Historic 2024 World Series Preview: Dodgers vs. Yankees

By Christina Winnegar

This article provides an objective analysis of the game and is authored by an independent writer not affiliated with the team or league

Game 1 of the historic 2024 World Series matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees is set to happen on Friday. This will be the first time the Dodgers and Yankees have seen each other in the World Series since the matchup in 1981 where the Dodgers defeated the Yankees, 4-2. This marks their 12th battle for the title. 

However, their most memorable meet was arguably in the 1977 World Series, where Reggie Jackson was named “Mr. October.” According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the nickname was given to him after he hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series on Oct. 18, 1977, leading New York to an 8-4 win and a 4-2 Series victory.  MLB stated that the only other player to hit three home runs in a World Series clincher was baseball legend Babe Ruth in 1928. MLB reported that, on Oct. 18, Giancarlo Stanton, with 16 home runs in 35 postseason games, broke a tie between Aaron Judge and Babe Ruth for the fourth-most home runs in Yankees postseason history.  

According to ESPN the top three factors that have carried the Yankees to the World Series are the pressure they apply on the opposing team's pitchers, their patience, and their ability to get on base. Between their average of four pitches per plate appearance in the playoffs as well as their ability to draw walks, they apply an insane amount of pressure on the opposing team. ESPN reported that, “Leadoff hitter Gleyber Torres has reached base in the first inning in eight of the Yankees’ nine playoff games. Juan Soto, their 2-hole hitter, has done it in seven games.” According to ESPN, The Yankees have a .347 on-base percentage and reach base in 13.9 percent of plate appearances. “The playoff-wide walk rate is 9.9 percent, compared to 8.2 percent in the regular season – but among their nine regulars, seven Yankees are walking at least 11.1 percent of the time,” ESPN said that the math is really simple, to score runs, you have to fill the bases and for the Yankees, they have been able to do that. Their on-base percentage to lead off innings is .450.

As for the Dodgers, the factors that have brought them to the World Series is their depth on the roster as well as their offensive approach. According to ESPN, despite their injuries (Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas), they overcame it in their rotation. This roster saved the season against the Game 4 shutout versus the Padres. “Mookie Betts finally broke out of his multiyear postseason slump, Tommy Edman drove in 11 runs in the NLCS, and Kiké Hernandez has continued his “Mr. October” persona after getting a chance to start when Rojas went down in the NLDS against the Padres.” Their offensive approach of applying pressure on the batter against pitches in their preferred area will carry them far against Yankees’ star batters. Shohei Ohtani, a star hitter from the Dodgers, will be a big contributor to their performance at the start of Friday night. 

World Series Historic Fun-Facts: 

• MLB stated that, for the 2024 Fall Classic, five players who have won MVP in their careers will be taking the field ( Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Giancarlo Stanton). If all five players make an appearance, it would be the most former MVPs to play in a World Series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. 

• MLB reported that Aaron Judge hit 58 home runs this season and Shohei Ohtani hit 54. This will be the first World Series matchup between two players who each hit at least 50 home runs in that year's regular season. 

• According to MLB, Juan Soto ranked third in MLB among qualified players in wRC+ this year at 180, following behind his teammate Aaron Judge (218), and opposing hitter Shohei Ohtani (181). “This will be the first series in postseason history to have the top three qualified players in the wRC+ from that season.” In simpler terms, it will be the first time in postseason history that the three top all-around offensive performers in the league will share a field. 

The World Series will begin on Friday, October 25th, 2024 at Dodger Stadium. If the series were to go all seven games, the final game of the 2024 season would take place on Nov. 2nd, 2024.