Game one of the World Series is this Friday, as the New York Yankees are playing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the clash for the World Championship.
The Dodgers come into the World Series riding a record of 98 wins and 64 losses. They won the NLDS 3-2 against the San Diego Padres. They then won the NLCS against the Mets 4-2.
This team is stacked with talent up and down the roster and have players such as Freddie Freeman, Gavin Lux, NLCS MVP Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy in the infield. The outfield is also filled with star power, such as Mookie Betts, James Outman, and Teoscar Hernandez. They also have Shohei Ohtani, who is playing in his first World Series in his career, and pitchers Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Yoshinibu Yamamato, Evan Philips, and others.
The Yankees come into the World Series with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. They won the ALDS against the Royals 3-2. They then beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-1.
The Yankees also have a whole bunch of star power, with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Jazz Chissom (in the outfield), Giancarlo Stanton (as the designated hitter), and Anthony Volpe and Gleyber Torres. At pitcher, the Yankees don’t have as much star power, but Garrett Cole is very good and Carlos Rodon has given decent performances in the regular season for the Yankees. The Bullpen is filled with good arms, such as Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, and Nestor Cortes (who is expected to return to the roster after missing a month due to a strained arm flexor, among others). They also have Oswaldo Cabrera as a utility infielder and Jose Trevino as the catcher.
The Dodgers are favored to win the World Series, but anything goes in October. If the bullpen of the Dodgers struggles to close games, the Yankees offense will make the Dodgers pay. The Dodgers have better pitching, while the Yankees have the better offense in this clash.
This is how each game will go in my opinion:
Game one:
Yankees at Dodgers
Dodgers:6
Yankees:2
The Dodgers will get off to a hot start, and chase pitcher Garrett Cole from the game early in the second innings after allowing three earned runs. Walker Buheler will play a dominant game, pitching six innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. The Yankees will start an eighth inning rally, with a single by Oswaldo Cabrera and a two run home run for Aaron Judge, but Brett Honeywell will shut it down with three straight outs in fifteen pitches. Shohei Ohtani’s bat goes cold, and he will finish 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Game two:
Dodgers: 8
Yankees: 6
The Yankees will take the lead early in Game Two, with hits by Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Jazz Chizzolm, and will chase Yamamoto from the game through 3 ⅓ innings. Carlos Rodon won’t fare any better, and by the fourth inning, the game will turn into a duel of the bullpens, Shohei will deliver with two home runs in the game, and Evan Phillips will close down the game, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the series.
Game three:
Yankees at Dodgers
Yankees: 7
Dodgers: 3
The series shifts to New York City, when the Yankees will attempt to get back in the series, which they will manage to do with a great win against the Dodgers at home. The game will begin as a pitcher’s duel between Clarke Schmidt and Jack Flaherty. However, a five run seventh inning by the Yankees will open the door. The Yankees will never look back, and will win the game 7-3.
Game four:
Dodgers vs Yankees
Yankees: 12
Dodgers: 11
Game 4 will become an instant classic between the two franchises, with fireworks throughout the game at Yankee Stadium. Luis Gil will start the game by promptly allowing a solo shot to Shohei Ohtani. He will walk Mookie Betts, and then will allow a double to Teoscar Hernandez, driving in Mookie Betts. Gil will manage to get out of it, and for a while, the game will settle down until the fourth inning, when Gil will allow two singles, before Gavin Lux will hit a three-run-homer to make the score 5-0. Gil will then be pulled, and Clay Holmes will stop the bleeding. The bottom of the fifth will start out inconspicuously, with hits by Soto, Stanton, and Chizzolm, before Volpe drives in Soto to make it 5-1. Dave Roberts will then pull Landon Knack, and Brusidal Graterol, who just joined the Dodgers’ playoff roster, will allow a hit by Oswaldo Cabrera to load the bases once again. Then, Jose Trevino will hit a grand slam, tying the game at 5-5. The action won’t end there, and the two teams will trade runs, and enter the ninth inning tied. The game will go into extra innings, where the Dodgers will strike first, taking a 11-9 lead into the 12th inning on a Shohei Ohtani two run homer. The Yankees will be taken to their last out, before rallying for 2 hits off of Evan Phillips by Anthony Rizzo, who is playing his first game of the World Series, and Anthony Volpe. Then, Gleyber Torres will enter Yankee lore by hitting a walk-off home run, which will win Game four and tie the series up at two games apiece.
Game five:
Dodgers at Yankees
Dodgers: 14
Yankees: 3
This game is the least interesting, so I will spend the least time on this game. Gavin Lux will nearly hit for the cycle, only needing a triple to accomplish the feat. Aaron Boone will decide to gamble and have Marcus Stroman start for the Yankees, a move which will backfire spectacularly, as he will allow eight runs in 2 ⅔ innings, walk five batters, and allow 12 hits. Freddie Freeman will hit a home run, and a dominant showing from the Dodgers’ bullpen will give the Dodgers the victory and will put them only one win away from the World Series championship.
Game six:
Yankees at Dodgers
Dodgers: 4
Yankees: 1
The bullpen of the Yankees has not played well this series, and it will turn out to be the fatal flaw for the Yankees. Garrett Cole will pitch through 7 ⅓ innings, but Tommy Kahnle will allow a double, single, and then a three run homer to Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers will get a great game from Walker Buehler, and the Dodgers will win the World Series after a Trent Grisham flyout to Teoscar Hernandez. Evan Phillips will be named MVP of the World Series, and the city of Los Angeles will rejoice, giving the city some positive news for a change.
