Yankees-Dodgers: Higher offense? Higher pitching? 2024 World Sequence predictions

by Anthony S. Hansen
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Aaron Decide, Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto have been the three greatest hitters in baseball this 12 months. Mookie Betts, an MVP front-runner earlier than being beset by damage, has discovered his famous person swing within the postseason. 

The Dodgers’ pitching employees already posted a record-tying 33 innings with out permitting a run this October. The Yankees have surrendered three runs or fewer in 5 of their previous seven video games.

These are the 2 greatest groups in baseball, and so they symbolize a historic and heavyweight matchup within the Fall Traditional. So, who’s going to win, and the way?

For that, FOX Sports activities MLB consultants Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner preview and predict the 2024 World Sequence on this week’s roundtable.

[RELATED: Full coverage of the World Series]

1. Who has the higher offense?

Thosar: Any comparability between these two groups is splitting hairs, however I am going to give the sting to the Yankees as a result of Giancarlo Stanton is again to turning into Babe Ruth within the postseason. Stanton’s clutch energy mixed with Juan Soto’s confidence on the plate in high-pressure conditions and Aaron Decide’s menace to achieve base in each plate look makes the Yankees a pressure that’s troublesome to beat for any pitching employees, not to mention Los Angeles’ questionable arms. 

The Yankees even have higher depth of their lineup proper now than they did for components of the common season, due to Gleyber Torres’ glorious leadoff manufacturing (he and Decide each have seven walks this postseason) and Anthony Volpe taking higher at-bats. On the flip facet, the Dodgers general have extra depth of their lineup, with the underside of the order being robust to navigate if guys like Max Muncy, Will Smith and Kiké Hernández are routinely coming via. However I nonetheless assume the Yankees’ high hitters give them the ever-so-slight benefit right here.

Kavner: The Dodgers. It would not get higher than the 1-2 punch of Juan Soto and Aaron Decide, and Giancarlo Stanton is blasting residence runs seemingly each day this October, however the depth of the Dodgers’ lineup provides L.A. the sting as an entire. Kiké Hernández continues to discover a new degree this time of 12 months, Tommy Edman simply had extra hits and RBIs than any participant within the LCS, Max Muncy lately set a single-season postseason file by reaching base in 12 straight plate appearances, and the Dodgers scored an NLCS file 46 runs regardless of Teoscar Hernández going hitless within the first 5 video games, Will Smith hitting .182 within the collection and Freddie Freeman lacking two of the final three video games. 

I have not even talked about Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, who mixed for 17 hits — together with eight extra-base hits — and 15 runs within the NLCS. The Dodgers had the very best OPS in MLB this season, and if there have been any questions on which lineup was the scariest within the postseason discipline, they answered it this October. Most significantly, they’re batting .311 with runners in scoring place within the playoffs; the Yankees are hitting .181 in these conditions.

2. Who has higher pitching?

Kavner: The Yankees. Their beginning pitching benefit mitigates any edge the Dodgers maintain within the bullpen. One crew might want to resort to not less than one bullpen sport. The opposite crew’s fourth starter is an American League Rookie of the 12 months candidate. The Yankees will trot out final 12 months’s Cy Younger Award winner in Recreation 1. The Dodgers will flip to Jack Flaherty, who’s coming off an outing wherein he handled diminished velocity — which was an issue late within the 12 months as effectively — and surrendered eight runs in three innings. Regardless of some encouraging indicators from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was at his greatest earlier this 12 months within the Bronx, the Yankees will arguably maintain the higher hand in each beginning pitching matchup this collection.

The Dodgers have managed to get by regardless of up-and-down performances from every of their three beginning pitchers — the best way Yamamoto and Walker Buehler missed bats their final trip was particularly encouraging — largely due to a medley of relievers who at one level helped the membership tie a postseason file with 33 consecutive scoreless innings. However the Dodgers’ shortage of arms have pressured supervisor Dave Roberts to make robust selections, together with punting on video games once they get behind in order to not burn the high-leverage relievers they know they’re going to want over the course of a protracted collection. That is a troublesome tightrope to stroll, even for a crew that may put up runs the best way the Dodgers can. In some unspecified time in the future on this collection, they are going to seemingly want a prolonged efficiency from one in all their starters — just like the one Flaherty was in a position to ship in Recreation 1 of the NLCS — to be the final crew standing.

Thosar: The Yankees. Gerrit Cole is one of the best pitcher within the World Sequence, and the rotation arms behind him have been extra encouraging than I anticipated going into the postseason. Carlos Rodón confirmed huge progress between playoff begins, with the ability to comprise his feelings and give attention to simply dealing, which led to strong outcomes. Now, with Nestor Cortes seemingly getting back from damage, that offers the Yankees one other left-handed weapon, almost definitely from the bullpen. 

However out of all of the components right here, I feel what provides the Yankees the pitching benefit is just that they don’t have to depend on a bullpen sport or two to get via a protracted collection. There’s something to be stated about having big-name starters who can pitch deep into their outings, particularly within the playoffs. And Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains to be working his approach again up from damage, Jack Flaherty skilled a drop in velocity his final trip, and Walker Buehler might be turbulent relying on the day. The Dodgers’ bullpen was overused within the NLCS in opposition to the Mets. I feel that may come again to hang-out them.

3. Which supervisor is beneath extra strain to win this title?

Thosar: They’re each beneath strain to win, however I feel Aaron Boone is going through extra of a burden for the reason that Yankees have not gained a World Sequence beneath his administration, and never since 2009 general. Consequently, this postseason has truly featured Boone’s greatest decision-making over his seven journeys to the playoffs as Yankees skipper. 

Boone, too, appeared to grasp how a lot strain he was going through to win a title this 12 months as a result of he made positive to spend ample time in spring coaching with former Yankees supervisor Joe Torre, who gained the World Sequence 4 instances with the Bronx Bombers. Boone stated this week that he leaned on Torre lots this 12 months, and he has tried to emulate a few of Torre’s demeanor within the dugout, in addition to higher perceive his managing techniques.

Kavner: I lean Aaron Boone right here, though there are quite a lot of parallels between the 2 past the truth that Boone and Dave Roberts each grew up in Southern California, concurrently attended rival schools in USC and UCLA, respectively, and had defining moments as gamers within the postseason. They each have additionally been criticized for his or her crew’s shortcomings in postseasons previous, and each have completed an amazing job to quiet these critics this October. 

In several circumstances, I’d go together with Roberts. A 3rd straight NLDS knockout would have raised the alarms. However contemplating the job he did piecing collectively a beleaguered pitching employees to get so far — seemingly pushing all the precise buttons within the course of — and the way important it’s for the Yankees to strike now whereas they’ve Juan Soto, I feel the reply is Boone.

4. Which crew has a larger want for a giant collection from their 2024 MVP: the Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani or the Yankees with Aaron Decide?

Kavner: The Yankees. I discussed that I do not assume their lineup is as deep, which places extra strain on Decide to carry out. He had some massive moments within the ALCS, together with homers in Video games 2 and three, however I do not assume the Yankees can survive with out extra manufacturing from the seemingly runaway AL MVP in opposition to a Dodgers crew with much more offensive firepower than something New York has seen up to now.

Thosar: It is laborious to think about both of those groups profitable the championship with out massive performances from their respective MVPs. However the best way the Yankees have been profitable this postseason, even when Decide wasn’t placing up the insane numbers we have been used to seeing from him, makes me assume the Dodgers have a larger want for Ohtani to point out up massive within the World Sequence. The Japanese phenom ended the narrative that he may solely hit with males on base when he launched a leadoff residence run in Recreation 4 of the NLCS, and he is much more harmful with runners in scoring place. 

When Ohtani is at his greatest, the Dodgers are seemingly at all times going to be on base doing their foolish arm-wave factor, and I feel that is their recipe for fulfillment in opposition to the Yankees. A drop-off in manufacturing from Ohtani will put Los Angeles in a a lot tighter spot to win.

5. Who’s going to win the World Sequence? Who’ll be MVP?

Thosar: The Yankees, and Juan Soto. It isn’t laborious to think about the World Sequence ending with Soto carrying the Yankees to a title in his first, and doubtlessly solely, season in New York. Keep in mind that dramatic, theatrical seven-pitch at-bat he had in opposition to the Guardians’ Hunter Gaddis in Recreation 5 of the ALCS that despatched the Yankees to the Fall Traditional? I am anticipating Soto to copy that confidence and plate strategy each single time he is batting within the World Sequence. When the stakes are highest, Soto’s dedication solely appears to go up, too.

Kavner: I am going to take the Dodgers. There’s at all times the potential their beginning pitching dooms them, however it hasn’t occurred but. I feel Roberts has completed a terrific job deploying his relievers on the proper time and holding his most trusted leverage arms as rested as doable, given the unfavorable circumstances. If they’ll get not less than one prolonged beginning pitching efficiency, that may be sufficient contemplating the best way their offense is overwhelming opponents proper now. They’re hitting within the clutch in a approach they hadn’t in latest Octobers, and there appears to be a perception with this group that differs from earlier iterations.

Ohtani went to the Dodgers for this chance, and all 12 months he has delivered memorable performances within the largest moments. He hit a walk-off grand slam to get to 40/40, had arguably the best single-game efficiency ever to get to 50/50, and now has hits in 18 of his previous 23 at-bats with runners in scoring place. I feel he leaves us with one thing particular as World Sequence MVP, conjuring recollections of his WBC efficiency (even when it is solely with the bat this time).

Bonus: Which stadium presents extra of a home-field benefit?

Kavner: This one’s robust for me to reply, having not been to Yankee Stadium earlier than, however it’s value noting what number of veteran Dodgers gamers have made it some extent to reference the environment of the stadium on this run particularly. Certain, there was an embarrassing evening within the Padres collection. However the gamers can really feel the will of the followers, who weren’t in a position to have fun the 2020 championship with a parade. “If there’s one thing that this crowd is, it is hungry,” Kiké Hernández stated.

Throughout the deciding Recreation 5 of the NLDS, Max Muncy stated he thought the house crowd matched or exceeded the depth at Petco Park, which is saying one thing. “We saved coming again into the dugout saying, ‘Hey, have a look at these guys on the market,” Muncy stated. “The followers have been going nuts. The stadium was shaking.” The Dodgers routinely lead the majors in attendance, this 12 months included. With a capability to carry 56,000, a number of opposing gamers have famous how Dodger Stadium feels just like the followers are on high of you. I do assume it makes a distinction that the Dodgers get an additional sport at residence, the place they have been 52-29 this 12 months.

Thosar: Yankee Stadium. The Bronx crowd’s raucous vitality will likely be unmatched and might be fairly intimidating for some Dodgers pitchers. Funnily sufficient, Decide and Stanton are each from California and could have a ton of household at Chavez Ravine within the World Sequence, so I feel they’re going to really feel further snug there and primed to ship in entrance of their family members.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Each day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Comply with her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand lined the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved again to the West Coast in 2014. Comply with him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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