SERIES SCHEDULE (all times PT)
Game 1 – Yankees at Dodgers, Friday, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
Game 2 – Yankees at Dodgers, Saturday, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
Game 3 – Dodgers at Yankees, Monday, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
Game 4 – Dodgers at Yankees, Tuesday, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
x-Game 5 – Dodgers at Yankees, Wednesday, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
x-Game 6 – Yankees at Dodgers, Friday, Nov. 1, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
x-Game 7 – Yankees at Dodgers, Saturday, Nov. 2, 5 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11)
x-If necessary.
Season series: The Dodgers won, 2-1.
TALE OF THE TAPE (OFFENSE)
Yankees (MLB rank) … category … Dodgers (MLB rank)
94-68 (1st in AL East) … Record … 98-64 (1st in NL West)
815 (3rd) … Runs scored … 842 (2nd)
.248 (T-8th) … Batting avg. … .258 (4th)
.333 (3rd) … OBP … .335 (second)
.429 (4th) … Slugging pct. … .446 (1st)
.762 (3rd) … OPS … .781 (1st)
237 (1st) … Home runs … 233 (3rd)
88 (24th) … Stolen bases … 136 (10th)
TALE OF THE TAPE (pitching)
3.74 (7th) … Team ERA … 3.90 (13th)
3.85 (11th) … Starters ERA … 4.23 (19th)
3.62 (6th) … Bullpen ERA … 3.53 (4th)
1.24 (T-10th) … WHIP … 1.23 (8th)
9.03 (6th) … Ks per 9 inns … 8.65 (13th)
PROJECTED LINEUPS
YANKEES: 2B Gleyber Torres (.257/.330/.378, 15 HRs, 63 RBIs), RF Juan Soto (.288/.419/.569, 41 HRs, 109 RBIs, 129 walks, 7 SBs), CF Aaron Judge (.322/.458/.701, 58 HRs, 144 RBIs, 10 SBs, 133 BBs), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.228/.301/.335, 8 HRs, 35 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (.233/.298/.475, 27 HRs, 72 RBIs), 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (.256/.324/.436, 24 HRs, 73 RBIs, 40 SBs with Marlins and Yankees), SS Anthony Volpe (.243/.293/.364, 12 HRs, 60 RBIs, 28 SBs), C Austin Wells (.229/.322/.395, 13 HRs, 55 RBIs), LF Alex Verdugo (.233/.291/.356, 13 HRs, 61 RBIs)
DODGERS: DH Shohei Ohtani (.310/.390/.646, 54 HRs, 130 RBIs, 134 runs scored, 59 stolen bases), RF Mookie Betts (.289/.372/.491, 19 HRs, 75 RBIs, 75 runs scored, 16 SBs), 1B Freddie Freeman (.282/.378/.476, 22 HRs, 81 runs scored, 89 RBIs), LF Teoscar Hernandez (.272/.339/.501, 33 HRs, 99 RBIs, 84 runs scored, 12 SBs), 3B Max Muncy (.232/.358/.494, 15 HRs, 48 RBIs), C Will Smith (.248/.327/.433, 20 HRs, 75 RBIs), SS Tommy Edman (.237/.294/.417, 6 HRs, 20 RBIs), CF Kiké Hernandez (.229/.281/.373, 12 HRs, 42 RBIs), 2B Gavin Lux (.251/.320/.383, 10 HRs, 50 RBIs)
On one side – Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto. On the other side – Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Even in the World Series, star power like this has rarely been assembled outside of an All-Star Game.
It’s power and patience versus – well, power and patience. Get ready for some looooong games, pitch clock be damned. The Yankees and Dodgers had the lowest chase rates in baseball during the regular season. That hasn’t changed in October. The Dodgers drew a postseason-record 42 walks during their six-game NLCS. The Yankees have drawn 56 in their 13 postseason games. The Dodgers have homered 20 times in their 11 postseason games. The Yankees hit 10 home runs against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS – nine coming from the trio of Stanton (four), Soto (three) and Judge (two).
Those homers were rare signs of postseason life from Judge. He is a .203 career hitter in the playoffs, including just six hits in his last 47 postseason at-bats (.128) coming into this series. On the other side, though – Freeman has been unproductive playing on his injured ankle. He has just one hit in his past 15 at-bats and no extra-base hits since suffering the injury on Sept. 26.
But matchups like this are often decided by the supporting cast. If that is the case here, the Dodgers have more candidates to shine alongside the stars. Tommy Edman just won the NLCS MVP after driving in a franchise-record tying 11 runs in six games against the Mets. Max Muncy tied the all-time postseason record by reaching base in 12 consecutive plate appearances against the Mets. Kiké Hernandez has assumed his October persona, batting .303 with two home runs and an .863 OPS this postseason.
And, they scored 28 runs while winning the three games with Freeman out of the lineup.
Anthony Volpe (a .459 OBP in the postseason) and Gleyber Torres (.400) have stepped up their games as setup men for the Yankees’ big bombers, but Alex Verdugo, Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm have each hit under .200 during the postseason. EDGE: DODGERS
STARTING PITCHERS
YANKEES: RH Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.4 Ks per 9 IP), LH Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.0 Ks per 9 IP), RH Luis Gil (15-7, 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 10.1 Ks per 9 IP), RH Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.85 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.8 Ks per 9 IP)
DODGERS: RH Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 10.8 Ks per 9 IP with Tigers and Dodgers), RH Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 10.5 Ks per 9 IP), RH Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 7.6 Ks per 9 IP)
The Dodgers are not here because of their starting pitching. They are here despite the limitations of their starting options. Jack Flaherty (seven scoreless innings in Game 1 of the NLCS), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (five scoreless innings in Game 5 of the NLDS) and Walker Buehler (four scoreless innings in Game 3 of the NLCS) have each had their good moments during this postseason run. And they have each sunk the Dodgers with a poor start – Buehler allowed six runs in the second inning of NLDS Game 3 (with some help from his defense), Yamamoto gave up five runs in three innings of NLDS Game 1 and Flaherty gave up eight runs in three innings of NLCS Game 5.
Like a box of chocolates, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts can’t be sure what he might get from any of the three and he has to be ready to spit one out quickly if it turns out to be coconut.
The Yankees, on the other hand, have an ace to ride in Gerrit Cole. He hasn’t been great this fall (a 3.31 ERA in three starts), but he has a 2.98 ERA in 20 career postseason starts and is the one pitcher in this matchup with the potential to change the dynamics of the series with two dominant starts. EDGE: YANKEES
PROJECTED BULLPEN
YANKEES: RH Luke Weaver (7-3, 2.89 ERA, 4 saves, 0.93 WHIP, 11.0 Ks per 9 IP), RH Clay Holmes (3-5, 3.14 ERA, 30 saves, 13 blown saves, 1.30 WHIP, 9.7 Ks per 9 IP), RH Tommy Kahnle (0-2, 2.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.7 Ks per 9 IP), LH Tim Hill (4-0, 3.36 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.2 Ks per 9 IP with White Sox and Yankees), RH Jake Cousins (2-1, 2.37 ERA, 1 save, 1.05 WHIP, 12.6 Ks per 9 IP), RH Mark Leiter Jr. (4-5, 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 1.33 Ks per 9 IP with Cubs and Yankees), RH Marcus Stroman (10-9, 4.31 ERA, 1.47 WHIP in 30 games, 29 starts), LH Tim Mayza (0-2, 6.33 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 5.9 Ks per 9 IP with Blue Jays and Yankees), LH Nestor Cortes (9-10, 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP in 31 games, 30 starts)
DODGERS: RH Michael Kopech (6-8, 15 saves, 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11.7 Ks per 9 IP with White Sox and Dodgers), RH Evan Phillips (5-1, 18 saves, 3.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 10.4 Ks per 9 IP), RH Blake Treinen (7-3, 1 save, 1.93 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 10.8 Ks per 9 IP), RH Ryan Brasier (1-0, 3.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 8.0 Ks per 9 IP), RH Daniel Hudson (6-2, 10 saves, 3.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 9.0 Ks per 9 IP), LH Anthony Banda (3-2, 2 saves, 3.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 9.1 Ks per 9 IP), RH Brent Honeywell Jr. (1-1, 1 save, 2.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 4.3 Ks per 9 IP), RH Ben Casparius (2-0, 2.16 ERA in 3 games), LH Alex Vesia (5-4, 1.76 ERA, 5 saves, 1.00 WHIP, 11.8 Ks per 9 IP), RH Landon Knack (3-5, 3.65 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 9.0 Ks per 9 IP)
The Dodgers would not be here without the collective brilliance of this group over the past three weeks – but you still don’t get to give yourselves a nickname, Dawgs. Relievers have handled 60⅓ innings this postseason (including the three ‘opener’ assignments by Ryan Brasier and Michael Kopech) – starters just 36⅔ – and were largely responsible for the postseason record-tying streak of 33 scoreless innings against the Padres and Mets. The core four of Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Kopech and Daniel Hudson have allowed just three runs in their 24 innings. And they might get Alex Vesia back for the World Series – a huge plus.
The Yankees have leaned on their bullpen pretty heavily this postseason as well – it’s de rigueur in October these days. But they blew leads in the frenetic ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians and have leaned heavily on the tandem of Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes. Holmes led the majors with 13 blown saves and was replaced as closer by Weaver late in the season. If the Dodgers remain committed to their patient approach at the plate, the pressure will be on middle men like Tim Hill and Tommy Kahnle. Nestor Cortes represents a potential wild card. The Yankees are expected to add Cortes to the roster after he missed the past month with a flexor strain. A starter during the regular season, he could be an interesting option against the lefties in the Dodgers’ lineup. EDGE: DODGERS
BENCH
YANKEES: IF Oswaldo Cabrera (.247/.291/.365, 8 HRs, 36 RBIs), IF Jon Berti (.273/.342/.318, 1 HR, 6 RBIs), OF Trent Grisham (.190/.290/.385, 9 HRs, 31 RBIs), OF Jasson Dominguez (.179/.313/.617, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 4 SBs), C Jose Trevino (.215/.288/.354, 8 HRs, 28 RBIs)
DODGERS: IF/OF Chris Taylor (.202/.298/.300, 4 HRs, 23 RBIs, 5 SBs), C Austin Barnes (.264/.331/.307, 1 HR, 11 RBIs), OF Andy Pages (.248/.305/.407, 13 HRs, 46 RBIs), OF Kevin Kiermaier (.197/.237/.313, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs, 6 SBs), SS Miguel Rojas (.283/.337/.410, 6 HRs, 36 RBIs, 6 SBs)
The Dodgers have already gained an advantage from their depth. The injury to Miguel Rojas forced them to move Edman to shortstop and also opened a spot for Kiké Hernandez (fall version) in the everyday lineup. Andy Pages will play against left-handed pitching as well, and he showed his value with a two-homer game in NLCS Game 5. The Yankees have tapped into their bench very little so far this postseason. EDGE: DODGERS
MANAGERS
YANKEES: Aaron Boone, seventh season (603-429, .584), sixth postseason (21-19, .525)
DODGERS: Dave Roberts, ninth season (851-505, .627), ninth postseason (52-43, .547)
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Dodgers vs. Yankees? You want to talk real rivalries. How about USC (Aaron Boone) vs. UCLA (Dave Roberts)? Or is it Yankees (Boone’s back-breaking homer in the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox) vs. Red Sox (Roberts’ iconic stolen base in the 2004 ALCS for the Red Sox)? As managers, the two rivals can certainly empathize with each other. Both live with the constant criticism that comes with running one of the sport’s blue-blood franchises complete with massive payrolls only exceeded by the expectations all of that creates. Boone has yet to be truly tested in the postseason. Roberts has been through the fire – and been burned by it. This postseason, though, he is (as players say) “on a heater,” making all the right calls. The thin margins separating these two teams will require that he not make any missteps now. EDGE: EVEN
SERIES PREDICTION
In many ways, this World Series will be played in a mirror. These two teams have so much in common. They were built the same way, using their franchise’s ample resources. They play the game in very similar fashion, relying on star-studded lineups that bully opponents with power and patience. Offensively, they had the two lowest chase rates in baseball this season, finished second and third in the majors in runs scored, first and fourth in slugging percentage, second and third in on-base percentage, first and second in walks, first and third in home runs. The Dodgers run the bases much better and play better defense. The Yankees have more potential in their starting pitchers. It’s going to take awhile to separate these two. PREDICTION: DODGERS IN SEVEN