World Series Time | Dodgers vs Yankees Preview

After 4 years of being pricked by fans of all other teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers are finally back in the World Series!! This time, they’re facing the New York Yankees. This matchup is incredibly historic, as this is the 12th time these teams are going at it. Almost half of the Dodgers World Series appearances have been against the Yankees, which is crazy!

Let’s get a bit of a history lesson in, then get a preview and some predictions.

World Series Time || Dodgers vs Yankees Preview

History of Dodgers vs Yankees

We’re all accustomed to the feeling that the Yankees are team #1 in New York. Imagine if they weren’t. The history starts in 1903 when the Highlanders (Yankees) played in Hilltop Park. They weren’t team No. 1, team No. 2, but the tertiary New York Team because of the Brooklyn Dodgers (Los Angeles Dodgers) and the New York Giants (San Francisco Giants).

In their first World Series appearance, they played the Giants. That was called the Subway Series (what it is called for the Yankees vs New York Mets games these days). In 1941, they used this term again when the Dodgers played the Yankees for the first time in the World Series. The Yankees were able to take that series with a Joe DiMaggio home run.

6 years later, the Dodgers and Yankees faced each other in the World Series again! The Dodgers certainly wanted revenge. They were so close to winning. Especially after the clutch play by Al Gionfriddo, who robbed Joe DiMaggio of a 3-run home run! Game 7 just didn’t belong to the Dodgers. Want more defense? The 1952 World Series had that as well, with wild defensive plays being made on both sides.

The 1953 loss marked 5 straight World Series appearances against the Yankees with a loss. This was also the year Vin Scully became the youngest-ever broadcaster to broadcast the World Series (because of racial issues).

The Dodgers’ woes finally ended in 1955, when they could finally beat the Yankees in 7 games.

The celebrations ended right there, though, because the next time the Dodgers and Yankees faced off, Don Larsen, for the Yankees, made some history by pitching a perfect game in the playoffs. Including that game, there are only 2 other no-hitters ever pitched in the playoffs. Riding this energy, the Dodgers lost. This would be the last Subway Series including the Dodgers or Giants vs the Yankees.

The Yankees dynasty can’t go forever, though. The young Dodgers faced off against a very old Yankees team. Well, the Dodgers swept them in 4.

In 1977 and 78, the Dodgers and Yankees played in back-to-back World Series. The Dodgers couldn’t win both of them. In 1977, it was Reggie Jackson. In 1978, it was Bucky Dent. Even if the Dodgers improved, they just couldn’t beat the Yankees in the World Series.

Until this year, 1981 was the last postseason meeting between the Dodgers and Yankees. It was also the last time a New York team faced a Los Angeles team in a championship game until the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014. The Dodgers won this World Series, and it turned into one of the two decades in which the Yankees (in the Bronx) did not win a World Series.

Dodgers vs Yankees 2024

Will that continue this year? I’m not sure. On paper, the Dodgers have a much better team than the Yankees, but if a few players don’t do well, things might go wrong very quickly.

Keys for the Dodgers to win:

• Shohei Ohtani has to start hitting the ball when runners are not in scoring position. He’s the leadoff batter. It could give a huge momentum swing for the Dodgers if he can get on.
• Pitching low to Juan Soto and outside to Aaron Judge. Make Giancarlo Stanton chase the ball. You have to stop the Big 3 if you wanna win.
• Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Will Smith need to hit like Game 6 versus the Mets. The Big 3 at the top of the lineup can’t do everything for your team. Everyone has to contribute. If these guys get their hits, then the Dodgers should be in a fine position.

Keys for the Yankees to win:

• Keep Shohei Ohtani in check. If you let Shohei go off, then why even come to the World Series?
• Get runs early. Dave Roberts has this alternative approach, not letting high-leverage guys like Blake Treinen come in when the other team is leading. The first lead change against the Mets occurred in the last game of the series.
• Bullpen cannot give up runs. The Dodgers have 43 wins after trailing at any point in the game.

Projected Lineups:

Yankees:

1. Gleyber Torres, 2B
2. Juan Soto, RF
3. Aaron Judge, CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
6. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
7. Anthony Volpe, SS
8. Austin Wells, C
9. Alex Verdugo, LF

Dodgers:

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts, RF
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Max Muncy, 3B
5. Teoscar Hernández, LF
6. Gavin Lux, 2B
7. Will Smith, C
8. Tommy Edman, SS
9. Kiké Hernández, CF

COMPARING THE MVPs:

The cheapest Yankees vs Dodgers ticket is over $1000. This series is going to set record viewership for sure. Whether you’ve never watched baseball in your life, or if you’re a ballistic baseball fan, this is a must-see.

Dodgers vs Yankees. Two teams that have so much history, facing off in the World Series. The Dodgers are going for the eighth title, but the Dodgers are going for No. 28. I have the Dodgers in 7 because I don’t think the Yankees will keep Shohei Ohtani in check.

Main Image: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images