New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers World Series preview 2024: Key matchups, players to watch, and everything you need to know
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees will face one another in the World Series. A long-dormant but once-iconic rivalry is being renewed on the biggest stage in the two biggest media markets. Here's everything you need to know.
World Series Preview 2024
Key matchups
The Los Angeles Dodgers boast a threatening offense that set a record for the most runs scored in the NLCS. The New York Yankees' pitching has been solid, and it will be tasked with slowing down a juggernaut. This is likely the matchup that will determine the series.
The Yankees don't have a dominant rotation or bullpen, but the bullpen has been the saving grace this postseason. They cracked a few times in the ALCS but have been stellar overall. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have been excellent at tacking on runs late, and the Yanks' pen will have to stop that whenever possible.
Players to watch
Aaron Judge will be a player to watch. It's his first World Series, and he has not exactly lit up the postseason during his career. He blasted two key home runs in the ALCS but is still far from the 58-homer machine he was in the regular season.
Shohei Ohtani is also in his first-ever playoffs. However, he has been excellent at the plate this October, so he's not struggling like Judge. He will, however, be the single-most player for the Yankees to shut down.
Giancarlo Stanton gets lost among the Yankees stars as he's no Juan Soto or Judge, but he just won ALCS MVP over all of them and has a historically good HR/AB metric in the playoffs.
Mookie Betts has been given some flak for his playoff struggles, but he rebounded in the NLDS and played well in the NLCS. If he's hitting well behind Ohtani, the Yankees may face trouble.
More
The Dodgers and Yankees were the two best teams in the MLB. They are the top seed in their conferences, though the Dodgers are four games better. That means they'll host, but it's a powerhouse matchup of two stellar squads.
Typically an October sport, the MLB playoffs may not end until November. Games 6 and 7 are scheduled for Nov. 1 and 2 in LA, respectively. If the series extends past Game 5, which is fairly likely, the playoffs will enter a new month.