We have reached the final two teams of the MLB season. It is time for the World Series.
Representing the American League are the New York Yankees. The Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in 4 games in the American League Division Series. New York went on to beat the Cleveland Guardians in 5 games in the American League Championship Series to advance to the World Series. They won the AL East division title this past season and are looking for their first World Series title since 2009.
Right Fielder Juan Soto came up as the hero in Game 5 with a 3-run home run in extra innings to send the Yankees to the World Series. Designated Hitter Giancarlo Stanton clobbered four home runs and drove in seven runs en route to winning the ALCS Most Valuable Player. The Yankees, as a team, hit ten home runs in the ALCS and had a batting average of .250 in the 5-game series.
For the fourth time in eight seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers will represent the National League in the Fall Classic. The Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres in 5 games in the National League Division Series. Los Angeles went on to get past the New York Mets in 6 games in the National League Championship Series to advance to the World Series. They are looking for their first World Series title since 2020 and their first in a full season since 1988.
Right Fielder Mookie Betts came alive in the Postseason for the Dodgers, leading the team in home runs, doubles, on-base plus slugging percentage, and is tied for the lead in runs batted in. Swiss army knife Tommy Edman won the NLCS Most Valuable Player award, driving in eleven runs and driving in the big blow in Game 6 against the Mets. The Dodgers, as a team, lead postseason teams in home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and runs batted in.
This is the first time in a full season that the top seeds in each league have played each other in the World Series since 2017 when the Astros defeated the Dodgers in a 7-game-series. This is the first time since 1981 that the Dodgers and Yankees have played in the World Series, with the Dodgers coming out on top in 6 games. This is the eleventh time the two teams have met in the Fall Classic, with the Yankees winning eight of those matchups.
The series begins on Friday with Game 1 starting at 8:08 p.m. The following is the series schedule.
Game 1: NYY at LAD, Friday 10/25, 8:08 p.m., FOX
Game 2: NYY at LAD, Saturday 10/26, 8:08 p.m., FOX
Game 3: LAD at NYY, Monday 10/28, 8:08 p.m., FOX
Game 4: LAD at NYY, Tuesday 10/29, 8:08 p.m., FOX
Game 5: LAD at NYY, Wednesday 10/30, 8:08 p.m., FOX (if necessary)
Game 6: NYY at LAD, Friday 11/1, 8:08 p.m., FOX (if necessary)
Game 7: NYY at LAD, Saturday 11/2, 8:08 p.m., FOX (if necessary)
The Yankees have named Gerrit Cole their Game 1 starter, with Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt starting Games 2 & 3 after Cole. The Dodgers are sending hometown kid Jack Flaherty to start Game 1. Flaherty was acquired at the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline from the Detroit Tigers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will follow-up Flaherty, starting Game 2.
Now here are our predictions for the Fall Classic.
Jaden: Dodgers in 7
Santino: Yankees in 6
