The scene is set: the 2024 MLB World Series will be between the AL’s New York Yankees and the NL’s Los Angeles Dodgers.
Blockbuster vs. Broadway.
Embed from Getty Images
The so-called “easy path” to the World Series was anything but for the Bronx Bombers, as the Cleveland Guardians treated them to five high-pressure, stress-filled, nerve wrecking games that, while ending in New York victory, could have gone either way. The ALCS was filled with iconic home runs from Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and “The Generational” Juan Soto – including a game five, tenth inning blast that sealed the Guardians’ final fate.
But it wasn’t just the big boppers; leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres was on base, a lot, and Shortstop Anthony Volpe finally hit like the Yankees had been promising he could all year long. Speaking of Anthonys, Anthony Rizzo batted over .400 in the series, despite having two broken fingers, and even Alex Verdugo – the much maligned Yankee Left Fielder – contributed. Yankee Catcher Austin Wells and Third Baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. were largely irrelevant at the plate, but each had at least one relevant moment; all together, the offense was able to perform well against the best bullpen in baseball.
Embed from Getty Images
Then there was the pitching, which including an outstanding performance from Carlos Rodon, and some decent (though uninspiring) outings from Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil and Rodon again, but was defined by the tough as nails performances from the ‘pen. Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes were good, until they finally ran out of gas (leading to Cleveland’s only win of the series), but it was the likes of Tim Hill, Jake Cousins (cousin of Kirk Cousins), and Tommy Kahnle that saved the Yankees’ bacon time and time again.
Embed from Getty Images
It was a thrilling series, but there is more to be done; as ALCS MVP Giancarlo Stanton opined, “I want a ring.”
That pursuit starts Friday in LA.
Embed from Getty Images
The NLCS was an absolute slugfest, with each team trading blowouts until the Dodgers finally took the series in game six. The run of magic for the Mets finally, and sadly, came to an end. But now the MLB has on their hands a World Series full of superstars, pitting the two coasts – and America’s most famous cities – against each other. Judge, Soto, Stanton and Cole vs. Shohei Ohtahi, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
How do the teams compare?
Embed from Getty Images
Offensively speaking, I think both teams can make the strong case for being better; one would like to assume each team’s big three cancel each other out, but…
In the ALCS Judge somewhat turned around his recent post season struggles, hitting two big homers, Stanton did almost nothing but homer at pivotal times, and Soto was clutch when needed too; in the NLCS Ohtani was a mixed bag, but really picked it up at the end to have a nice statline, Betts was his usual great self, and while Freeman played injured, who can really count him out? Those six men aside, each team has been able to rely on big time moments from lesser players to keep on winning; Kiké Hernández and his “brother” Teoscar Hernandez (no real relation), and Tommy Edman have all come up huge for LA.
I’d like to call it a draw, but LA did score more runs than the Yankees did; but is it because they faced worse pitching?
Embed from Getty Images
Rotation wise, I’d argue the Yankees have four good options in Cole, Rodon, Schmidt and Gil, and they could all theoretically be counted on to retire good hitters. The Dodgers conversely only have three true starting options; Yamamoto has shown he can be tough as nails, and while both Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler are both very talented, Jack did get lit up in his last appearance and Buehler’s first good appearance was his last – will that continue? In the final tally I give the Yankees rotation an edge, but in October, a great offense could render that less effective than one may hope.
Embed from Getty Images
The bullpen is, I think, the key here. I think it’s entirely fair to say that the Yankees have shown themselves to have a better bullpen, and it may be getting even stronger should funky lefty Nestor Cortes Jr. return from injury and take the utility knife role. That’s not to say LA’s pen isn’t good, because it is, however they will need to be relied on heavily both in relief of their starters, as well as in “bullpen games” that the Dodgers will undoubtedly utilize in their chase for glory. It’s here that the Yankees may have an additional advantage; after all, the Yankees just beat the best bullpen in baseball, a bullpen that was used almost identically to how the Dodgers are using theirs. Will being able to consistently see them allow the Yankees to take advantage?
Embed from Getty Images
In summary, I think the Yankees have a roster advantage, but that doesn’t mean I think they will win; while I am loath to make an official prediction, I honestly do not expect my Yankees to take home the trophy. I hope they will, but the Dodgers are just really stinking good, and they will have home field advantage in this best of seven series. On the flip side, the last time the Yankees faced the Dodgers in June of this year, while LA took 2 of 3, one of the Yankees losses was close, and they didn’t have Juan Soto or Gerrit Cole (injuries), a hot Stanton or a confident bullpen…so who knows?
Embed from Getty Images
All I do know is we should be in for a very good, wonderfully entertaining World Series, and I will be in for a lot of stressful nights.
