Tank's 2024 World Series Preview

Frank The Tank10/25/2024 2:45 PM

2024 World Series

Kevork Djansezian. Getty Images.

Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) vs. New York Yankees (AL)
Dodgers in Six

An old rivalry is renewed as the Dodgers and Yankees meet in the World Series for the first time since 1981. It is the 12th meeting between the two teams that have been to the World Series more than any other. To put the 12 Fall Classic showdowns between the Dodgers and Yankees into perspective, only four other teams have been to the World Series more than a dozen times, besides the Yankees making their 41st appearance and the Dodgers in their 22nd World Series appearance. The Yankees have won eight of the previous 11 World Series meetings with the Dodgers. The golden era of the Dodgers-Yankees rivalry was in the 1950s when the Dodgers called Brooklyn home. Between 1947 and 1956, the teams met six times in ten years. Los Angeles won the last time these teams played each other in 1981, wrapping up another stretch with the teams going head-to-head three times in five years. Of the 11 meetings, the series has been decided in six or seven games eight times.

As for 2024, it is the first time in 11 years that the two number one seeds are meeting in the World Series and the first time since 2012 that the expected MVPs in each league are going head to head with Aaron Judge leading the Yankees and Shohei Ohtani leading the Dodgers. The Dodgers finished 98-64, the best MLB record, while the Yankees went 94-68. The Dodgers needed five games to beat the Padres in the NLDS, while they took down the Mets in six to win the NLCS. The Yankees, meanwhile, had the primrose path needing four games to beat the Royals in the ALDS and taking the ALCS against the Guardians in five games. In neither series were the Yankees truly tested.

The Dodgers starting pitching has been a problem, as they have had to use bullpen games to get to the World Series. That pen has been solid, as they have had only one quality start in 11 games. The key has been a relentless lineup that has been solid all around, with Tommy Edman winning the NLCS MVP. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts both have been performing up to expectations as the Dodgers team OPS in the postseason is .785. Besides being able to hit home runs at will, the Dodgers all have the ability to run deep counts, which was the key to beating the Mets as the Amazins ran out of arms by the time Game 6 arrived.

The Yankees have gotten good starting pitching, while the bullpen was nearly perfect before blowing Game 3 in the ALCS. If they are to win the World Series, the Yankees will need that pitching to be as strong as or even better. Giancarlo Stanton has been the Yankees' big bat, with five home runs and a 1.179 OPS. Juan Soto has also excelled, winning the series with his three-run home run in Game 5. However, Aaron Judge has underperformed, batting .161 with just two home runs. They will need Judge to find his groove to match the Dodgers' production.

Examine the two teams; the matchup is close, but the Dodgers' ability to attack 1-9 will be the difference. The Dodgers' lineup has no easy outs, while the Yankees have soft spots and big bats that can be pitched around. Unless the Dodgers' pitching completely falters, they are going to win the World Series. Look for a long series, with the Dodgers winning in six games.