The matchup much of baseball has been waiting for is here, with the two biggest behemoths in the sport facing each other in the World Series for the first time since 1981.
Back then, Dodgers-Yankees was almost routine this time of year and now that they’re finally back, they also feature some of the game’s most prominent names.
Here’s a look at how the teams will look when the series begins Friday at Dodger Stadium:
At the plate
Getting on base
The Yankees have gotten some unexpected production in this area, from Anthony Rizzo — who is playing with two fractured fingers in his right hand — as well as Anthony Volpe, the second-year shortstop who’s had some of the best at-bats of his young career during this postseason.
At the top of the lineup, Gleyber Torres has continued his second-half resurgence in the leadoff spot and has reached base to start a game in all but one of nine Yankee playoff games, and Juan Soto has picked up where he left off from his excellent regular season.
Anthony Volpe at the plate during the Yankees-Guardians game on Oct. 19, 2024.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Though Giancarlo Stanton has helped carry the middle of the lineup, Aaron Judge and Austin Wells are having rough postseasons.
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy has been an on-base machine in October, reaching base a postseason-record 12 straight plate appearances. And Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts have also been tough outs.
Freddie Freeman, normally a vital piece to Los Angeles’ offense, has struggled badly, mostly due to an injured ankle he’s trying to play through.
The emergence of NLCS MVP Tommy Edman this postseason, though, has more than made up for Freeman’s woes, as has the continued playoff excellence of veteran Kiké Hernandez. Gavin Lux has had success against right-handed pitchers and is expected back from a hip injury.
Edge: Dodgers
Power
If we’re going by the regular season, we’d point to Judge’s 58 home runs, but his postseason issues have resurfaced again.
He did homer in back-to-back games against Cleveland in the ALCS and has shown repeatedly a knack for going on incredible hot streaks.
Juan Soto rounds the bases during the Yankees-Guardians game on Oct. 19, 2024.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The bad news for the Dodgers is that Soto is immune to playoff pressure and Stanton seems to thrive on it. Both are in the middle of superb Octobers and have proven their ability to hit homers at the most important times. See Game 5 of the ALCS as an example.
Though Rizzo has provided some solid production at the plate, it’s clear the hand injury has depleted his power.
Without Freeman’s slugging, as well as a poor postseason from Teoscar Hernandez, the Dodgers have gotten by not only with the usual production from Betts and Ohtani, but Kiké Hernandez and Edman.
And Will Smith is always capable of going deep this time of year.
Edge: Even
Mookie Betts celebrates during the Dodgers-Mets game on Oct. 20, 2024.Jason Szenes / New York Post
In the field
Infield
The Yankees got by in the first two rounds with some sloppy infield defense, notably at first base, where Rizzo and his fill-in, Jon Berti, had issues.
Jazz Chisholm is still prone to miscues at third base.Jason Szenes / New York Post
And Jazz Chisholm Jr., who has been a mess at the plate in the playoffs, is still prone to miscues at third base, a position that remains fairly new to him.
But Volpe has been solid, as usual. Lux is expected to be at second, at least against righties, and has not been good there.
The Yankees hope Torres avoids some of the ugly mistakes he made at times during the regular season.
The Yankees hope Torres avoids some of the ugly mistakes he made at times during the regular season.
The state of the Dodgers infield is still somewhat in flux, as they await the availability of shortstop Miguel Rojas, who missed the NLCS with a torn adductor muscle.
That forced Edman from the outfield to shortstop. Perhaps the stability of the Yankee infield will give them an advantage, as Muncy may have to move from third to first and Kiké Hernandez from the infield to the outfield, depending on injuries and matchups.
Edge: Yankees
Outfield
With the offensive numbers Judge and Soto typically put up, their lackluster performance on defense hasn’t been an issue, and Alex Verdugo — in the lineup every game in part due to his solid play on defense — remains strong in left.
Los Angeles lived with Teoscar Hernandez’s shaky play in left because of his 33 homers.
Now that he’s in the middle of an ill-timed slump, that defense looks even worse.
Andy Pages and Betts are fine.
Edge: Even
Teoscar Hernandez has been shaky in left field for the Dodgers.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
On the bases
After putting up the first 50-50 season in MLB history — an accomplishment that helped lead Judge to call him “the best player in the game” — Ohtani has not stolen a base this offseason.
But seven other Dodgers have.
Though Chisholm hasn’t gotten on base much, he’s swiped two bases.
Shohei Ohtani has not stolen a base this offseason after recording 59 in the regular season.AP
Torres, while at the top of the Yankees’ batting order, isn’t fast and was thrown out at the plate in the ALCS.
Edge: Dodgers
Bench
If Rizzo can go, the Yankees don’t figure to use their bench much, although Jasson Dominguez or Berti could be used as a pinch-runner.
Oswaldo Cabrera’s defensive versatility may come in handy, and if Jose Trevino sees the field, things are not going well for Wells. Injuries have forced the Dodgers to get creative with their lineup, which they are adept at doing.
Pages started in center with Edman at short and Chris Taylor slid in at second for Lux and Los Angeles was able to get by the Mets in the NLCS.
Edge: Dodgers
On the mound
Rotation
This is where things could get interesting, as the Dodgers have withstood a number of injuries to their rotation to get this far.
They used seven relievers in a bullpen game in their Game 6 clincher over the Mets and will have to do another bullpen game at least once during this series.
As for the regular starters, trade acquisition Jack Flaherty — an LA native — has been roughed up in two of his three postseason starts.
Jack Flaherty has been roughed up in two of his three postseason starts.Getty Images
He allowed eight runs in three innings to the Mets in a Game 5 loss and could be running on fumes.
They’re expected to go with Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 and Walker Buehler in Game 3 or 4.
Yamamoto has pitched well in two of his three October outings, but doesn’t provide much length and neither does Buehler.
Gerrit Cole gets the Game 1 start for the Yankees, with Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil behind him.
Gerrit Cole speaks to the media on Oct. 24, 2024.AP
The Yankees rotation hasn’t provided a ton of length, either, but they’ve allowed the pen not to be overused.
Cole has been a bit off in two of his three playoff starts and Rodon and Schmidt haven’t overpowered, but in nine postseason games, the Yankees have gotten 44 innings out of their starters, while the Dodgers have gotten just 40 in 11 playoff games.
Edge: Yankees
Bullpen
Among the reasons the Dodgers are comfortable riding their bullpen so hard is its effectiveness.
Though their pen has been taxed, reinforcements could be coming, as lefty Alex Vesia, who missed the NLCS with an intercostal injury, and right-hander Brusdar Graterol, out with shoulder inflammation, may be back for the World Series.
Closer Blake Treinen has been strong and the Dodgers have gotten good innings out of Michael Kopech, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius and Anthony Banda.
Blake Treinen celebrates after the Dodgers-Mets game on Oct. 20, 2024.USA TODAY Sports
The Yankees have relied heavily on Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle and new closer Luke Weaver, and they pitched well — other than a meltdown in Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland.
With the dangerous left-handed hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup, southpaws Tim Hill — terrific so far in the postseason — and Tim Mayza will be relied on even more.
The likely return of Nestor Cortes could have a significant impact on the pen, as the versatile left-hander hasn’t pitched in over a month with a flexor strain.
He’s risking further injury by returning at this point, but if he can stay healthy — and be effective — he’ll provide another valuable option. Big outs were also recorded by Mark Leiter Jr. and Jake Cousins.
Edge: Dodgers
Luke Weaver pitches during the Yankees-Guardians game on Oct. 19, 2024.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Manager
Aaron Boone and Dave Roberts have both had good postseasons to get here because— despite their respective teams’ lofty payrolls and expectations — each had to make decisions to get to this point.
Boone and the Yankees had the smoother path, having to play the Royals and Guardians from the AL Central, but he’s deployed his bullpen well and been rewarded with keeping Torres atop the lineup.
Aaron Boone speaks to the media on Oct. 24, 2024.JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST
Roberts and the Dodgers have had to deal with the Padres, with one of the game’s best rosters, and the red-hot Mets to get this far.
And he’s done it with a rotation that’s been ravaged by injuries and a hobbled Freeman.
Edge: Dodgers
Intangibles
These teams have been expected to meet for years, but it hadn’t happened in over four decades.
They have arguably the two most popular players in the game in Judge and Ohtani, but the Yankees are healthier and at least have some semblance of a rotation.
Edge: Yankees
Source : nypost.com
