The 120th World Series
Today will mark the 120th renewal of the World Series featuring the American League Champion New York Yankees and the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Fall Classic was first played in 1903, and has taken place every year except 1904, when the National League champion New York Giants and their manger John McGraw refused to play the AL champs, the Boston Red Sox, and in 1994, when the season ended on August 11th due to the players’ strike. The series was a best-of-nine in 1903, 1919, 1920 and 1921.
It is the 12th time that the storied franchises have faced off in the World Series, the most frequent World Series matchup. Previous matchups include: 1981, 1978, 1977, 1963, 1956, 1955, 1953, 1952, 1949, 1947 and 1941 with the Yankees winning eight times. The 12 matchups are tied with the Celtics-Lakers for the most common championship round matchup in professional sports history. Overall, the Yankees’ 41 World Series appearances and the Dodgers’ 22 World Series appearances are the most and second-most, respectively, of any Major League club.
Best of the Best
The Dodgers (98-64) and Yankees (94-68) each held the best records in their respective leagues this season. It is the first time that the top teams in each league are facing off in the Fall Classic since the Dodgers bested the Rays in the 2020 World Series and the first time in a full season since 2013 when the Red Sox topped the Cardinals.
Since the LCS was established in 1969, it is the 14th time that the clubs with the best record in their league are facing off in the Fall Classic. Prior to 2013, other matchups include 1999 (NYY over ATL); 1995 (ATL over CLE); 1992 (TOR over ATL); 1986 (NYM over BOS); 1982 (STL over MIL); 1979 (PIT over BAL); 1978 (NYY over LAD); 1976 (CIN over NYY); 1971 (PIT over BAL); 1970 (BAL over CIN); and 1969 (NYM over BAL).
Star Power
Aaron Judge (58 HR) and Shohei Ohtani (54 HR) will face off on Baseball’s largest stage following their remarkable seasons in which each player slugged at least 50 homers, marking the first time ever that two players with at least 50 regular season home runs will face off in the World Series.
This is the first time since 1956 that the home run leaders of both leagues will meet in the World Series, when Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider faced off in a previous Yankees-Dodgers Fall Classic.
With Judge and Ohtani both favored to win Most Valuable Player it would be the seventh time since 1969 that the MVPs in each league faced off in the World Series (h/t @SlangsOnSports). The pair could join Buster Posey and Miguel Cabrera (2012); Jose Canseco and Kirk Gibson (1988); George Brett and Mike Schmidt (1980); Joe Morgan and Thurman Munson (1976); Fred Lynn and Joe Morgan (1975); and Boog Powell and Johnny Bench (1970).
Overall, there are eight 2024 All-Stars on this year’s World Series rosters, including Clay Holmes, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto of the Yankees, and Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith of the Dodgers. Additionally, Tyler Glasnow was named an All-Star prior to his season-ending injury. With Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Judge and Stanton, there are 5 players who have won MVP in their careers that will play in the World Series, marking the most former MVPs ever in a single Fall Classic.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Gerrit Cole
Age: 34 (9/8/1990)
Birthplace: Newport Beach, CA
School: UCLA
Drafted: 1st Round (28th) in 2008 by PIT
2024 Regular Season: 8-5, 3.41 ERA
2024 Postseason: 1-0, 3.31 ERA
Postseason Performance
Cole has made three starts this Postseason, going 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA (6 ER/16.1 IP). Allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in Game 1 of the ALDS against Kansas City. He also pitched the ALDS-clinching Game 4, taking the win as he allowed just one run on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings on the mound. Pitched once in the ALCS, starting Game 2 as he allowed two runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts across 4.1 innings of work.
- 10/5 vs. KC: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO (80 pitches, 56 strikes)
- 10/10 at KC: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (87 pitches, 63 strikes)
- 10/15 vs. CLE: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO (89 pitches, 53 strikes)
Against the Dodgers
Will face Los Angeles for the ninth time in his career and first time this season. Is 4-2 with a 5.01 ERA (26 ER/46.2 IP). Last faced Los Angeles on June 3, 2023, taking the win as he allowed one run on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts across 6.0 innings of work. He has never faced the Dodgers in the Postseason.
On the Road Again
Is 6-3 away from Yankee Stadium this season, pitching to a 2.33 ERA (14 ER/54.0 IP) in eight regular season starts and one Postseason start. Is pitching at Dodger Stadium for the sixth time in his career with his last start coming on June 3, 2023.
Regular Season
Began the season on the 60-Day Injured List with right elbow inflammation. Made his return to the rotation on June 19th as he took a no-decision against Baltimore in 4.0 innings of work. Struck out a season-high 10 batters on August 10th against Texas but did not factor into the decision. Overall, New York was 10-7 when he pitched this season and took the win in all four of his starts from June 30th through July 19th, with Cole claiming a win in three of the four starts.
Show Me What You Got
Cole relies on six pitches (2024 stats):
- 4-Seam Fastball – 45.6%, .236 opp. AVG
- Knuckle Curve – 18.7%, .244 opp. AVG
- Cutter – 15.8%, .113 opp. AVG
- Slider – 15.1%, .333 opp. AVG
- Changeup – 4.0%, .212 opp. AVG
- Sinker – 0.8%, .111 opp. AVG
Battle Tested
Cole is making his 21st career Postseason start since making his debut in 2013. His 21 Postseason starts are third-most in the Majors since 2013 behind only Clayton Kershaw (30 GS) and Justin Verlander (25 GS). Since 2018, he has made 17 Postseason starts, tied with Walker Buehler for the most in the Majors, while Cole’s 10 Postseason wins are the most since 2018. Overall, he has worked 120.2 Postseason innings in his career, which are the 18th-most as a starter in Postseason history. This will be his third career World Series start after he took the ball in Game 1 and Game 5 of the 2019 Fall Classic.
Jack Flaherty
Age: 28 (10/15/1995)
Birthplace: Burbank, CA
School: Harvard-Westlake High School (CA)
Drafted: 1st Round (34th) in 2014 by STL
2024 Regular Season: 13-7, 3.17 ERA
2024 Postseason: 1-2, 7.04 ERA
Postseason Performance
Flaherty has made three starts this Postseason going 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA (4 ER/12.1 IP). His first start of the Postseason was Game 2 of the NLDS, allowing a pair of home runs and five hits with one walk and two strikeouts. The contest marked his fifth career Postseason start. He toed the rubber in Game 1 of the NLCS allowing just two hits across 7.0 shutout innings with two walks and six strikeouts. He helped the Dodgers push their scoreless streak to a Postseason-record 31.0 IP. Took the ball again in Game 5 of the NLCS as he allowed eight runs on eight hits across 3.0 innings, taking the loss.
- 10/6 vs. SD: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (90 pitches, 57 strikes)
- 10/13 vs. NYM: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO (98 pitches, 59 strikes)
- 10/18 at NYM: 3.0 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO (75 pitches, 41 strikes)
Against the Yankees
Will face New York for the second time in his career. Is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/6.0 IP). Earned the win on July 1, 2023 as a member of the Orioles, allowing four hits across 6.0 shutout innings as he walked two and struck out four batters.
Home Sweet Home
Went 5-4 with a 3.44 ERA (28 ER/73.1 IP) at his home ballparks this regular season. Was 3-1 with a 3.34 ERA (11 ER/29.2 IP) in five starts at Dodger Stadium after being dealt from the Tigers at the Trade Deadline. In his Postseason career, he holds a 1-1 record with a 3.14 ERA (5 ER/14.1 IP) at home against a 1-4 record with a 5.88 ERA (17 ER/26.0 IP) on the road.
Regular Season
Went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA (57 ER/162.0 IP) across 28 starts with the Tigers (18 GS) and Dodgers (10 GS). Posted six scoreless starts on April 30th; May 30th; June 4th; August 3rd and September 8th. Took the win in four consecutive starts from May 30th through June 21st, going 4-0 with a 0.40 ERA (1 ER/22.1 IP), 27 strikeouts, a 0.67 WHIP and a .143 opponents’ average. The streak was tied for the second-longest of his career after he also won four straight starts in 2023.
The Arsenal
Flaherty relies on five pitches (2024 stats):
- 4-Seam Fastball – 44.3%, .245 opp. AVG
- Slider – 29.0%, .222 opp. AVG
- Knuckle Curve – 21.8%, .164 opp. AVG
- Changeup – 2.7%, .111 opp. AVG
- Sinker – 2.1%, .600 opp. AVG
Golden Boy
Flaherty, who is a native of Burbank, is one of eight California-born pitchers to start a Postseason game for the Dodgers. He joins Hall of Famer Don Drysdale as the only California-born starters to win a Postseason game for the Dodgers since they moved to Los Angeles in 1958. Flaherty will become just the third California-born starting pitcher for the Dodgers in the World Series since 1958 joining Drysdale and Tony Gonsolin.
We’re Back!
The Dodgers are in the World Series for the 22nd time in franchise history, marking their first appearance since winning the 2020 World Series over the Rays. Of Los Angeles’ previous 20 appearances in best-of-seven formats, they have played at least five games 18 times, at least six games 12 times and have gone the distance six times.
- Los Angeles made the 2024 Postseason after winning in the NL West with a 98-64 record, marking the most wins in Baseball this season. The Dodgers have made 12 consecutive Postseasons since 2013.
- After a first-round bye, the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres three games to two (3-2) in an epic NLDS showdown, sealing the series win in Los Angeles. In the NLCS, Los Angeles topped the Mets four games to two, again clinching the series in Los Angeles.
- It was the first time that the Dodgers clinched the NL Pennant or World Series at Dodger Stadium since winning Game 7 of the 1988 NLCS, 6-0, over the Mets. Los Angeles has not
clinched the final game of the World Series at Dodger Stadium since sweeping the Yankees in Game 4 of the 1963 World Series.
Recency Bias
Entering this year’s Fall Classic, the American League holds the overall lead in the World Series, 68-51, following the Rangers’ win in 2023.
- The National League has won eight out of the last 14 and 10 of the last 17 with wins by the Cardinals in 2006, the Phillies in 2008, the Giants in 2010, the Cardinals in 2011, the Giants in 2012 and 2014, the Cubs in 2016, the Nationals in 2019, the Dodgers in 2020 and the Braves in 2021.
- Since the Yankees won three straight World Championships from 1998-2000, the NL holds a narrow lead over the AL with a 12-11 record in the Fall Classic. However, over a longer span in the World Series, the AL has taken 15 of 28 since 1996; 18 of 32 starting in 1991; and 23 of 41 Fall Classics beginning in 1983.
Bronx Bombers
The Yankees are in the World Series for the 41st time in franchise history, marking their first appearance since winning the 2009 World Series over the Phillies. Of the New York’s previous 39 appearances in best-of-seven formats, they have played at least five games 29 times, at least six games 21 times and have gone the distance 11 times.
- New York made the Postseason after winning the AL East with a 94-68 record, marking the most wins by an AL Club this year. Since 2018, the Yankees are one of just five Major League teams and one of two AL teams to make the Postseason in at least six of the last seven seasons (also ATL, HOU, LAD and MIL).
- After a first-round bye, the Yankees beat the Royals three games to one (3-1). In the ALCS, New York sealed its trip to the World Series with a win over the Guardians, four games to one (4-1).
Did You Know?
The team with the home field advantage (hosting four of possible seven games) has been victorious in 27 of the last 37 (73.0%) World Series beginning in 1985 (excluding 2020 neutral site).
The exceptions were 1992 (Toronto over Atlanta); 1999 (New York over Atlanta); 2003 (Florida over New York); 2006 (St. Louis over Detroit); 2008 (Philadelphia over Tampa Bay); 2015 (San Francisco over Kansas City); 2016 (Chicago over Cleveland); 2017 (Houston over Los Angeles); 2019 (Washington over Houston); and 2021 (Atlanta over Houston).
2024 World Series Umpires
25-year veteran Mark Carlson is the Crew Chief for the 120th World Series. His crew consists of Doug Eddings, Chad Fairchild, Andy Fletcher, Mark Ripperger, Todd Tichenor and Carlos Torres. Tichenor will serve as the Crew Chief while Mark Carlson is off the field during Game 2 of the series. The group will be assisted by umpires Cory Blaser and James Hoye, serving as the Replay Officials
West vs. East
This will mark the 13th World Series matchup of teams from the NL West and the AL East divisions, and just the fifth under the current six-division format.
- The previous eight include: 2020, Dodgers defeated the Rays in six games; 2018, Red Sox defeated the Dodgers in five games; 2007, Red Sox defeated the Rockies in four games; 2001, Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees in seven games; 1998, Yankees defeated the Padres in four games; 1984, Tigers defeated the Padres in five games; 1981, Dodgers defeated the Yankees in six games; 1978, Yankees defeated the Dodgers in six games; 1977; Yankees defeated the Dodgers in six games; 1976, Reds defeated the Yankees in four games; 1975, Reds defeated the Red Sox in seven games; 1973, Athletics defeated the Mets in seven games; 1970, Orioles defeated the Reds in five games.
