The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to the World Series for the fourth time in eight years, where the New York Yankees are waiting. It marks the 12th time these two baseball Goliaths have faced each other at the World Series and the first time since the Dodgers came back from 0-2 to claim the title in six games. Confidence is high in both camps, but if the Dodgers are to clinch their eighth World Series ring, they may have to start their quest for glory without Freddie Freeman in the starting lineup.
Freeman, an eight-time All-Star and former NL MVP, won the World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. He put pen to paper on a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers in March 2022 and has continued his excellent form at the Dodger Stadium. Freeman hit his sixth career grand slam against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 20 and another on July 19 against the Boston Red Sox. However, the first baseman continues struggling with an ankle injury threatening his participation in Game 1 on October 25.
Freeman sprained his ankle on September 26, which usually takes four to six weeks to recover. He sat out Game 6 of the NLCS, with Max Muncy shifting to first base and Kike Hernandez starting at third base. Before that game, manager Dave Roberts revealed Freeman took batting practice the day prior but didn’t feel himself, so the decision was to give him another day’s rest. Despite Freeman potentially missing out on Game 1, the MLB World Series online betting sites can’t separate the two teams, although the Dodgers go into the game as narrow favorites.
The Ohtani Versus Judge Show
The 120th edition of the World Series marks the first time since the 2020 World Series that both teams had the best record in the league. The Yankees finished their regular season campaign with a 94-68 (.580) record in the American League East, while the Dodgers finished five games ahead of the San Diego Padres courtesy of an impressive 98-64 (.605) season.
The 2024 World Series is also the first in MLB history to feature two batters who hit 50 home runs on opposing teams in the same regular season. Shohei Ohtani has been sensational this season. He became only the sixth player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, stealing 40 bases and hitting 40 home runs in a regular season. The Japanese star joined Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuna Jr. in the exclusive club.
Amazingly, Ohtani wasn’t finished there because he created a 50-50 club for himself. Players have hit 50 or more home runs more than 50 times and stolen at least 50 bases almost 500 times, but only Ohtani has managed both in the same season. In 150 games, Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases, setting an MLB record that could stand for many years.
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge started the 2024 regular season slowly after an injury-interrupted preseason but finished it in style. On August 14, Judge hit his 300th home run, becoming the fastest player to this landmark, taking only 955 games and 3,431 at-bats. Eleven days later, he hit his 50th and 51st home runs of the season, becoming only the fifth MLB player to hit 50 or more home runs in three or more seasons. The stage is set for these two incredible players to juke it out for the World Series MVP award.
History Favors the Yankees, But Does It Count For Much?
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees face each other in the World Series for the 12th time and the first time since 1981. The Yankees are 8-3 in previous contests, suggesting history favors the New Yorkers, but does that record count for much? Probably not, is the answer. Previous matchups span multiple decades, from the Brooklyn Dodgers era to the Los Angeles Dodgers era, with the last battle occurring some 43 years ago.
The Dodgers, then of Brooklyn, first clashed with the Yankees in the World Series in 1941, where the Yankees won 4-1. In 1947, the Yankees came out on top in a thrilling seven-game series before winning comfortably 4-1 two years later.
In 1952, the Yankees won 4-3 and back-to-back World Series with a 4-2 victory. The Dodgers won their first-ever World Series title with a 4-3 win over the Yankees in 1955, but the Yankees exacted revenge the next season, running out 4-3 winners.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers, they swept the Yankees 4-0 in 1963. The two iconic teams didn’t face each other on baseball’s grandest stage for another 14 years; the Yankees won 4-2 in 1977. The Dodgers lost 2-4 in 1978 but won by the same scoreline when the teams last locked horns at the 1981 World Series.
That 1981 victory was a superb spectacle. The Dodgers lost the opening two games at the Yankee Stadium before winning the next three games at the Dodger Stadium. Game 6 took place in New York a day later than was originally scheduled because of rain. Whether it was the extra day’s rest or not, the Dodgers demolished the Yankees in their backyard, running out 9-2 winners and taking the 1981 World Series in six games.
Can The Dodgers Win the 2024 World Series?
The Dodgers enter the 2024 World Series as narrow favorites over the Yankees, so an eighth title looks on the cards. Dodgers fans will look back at the three-game series against the Yankees in New York in June, where the Dodgers came out on top 2-1 on the road. Even if Freeman misses the first couple of games through injury, the Dodgers have enough strength in depth to get the job done. It likely won’t be a 4-0 sweep, but we would be surprised if all seven games were required to decide on this exciting encounter.
