2024 MLB World Series Preview: Picks & Predictions (Yankees vs. Dodgers)
The New York Yankees will battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series.
If nothing else, at least the ratings will be good. The Yankees and Dodgers are the two most popular franchises with the richest history of success.
The Yankees and Dodgers have 34 combined championships. When the series is over, a 35th will be added.
Below, we’ll analyze the Yankees-Dodgers World Series and predict which team will win it all.
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2024 World Series Preview: Picks & Predictions
New York Yankees Picks & Predictions
Here’s how the Yankees will begin the World Series with their starting rotation.
- Game 1: RHP Gerrit Cole
- Game 2: LHP Carlos Rodon
- Game 3: RHP Clarke Schmidt
While Game 4 isn’t confirmed, Luis Gil will likely start Game 4. If Games 5, 6, and 7 are necessary, the rotation would just start with Cole down to Schmidt again.
Cole has struggled a bit against righties over the last month. He’s also allowed more line drives than ground balls and has struggled to find his strikeout pitch against righties. Ultimately, one of the era’s best pitchers hasn’t even struck out more than four batters in his postseason games this year.
On the other hand, lefty Carlos Rodon hasn’t finished more than five innings in two of his first three postseason starts. He’s had some really good stretches. But most of all, he’s only walked one batter through 14.1 innings.
Clarke Schmidt is in line for Game 3. Again, the trend for Yankees starters has been that their pitchers can’t get through five innings. Schmidt has pitched 4.2 innings in both postseason starts. He’s been average at best.
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ lineup has shown plenty of power against righties, with Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton leading the charge. However, this team has struggled way more against lefties in the last month.
The good news for the Yankees is that the Dodgers don’t have a lefty starter. They’ve only used righty starters and multiple bullpen games this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers Picks & Predictions
Here’s how the Dodgers will begin the World Series with their starting rotation.
- Game 1: RHP Jack Flaherty
- Game 2: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The rest of the rotation isn’t concerned. But the Dodgers only have three starters and will need to use a bullpen game multiple times if the series goes seven games.
We know Jack Flaherty will get the start in Game 1. Flaherty dominated the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS and was rocked in Game 5. His velocity was down, which is something to consider when considering this game seriously.
Flaherty has really struggled against right-handed hitters over the last month. The strikeouts are also very low compared to earlier this season with the Tigers. He’s struck out just 14.8% of batters over the previous month.
In the second game, it’ll be Japanese rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto’s strikeouts are above-average and he’s limited walks well. However, righties are still finding some power against Yamamoto. He’s given up 50% of hard contact and nearly 41% of fly balls over the last 30 days to righties.
Los Angeles will likely run with a bullpen game in Game 3 and then use veteran righty Walker Buehler in Game 4. However, this isn’t confirmed. It’s an educated guess.
The Dodgers will face a righty first. The projected lineup has torn the cover off the baseball against righties over the last 30 days, adding a .240 ISO and wOBA of .373 against righties. They’ve hit for less power against lefties but are still patient. The Dodgers have walked 13.8% of the time against lefties and have still added a .388 wOBA.
2024 World Series Picks & Predictions
The Yankees have done some phenomenal things this year. However, the lineup just doesn’t compare to the Dodgers. There’s been little consistency from the bottom of the order.
Anthony Rizzo, Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Alex Verdugo have shown almost no consistent power throughout the postseason. The projected lineup has also struck out 22.2% of the time in the last month. While the Yankees have walked rapidly, I’m afraid they’ll be just like the Mets.
They’ll get guys on base, but the Dodgers will wiggle out of trouble and escape unscathed. There were times when the Mets earned that big hit, but it wasn’t consistent. The bottom of the Yankees’ order will likely kill rallies.
On the other hand, the Dodgers’ bottom of the order has been super efficient. The entire lineup is feasting with power and getting on base at a high rate. Tommy Edman was the only player coming into the playoffs who hadn’t been producing, and now he’s coming off an NLCS MVP.
Los Angeles is just too deep. They’ll get the big hits, but the Yankees won’t. That’s precisely why the Mets lost, and it’ll be why the Yankees lose.
- I’ve got the Dodgers in six.
- MLB Pick: Dodgers To Win World Series (-122)
- MLB Pick: Dodgers Win Series 4-2 (+420)