MLB Lines: World Series Game 1

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MLB Lines: World Series Game 1

The World Series is here, and Game 1 is set for Friday night as the New York Yankees face the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Both teams entered the postseason as the number one seeds in their respective leagues, dominating the regular season on their way to this final matchup. The Yankees advanced by defeating the Royals in the ALDS and the Guardians in the ALCS. 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers took down the Padres and Mets in consecutive series to earn their spot. These two teams met in early June, with the Dodgers winning two of three games on the road. Gerrit Cole (3.41 ERA) will start for New York, while Jack Flaherty (3.17 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 EST at Dodger Stadium.

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New York Yankees Return to the World Series

The Yankees have returned to the World Series for the first time since 2009, when they last hoisted the trophy. Since then, New York has made 10 playoff appearances in 14 seasons, but this is their first trip back to the Fall Classic. 

Despite having one of the highest payrolls in baseball, the Yankees built their team around homegrown talent, notably drafting Aaron Judge in 2013. Judge, who signed a $40 million per year deal, remains the cornerstone of their offense.

Judge is the odds-on favorite to be named AL MVP after the World Series, though the announcement won’t come until after the conclusion of the season. He led all of MLB with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs in the regular season. However, in the postseason, he’s struggled at the plate, batting just .161 with two home runs and six RBIs. 

Despite those struggles, the Yankees’ offense has been carried by Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the team with five home runs and 11 RBIs in the playoffs. Juan Soto has also been a key contributor, batting .333 with three home runs and eight RBIs. The 2-3-4 hitters in the Yankees lineup—Soto, Judge, and Stanton—will need to produce in this crucial series opener.

Gerrit Cole takes the mound for New York. The 34-year-old right-hander finished the regular season with an 8-5 record and a 3.41 ERA. He struck out 99 batters and walked 29 across 18 starts. Cole has been steady in the postseason, leading the Yankees to three wins in his starts, including victories over the Royals and Guardians. In his most recent outing, Cole allowed two earned runs over 4.1 innings in a 6-3 win against Cleveland.

Dodgers Host Game 1

The Dodgers finished the regular season with 98 wins, four more than the Yankees, which secured home-field advantage for this World Series. They last won the championship in 2020 and have made the playoffs every year since 2013, consistently ranking as one of the top teams in the National League. 

The Dodgers’ lineup is filled with stars, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernández, and they’ve been a dominant force throughout the postseason.

Aaron Judge led MLB in home runs and RBIs, but Shohei Ohtani wasn’t far behind. Ohtani finished second in both categories and added 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player to achieve a 50-50 season with 54 home runs. 

Ohtani, likely the NL MVP, has remained productive in the playoffs, hitting three home runs and driving in 10 RBIs while batting .286. Betts has been equally impressive, leading the Dodgers with four home runs and 12 RBIs while hitting .295 in the postseason.

Teoscar Hernández adds even more power, though he has been quieter in the playoffs with two home runs. Tommy Edman has been a surprise for Los Angeles, leading the team with a .341 postseason batting average after hitting just .237 during the regular season.

Jack Flaherty will take the mound for the Dodgers in Game 1. The 29-year-old right-hander finished the regular season with a 13-7 record and a 3.17 ERA, placing him 13th in the league. Flaherty struck out 194 batters and walked 34 across 28 starts. 

His postseason has been inconsistent. While he was excellent in Game 1 of the NLCS, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Mets, he struggled in his most recent outing, allowing eight earned runs over three innings in a loss to the Mets.

Prediction

Game 1 gives a slight edge to the Dodgers. While Aaron Judge is the Yankees’ top offensive weapon, his postseason struggles have hurt New York’s ability to generate runs. Stanton and Soto have picked up the slack, but their reliance on home runs could be problematic if the Dodgers’ pitching holds up. 

The Dodgers, on the other hand, have had more consistent production from their stars. Ohtani and Betts are performing better than Judge in the playoffs, and their balanced offense ranks second in postseason batting average, while the Yankees rank fifth.

Flaherty’s strong performance in Game 1 of the NLCS, coupled with home-field advantage, gives Los Angeles the upper hand. Although both teams are sending out their top starters, the Dodgers’ offense has been more potent in the playoffs, making them the favorite to win the series opener.

Prediction: Dodgers -125