 with solely singles) quite than the Padres’ NLDS woes (6-for-18 with a pair of homers).
As soon as upon a time, Alex Verdugo was traded for Mookie Betts. Whoops! To be honest, decreasing the commerce to that’s simplistic since there was lots of money going round in that controversial winter 2020 deal between Boston and LA, however it’s attention-grabbing to consider Verdugo as a former prime Dodgers prospect. He’s typically been a productive massive leaguer, if not precisely the man as soon as marketed amongst “the most effective pure hitting prospects in baseball.” Dealt once more from Boston to New York this previous offseason, Verdugo has slumped from his as soon as league-average bat to a .647 OPS. However the Yankees are opting to maintain his well-regarded glove out in left over the inexperienced Jasson Domínguez. You by no means know — Verdugo has already been important to one playoff win this 12 months and he has proven an inclination to play properly towards the groups who gave up on him.
Benefit: Dodgers. Straightforward peasy.
Heart Discipline
Dodgers: Andy Pages (116 G, .248/.305/.407, 13 HR, 1.3 fWAR)
Yankees: Aaron Decide (158 G, .322/.458/.701, 58 HR, 11.2 fWAR)
The Dodgers have given Kiké and Edman seems in middle, however assuming they keep at their allotted positions right here, then the rookie Pages is the decide. He was a couple of league-average bat on the season, although he completed 2024 on a pleasant run with an .898 OPS in 28 video games throughout the ultimate two months. Pages was quiet within the playoffs till a multi-homer displaying in NLCS Recreation 5 at Citi Discipline, certainly one of LA’s few highlights from that loss. It could be sufficient to earn him a World Collection Recreation 1 begin, and Roberts doesn’t have to fret about his protection in middle, both. The robust righty in Gerrit Cole might additionally push him to the bench in favor of Kiké in middle and Lux at second. Keep tuned, as Pages ought to a minimum of get a crack at lefty Carlos Rodón in Recreation 2.
It’s not novel to say at this level, and but it nonetheless bears repeating: It’s totally exceptional that Aaron Decide hit 62 residence runs in 2022 and it’s now not his profession 12 months. Decide clobbered 58 this previous season whereas posting the next common, OBP, SLG, OPS+, and WAR. He made higher swing choices and have become an much more harmful hitter. Decide’s playoff numbers because the begin of 2021 are dangerous, however for those who assume meaning opposing pitchers not really feel queasy about dealing with him, then you’re mistaken. Elite Cleveland nearer Emmanuel Clase positive didn’t take pleasure in it.
Benefit: Yankees. As with the first-base state of affairs, it doesn’t actually matter who one workforce’s final choice is, as there’s a transparent favourite. Decide is a titan.
Proper Discipline
Dodgers: Mookie Betts (116 G, .289/.372/.491, 19 HR, 4.4 fWAR)
Yankees: Juan Soto (157 G, .288/.419/.569, 41 HR, 8.1 fWAR)
Ohtani would be the near-unanimous NL MVP. For the primary few months, nevertheless, it appeared as if the 2018 AL MVP and three-time runner-up would give him a run for his cash. Though Betts had dipped oh-so-slightly in June, he nonetheless entered play on June sixteenth hitting .307/.407/.493 in 71 video games, all whereas saving the Dodgers’ bacon at shortstop since they didn’t actually have a solution on the six. Then Royals reliever Dan Altavilla broke his hand on a hit-by-pitch and that was that. Mookie returned to his extra acquainted proper area upon being activated and has barely missed a beat. He additionally snapped a 6-for-54 playoff funk relationship again to the 2021 NLCS, going yard in 4 of 9 video games with a 1.182 OPS because the begin of NLDS Recreation 3.
And but.
Mookie has Soto beat with protection and baserunning, however regardless of his personal fearsome bat, that’s not practically sufficient to surpass the birthday boy, a soon-to-be free agent who’s about to obtain the largest contract in MLB historical past (non-wonky deferral version). Watching Soto within the batter’s field is poetry in movement. This man would have a Ph.D in hitting, and comparability to a younger Ted Williams stay solely deserving. Batting Soto in entrance of Decide in a lineup is simply downright imply and but the 26-year-old works the depend higher than anybody within the recreation. A 2019 champion with the Nats, Soto notched an 1.178 OPS in that Fall Basic, and he’s prepared for extra. The jury’s nonetheless out if this will probably be a one-and-done 12 months for him within the Bronx. However hell if it hasn’t been value it.
Benefit: Yankees. This needs to be the one attainable head-to-head in baseball amongst proper fielders the place Betts doesn’t come out on prime. Soto is the most effective of the most effective.
Designated Hitter
Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (159 G, .310/.390/.646, 54 HR, 9.1 fWAR)
Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton (114 G, .233/.298/.475, 27 HR, 0.8 fWAR)
Stanton is without doubt one of the greatest playoff hitters of this technology, with a 1.019 OPS and 16 profession postseason homers in simply 36 video games. He’s extra of a boom-or-bust hitter at this stage of his profession, however when all 4 hits within the ALCS went for homers, nobody complained. They got here in large spots, too, sinking the Guardians simply after they felt like they have been clawing again, and he received MVP honors. As an added bonus, Stanton grew up outdoors LA and spent many a day at Dodger Stadium, the place he likes to hit (highlighted by each a 2015 moonshot out of the ballpark and his 2022 All-Star Recreation). Throw him a fastball at your individual threat.
However Ohtani is certainly one of one. Prevented from pitching in 2024 attributable to elbow surgical procedure, he determined that it was merely time to point out off that he generally is a stolen-base menace as properly. The pitching obligations had beforehand stored him from carrying himself out an excessive amount of with thefts. With out ‘em, he grew to become the primary 50/50 participant in MLB historical past, setting the Dodgers’ single-season residence run report within the course of. He has performed for his nation on the largest stage and produced arguably the most effective worldwide baseball second of all-time. Ohtani won’t be intimidated by something.
Benefit: Dodgers. It’s Shohei. If solely he might toss an inning of aid, too. Oh properly.
Beginning Pitchers
Dodgers: RHP Jack Flaherty, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP Walker Buehler
Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole, LHP Carlos Rodón, RHP Clarke Schmidt, RHP Luis Gil
Bear in mind Tyler Glasnow? Bear in mind Clayton Kershaw? Bear in mind Gavin Stone? They’re all harm and Bobby Miller was unconscionably dangerous, so the Dodgers have simply three actual starters in the meanwhile. That’s all whereas solely getting Yamamoto again from a severe shoulder damage in mid-September, too. The Dodgers have been cautious with their $325 million rookie within the seven begins since his return, by no means pushing him previous the fifth or to 80 pitches. He stymied the workforce he practically signed with for seven shutout innings again in June; would Roberts let him final that lengthy once more?
Flaherty has his personal attention-grabbing Yankees-related storyline, as New York had reportedly agreed to amass him from Detroit on the Commerce Deadline earlier than backing out attributable to issues over his medicals. Little doubt he’ll be hoping to show that GM Brian Cashman made a mistake. He shut out one New York workforce in his final Recreation 1 begin in LA again within the NLCS; now he’ll attempt to do it once more within the Fall Basic. As his shaky Recreation 5 in Queens indicated although, there are not any ensures. The identical might be stated for the struggling Buehler and the dangerous bullpen recreation that Roberts must deploy a minimum of as soon as.
Cole is the quintessential ace and defending AL Cy Younger Award winner. An elbow damage will forestall a repeat, although he seemed like the identical Cole in most of his 17 begins. One of many premier pitchers of his technology, Cole is rather like his teammate Decide in that he nonetheless has but to win a championship ring. He needed to watch from the bullpen within the 2019 World Collection in Houston as his teammates let Recreation 7 get away from them late. As if Cole wanted any extra motivation to place the Yankees on his again in two attainable begins. (And hey, Juan Soto is on his workforce now!)
The Yankees’ state of affairs will get much less safe behind Cole. Rodón has been like Flaherty in that he’s had one good begin, one dangerous begin, and one in between. He confirmed extra poise within the ALCS after the Royals took him aside throughout New York’s lone ALDS loss. The younger weapons, Schmidt and Gil, have had electrical moments in 2024, however at this level within the season, Boone is clearly hesitant to depart them in for very lengthy. They in all probability received’t see the lineup a 3rd time via until the Yankees have the sport in hand or the bullpen is in dire want of a breather. The Gil begin will probably be a captivating check for the AL Rookie of the Yr candidate, as whereas he can strike out anybody, he additionally led the league in walks and LA has a disciplined group of hitters.
Benefit: Yankees. The Dodgers want Johnny Wholestaff to pinch-hit a begin, and there’s a case {that a} entrance three of Cole/Rodón/Schmidt could be higher than Flaherty/Yamamoto/Buehler anyway. If LA can steal a Cole begin, nevertheless, then the Yanks will probably be in hassle.
Bullpen
High Dodgers relievers to know: RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Michael Kopech, LHP Anthony Banda, RHP Evan Phillips, RHP Daniel Hudson
High Yankees relievers to know: RHP Luke Weaver, RHP Clay Holmes, RHP Tommy Kahnle, LHP Tim Hill, RHP Jake Cousins
The one cause why lefty Alex Vesia wasn’t included within the batch above is as a result of he’s not but sure for the World Collection as of the time of writing. The southpaw left NLDS Recreation 5 with a rib damage and missed the NLCS. Yesterday, he stated he was at “90 p.c” confidence, so count on to see him. The Dodgers have been capable of survive three bullpen video games this postseason as a result of the aid corps is superb. To borrow from Nick Energy at Pinstripe Alley, right here’s what the most effective have performed up to now:
RHP Blake Treinen: 6 G, 1.13 ERA, 8 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, 11 Ok
RHP Michael Kopech: 6 G, 1.69 ERA, 5.1 IP, 1 R, 4 BB, 7 Ok
LHP Anthony Banda: 6 G, 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 Ok
RHP Evan Phillips: 5 G, 0.00 ERA, 6.2 IP, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 Ok
RHP Daniel Hudson: 5 G, 2.08 ERA, 4.1 IP, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 Ok
Now that’s efficient aid, and few outings got here on back-to-back days, too. Treinen has been nasty, and Roberts has managed all of them properly. Banda and Vesia will probably be particularly essential in holding down their fellow lefty in Soto, and until he’s the potential remaining out of the inning, the three-batter minimal implies that they’ll need to take care of Decide and maybe Stanton, too. They’re a contact nameless and so they’re higher than you assume.
Originally of September, the dialog across the Yankees’ bullpen would’ve been bleak. As soon as the (shocking) All-Star nearer, Holmes was bumped from the position, tying a franchise report with 13 blown saves. Kahnle was dependable sufficient and Weaver had been a productive setup man, however was was this actually a bullpen as much as the challenges of October? Evidently, sure.
Weaver has been a revelation because the nearer in all however identify, pitching to a 1.33 ERA with 34 strikeouts and a mere pair of walks in 20.1 innings since Holmes’ demotion on September eighth. The few runs got here within the ALCS—two on Jhonkensy Noel’s gorgeous shot—so maybe the Dodgers can take coronary heart in that he might be feeling the heavy work. Holmes bore the brunt too. He rebounded properly within the less-stressful highlight and threw up zeroes in his first six playoff appearances of 2024. His final two ALCS video games have been much less rosy. Boone will nonetheless name his quantity, however he’s additionally comfy with the changeup spammer Kahnle, the slider-happy Cousins (sure, he’s actually Kirk Cousins’ cousin), and soft-contact specialist Hill.
Benefit: Dodgers, although it’s nearer than one would have guessed it might be a month in the past. If Vesia is again, then LA has the sting indisputably. Then once more, the ‘pen was the place Cleveland clearly had its largest edge on New York, so make of that what you’ll.
