The 120th World Series
Yesterday marked 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).
Let’s Talk About Last Night
Freddie Freeman ended Game 1 with the first ever walk-off grand slam in the World Series. Overall, it was the 63rd walk-off win in World Series history and the 63rd Fall Classic game that went to extra-innings. It was the fifth time ever that the Dodgers won a World Series game in walk-off fashion, joining 2018 Game 3 (Max Muncy solo homer in 18th inning); 1988 Game 1 (Kirk Gibson two-run homer in 9th inning); 1956 Game 6 (Jackie Robinson single in 10th inning); and 1947 Game 4 (Cookie Lavagetto two-run double in 9th inning).
Homer Happy
Freddie Freeman’s grand slam was the Dodgers’ second grand slam of this Postseason after Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam in Game 3 of the NLDS against San Diego. The Dodgers are one of 10 clubs (14th occurrence) with multiple grand slams in a single Postseason. There has been five grand slams this Postseason, tied for MLB’s most in a single Postseason with 1998 and 2021.
Additionally, there have now been 16 go-ahead home runs in the fifth inning-or-later this Postseason, with Giancarlo Stanton and Freeman adding two to the total last night. According to Elias, that is tied for the most such home runs in a single Postseason with 1995 and 2022.
NY YANKEES STARTING PITCHER
Carlos Rodón
Age: 31 (12/10/1992)
Birthplace: Miami, FL
School: NC State University
Drafted: 16th Round in 2011 by MIL (Did not Sign)
Drafted: 1st Round (3rd) in 2014 by CWS
2024 Regular Season: 8-5, 3.41 ERA
2024 Postseason: 1-0, 3.31 ERA
Postseason Performance
Rodón has made three starts this Postseason, going 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA (7 ER/14.1 IP). Allowed four runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts across 3.2 innings in Game 2 of the ALDS against Kansas City, taking the loss. Claimed the win in Game 1 of the ALCS over Cleveland, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. Did not factor into the decision in Game 5 of the ALCS as he allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts across 4.2 innings of work in the clinching-game. Overall, he did not allow a walk in the Postseason until the third inning in Game 5 of the ALCS.
- 10/7 vs. KC: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 7 SO (72 pitches, 49 strikes)
- 10/14 vs. CLE: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO (93 pitches, 63 strikes)
- 10/19 at CLE: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO (85 pitches, 58 strikes)
Against the Dodgers
Will face Los Angeles for the sixth time in his career and first time this season. Is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA (14 ER/28.0 IP). Last faced Los Angeles on July 21, 2022 as a member of the Giants as he allowed five runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, taking a no-decision. He has never faced the Dodgers in the Postseason.
On the Road Again
Is 7-7 away from Yankee Stadium this season, pitching to a 4.65 ERA ERA (51 ER/98.2 IP) in 18 regular season starts and one Postseason start. In the regular season, he made 18 starts on the road compared to 14 at home. Is pitching at Dodger Stadium for the third time in his career with his last start coming on July 21, 2022.
Regular Season
Took the ball 32 times for New York this season, marking a new career-high after he previously made 31 starts in 2022. Had five scoreless appearances and struck out at least 10 on two occasions. Won seven consecutive starts from May 8th-June 10th going 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA (11 ER/43.1 IP) during the stretch. Prior to Luis Gil also winning seven straight starts from May 1st-June 4th, James Paxton in 2019 was the last Yankees starter to win at least seven straight games.
Show Me What You Got
Rodón relies on five pitches (2024 stats):
- 4-Seam Fastball – 49.4%, .262 opp. AVG
- Slider – 26.0%, .199 opp. AVG
- Changeup – 12.9%, .188 opp. AVG
- Curveball – 8.3%, .281 opp. AVG
- Cutter – 3.5%, .353 opp. AVG
LA DODGERS STARTING PITCHER
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Age: 26 (8/17/1998)
Birthplace: Bizen, Japan
2024 Regular Season: 7-2, 3.00 ERA
2024 Postseason: 1-0, 5.63 ERA
Postseason Performance
Yamamoto has made three starts this Postseason, going 1-0 with a 5.11 ERA (7 ER/12.1 IP). He allowed five runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout in Game 1 of the Division Series against San Diego on October 5th. He bounced back to earn the win in Game 5 of the NLDS on October 11th, throwing 5.0 shutout innings, permitting two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. In Game 4 of the NLCS, he allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts across 4.1 innings of work. He has not thrown more than 80 pitches since June 7th, the last time he faced the Yankees.
- 10/5 vs. SD: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO (60 pitches, 34 strikes)
- 10/11 vs. SD: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (63 pitches, 39 strikes)
- 10/17 at NYM: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO (73 pitches, 52 strikes)
Against the Yankees
Will face New York for the second time in his career. Is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/7.0 IP) after taking a no-decision in a 2-1 Dodgers’ win on June 7th. He allowed just two hits across 7.0 scoreless innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. He is facing the Yankees for the first time ever in the Postseason.
Home Sweet Home
Went 3-1 with a 3.88 ERA (20 ER/46.1 IP) at Dodger Stadium in the regular season and is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA (5 ER/8.0 IP) in two starts at home this Postseason. Took the win in three consecutive home starts from May 7th-June 1st, pitching to a 2.21 ERA (5 ER/20.1 IP) with 20 strikeouts during the stretch.
Regular Season
Signed as a free agent on December 27th and took the ball for his first career start in Seoul on March 21st. Made 18 starts for the Dodgers, punching out at least eight batters in five of the starts. Was put on the 60-day Injured List on July 13th with triceps tightness and made his return to the roster on September 10th. He made four regular season starts in September prior to the Postseason.
The Kitchen Sink
Yamamoto relies on seven pitches (2024 stats):
- 4-Seamer – 40.4%, .262 opp. AVG
- Split Finger – 24.2%, .170 opp. AVG
- Curveball – 23.1%, .214 opp. AVG
- Cutter – 6.1%, .350 opp. AVG
- Slider – 3.3%, .158 opp. AVG
- Sinker – 2.9%, .364 opp. AVG
- Sweeper – 0.1%, N/A opp. AVG
Good Company
Yamamoto is one of five Japanese-born pitchers to make a start in the Postseason for the Dodgers, joining Yu Darvish, Hiroki Kuroda, Kenta Maeda and Hideo Nomo. He is one of six Japanese-born pitchers to appear in a Postseason game for the Dodgers with Takashi Saito being the only one to not start a game. Overall, Yamamoto is one of nine Japanese-born pitchers with at least one Postseason start with Mashiro Tanaka, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Masato Yoshii and Kodai Senga joining the aforementioned Dodgers starters.
