World Series Game 1 Odds & Expert Picks: Yankees at Dodgers

The greatest World Series rivalry in MLB history is renewed for the first time in decades starting when the New York Yankees visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2024 Fall Classic with LA as a short favorite on the MLB odds.

New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers, World Series Game 1: 2024 MLB Expert Analysis

Opening MLB Lines Subject to Change: Dodgers -126, Yankees -101 (total 8.5)
Expert Prediction: Dodgers 5, Yankees 4

Why Bet on New York?

The Yankees were the AL’s top seed and haven’t had to sweat much in these playoffs by beating Kansas City in four in the ALDS and then Cleveland in five in the ALCS as New York reached its record 41st World Series and first in 15 years. This franchise missed the playoffs entirely last year but the offseason trade for Juan Soto changed everything. He won the clinching game vs. the Guardians with a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning.

It was the Yankees’ first go-ahead, extra-inning HR in an ALCS game since current Yankees manager Aaron Boone had a walk-off HR in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS to clinch the pennant. And it was the Yanks’ first go-ahead HR in extra innings with two outs and two strikes since a walk-off HR by Derek Jeter in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series vs. Arizona. Soto has now reached base in 20 straight postseason games dating to Game 2 of the 2022 National League Wild Card Series with San Diego. That streak is the longest in MLB since a 21 game streak by Ketel Marte from 2017-23 for Arizona and is the 18th streak of at least 20 games in MLB history.

Juan Soto

Soto wasn’t the ALCS MVP and neither was Aaron Judge, who of course will win regular-season AL MVP honors. Giancarlo Stanton was the ALCS MVP with four homers. Stanton now has 16 career playoff homers, fourth in Yankees history and only behind Bernie Williams (22), Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18). The 16 homers in his first 36 career postseason games are the most by any MLB player. Stanton has homered in three consecutive postseason games.

Anthony Rizzo

First baseman Rizzo said Wednesday that the time off between the ALCS and World Series has allowed swelling in his fractured fingers to subside. The two fractured fingers on Rizzo’s right hand have not yet fully healed, which led to them swelling up between ALCS contests. However, the five days off between the ALCS and World Series has been very beneficial for Rizzo, who missed the ALDS with the injury.

Gerrit Cole

It’s ace righty, a Los Angeles native who starred at UCLA, on the mound for New York. Cole allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings and got a no-decision in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. Cole gave up six hits, walked four and struck out four. He got into two big jams and was able to get out of one of them on his own.

Gerrit Cole is currently 1 of 4 pitchers with 20+ postseason starts to have a sub 3.00 ERA.

🔗 https://t.co/opZTUhK1iK pic.twitter.com/YaLnOtPE5u
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 23, 2024

In the fourth inning, the Guardians had the bases loaded with one out before Cole got David Fry to pop out and struck out Bryan Rocchio. In the fifth inning, Cleveland loaded the bases with no outs. After a Josh Naylor sacrifice fly made the score 3-1, Cole walked Lane Thomas and then was removed from the game. Cole is 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 3 starts this postseason. Had the Yankees not wrapped up the ALCS in five games last Saturday, they would have needed Cole to start Game 6 on Monday.

Cole was in the middle of a rehab assignment coming back from his elbow injury when the Yankees hosted the Dodgers during the regular season, so he has not faced them since last year, when he tossed six innings of one-run ball at Dodger Stadium. Cole is 4-2 with a 5.01 ERA in 8 career starts vs. the Dodgers. Cole has two previous starts in the World Series, both coming in 2019 as a member of the Astros, giving up six runs across 14 innings against Juan Soto’s Nationals.

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Why Bet on Los Angeles?

The Dodgers finished with the best record and that’s why they have home-field advantage in the World Series led by NL MVP lock Shohei Ohtani, who is in his first postseason after a historic 50-homer, 50-steal regular season. Los Angeles advanced with a 10-5 win over the New York Mets last Saturday in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Tommy Edman

Edman had four RBI in the win and was named NLCS MVP after hitting safely in all six games of the series going 11-for-27 (.407) with a homer, 11 RBI, three doubles, five runs scored, a stolen base and a 1.023 OPS. Those RBI were tied for the most by a Dodgers player in the NLCS with Corey Seager, who also drove home 11 runs in the 2020 NLCS. Overall, Edman has a hit in nine of his 11 games this Postseason and his 11 hits are the most in an NLCS, surpassing Chris Taylor’s 10 hits in 2021. Edman’s 11 hits are tied for the most in a Dodgers’ Postseason series with Ron Fairly (1965 WS); Bill Russell (1978 WS); and Maury Wills (1965 WS).

Will Smith

Smith hit a two-run homer in the third inning to cap off a four-run rally for Los Angeles in the clincher vs. the Mets. Smith’s seven career postseason homers as a catcher are the most by a Dodgers catcher and are tied for fourth-most as a catcher in Postseason history with Gary Sánchez. The pair trails Jorge Posada (11 HR); Jason Varitek (11 HR); Hall of Famer Johnny Bench (10 HR); Javy López (10 HR); Travis d’Arnaud (10 HR); and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (9 HR).

Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani reached base safely 17 times in the NLCS, setting a Dodgers single-series record in the playoffs that teammate Max Muncy tied. The Dodgers drew 42 walks in the NLCS, marking the most in a single postseason series. It was just the third time in postseason history that a club had at least 40 walks in a single series.

Welcome to the #WorldSeries, Shohei. pic.twitter.com/PUkdQYN1EK
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 24, 2024

The Dodgers outscored the Mets 46-26 (+20) in the series, marking just the third time in LCS (AL or NL) history that a club outscored their opponent by at least 20 runs in the series. There have been four World Series in which a club outscored their opponents by at least 20 runs including the 2001 Diamondbacks; the 1960 Yankees; the 1936 Yankees and the 1910 Athletics.

The Dodgers’ 46 runs were the most by a National League club in any postseason series, surpassing the previous mark of 44 runs set by the 1996 Braves in the NLCS and matched by the Giants in the 2002 World Series. Overall, Los Angeles’ 46 runs were third-most in a single Postseason series trailing the 1960 Yankees (55 runs in World Series) and 2007 Red Sox (51 runs in ALCS).

Freddie Freeman

Dodgers first baseman Freeman, who has spent all month playing through a sprained right ankle, said he expected to be in the lineup for Game 1. Freeman played through noticeable pain when the NLCS shifted to New York for Games 3, 4 and 5 and has produced only one hit in his past 15 postseason at-bats. He missed Games 2 and 6 of that series.

The Dodgers are still uncertain about the status of veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas, who was left off the NLCS roster after suffering a setback with his adductor tear. But Manager Roberts said second baseman Gavin Lux, who recently experienced tightness in his hip flexor, is “full go.”

Jack Flaherty

It’s righty, Los Angeles native and midseason trade acquisition Flaherty on the mound for the Dodgers and he’ll be a free agent after the season. In 10 regular-season starts with the Dodgers, Flaherty went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA. However, he is 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA this postseason and comes off his worst career start, allowing eight runs over three innings in the Game 5 loss against the Mets in the NLCS.

Flaherty’s velocity was down across the board, especially with the four-seamer. His 91.4 mph average on the four-seamer was the fourth lowest of his career. Flaherty said there are no concerns moving forward and believes he made the necessary adjustments to bounce back. He won his only career start vs. the Yankees in 2023 while with St. Louis.

How to Watch Yankees at Dodgers

When: Friday, 8:08 PM ET
Where: Dodger Stadium
Pitchers (away/home): Gerrit Cole/Jack Flaherty
TV: FOX
Stream/game day audio: Fox Sports Live

Yankees vs Dodgers Series History

The Yankees and Dodgers have faced off in an MLB record 11 World Series (NYY has won 8 of 11). The teams did play three games at Yankee Stadium during this regular season and Los Angeles won two.

Mark your calendars. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/O318vj5Kor
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 22, 2024

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2022 World Series Game 1 Preview

This is your typical David vs. Goliath story. The Houston Astros were the best team in the American League, and were the top seed in the American League Playoffs. They went undefeated throughout the playoffs, and now they will host Game 1 of the World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies hit a rough patch in September and weren’t even sure they’d make the playoffs. After being the last Wild Card team, they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres to advance to the Fall Classic. Let’s take a look at the preview for your World Series bets.

Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies

Game 1 Starting Pitchers

We’ll get to watch the two hottest teams battle it out in the World Series this year, and it should be a fun series. In looking at Game 1, we’ll get to see a future Hall of Famer get the start for the Astros, as it is expected that Justin Verlander will get the nod for the Astros. Verlander was 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA during the regular season, and is expected to win the American League Cy Young Award.

The Phillies have yet to announce who they’ll start in Game 1, but it will either be Aaron Nola or Zack Wheeler. Wheeler has had the better postseason thus far, as he has a 1.78 ERA and has struck out 25 batters in his 25 innings pitched. However, Phillies manager Rob Thomson may be leaning towards giving Wheeler an extra day of rest. Either way, the Phillies will be in good hands.

The Bullpens

The Phillies don’t really have a set pattern in their bullpen. They’ve used numerous closers, including David Robertson, Zach Eflin, Seranthony Dominguez, and Jose Alvarado. Thomson tends to look at the matchups and make his decisions on who to go to.

The Astros bullpen has been lights-out all season. They had the best ERA among bullpens in the regular season, and they have been great throughout the postseason. Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, and Rafael Montero have taken care of the middle innings, while Ryan Pressly has been the closer. Once you get into the Astros bullpen, it’s tough to score runs.

The Lineups

The top four hitters in the Phillies lineup have carried them throughout the postseason. Kyle Schwarber leads off. Even though he strikes out a lot, he has been very good in his career in the postseason. Rhys Hoskins has had some huge hits in the postseason, including a couple of clutch home runs. JT Realmuto hits third, and he has gotten on base consistently. The NLCS MVP, Bryce Harper, hits fourth. Harper hit .400 in the last series, and had two huge homers, including the game-winner in Game 5 of the NLCS. If these four continue to hit well, the Astros pitchers may be in trouble.

Although Jose Altuve has struggled mightily in the postseason, he’ll be the Astros leadoff hitter. Rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena has had a great postseason, and he will hit second. One of the game’s top power hitters, Yordan Alvarez, will hit third. Alex Bregman, who has hit well throughout the postseason, is the Astros cleanup man. Kyle Tucker will hit fifth, and Yuli Gurriel hits sixth. Chas McCormick will hit eighth for the Astros, and he has had some big hits for Houston in the postseason.