2024 World Series Game Five - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees

We head into game five with the Dodgers just one win away from their eight World Series title, and what a ride it has been. Freddie Freeman has been the catalyst for the offense, homering in each game so far (and a record six straight World Series dating back to ’21) and driving in 10 runs, just two away from tying the record set by NYY 2B Bobby Richardson in 1960. Shohei Ohtani appears to be significantly hampered by his shoulder injury, but the offense keeps rolling thanks to contributions from Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, and both of the Hernández brothers*. The LA starters have strung together solid outings, while the bullpen has carried things the rest of the way. When it has mattered, manager Dave Roberts has pushed all the right buttons, which was not something you could say about him in previous playoffs. They weren’t able to get the sweep in game four, but they aim to finish the job here in the Bronx tonight. They know they’ll be flying home to LA, and they hope it’s with the World Series trophy in hand.

The Yankees avoided elimination in game four, thanks in large part to a go-ahead grand slam from young shortstop Anthony Volpe, but if they’re going to extend the series any longer, Aaron Judge must step up. He has been downright awful in these playoffs, but it has not really hurt the Yanks until the World Series. With everything on the line, we’ll see if he can find some redemption. It will be ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Bronx Bombers. The $300 million dollar man was excellent in game one, but the bullpen coughed up the lead and the game. Expect manager Aaron Boone to ride his horse as long as he can. On the other side, the Yankees will get a second crack at LA righty Jack Flaherty, who cruised through game one until he got beat by the long ball. Flaherty has been known to struggle the more times he sees an opponent. Will that trend hold?

These Yankees are talented, and these games have actually been close. In fact, the differential in this series is just a single run. Part of the reason the Yanks are trailing right now? Fundamentals. There have been misplays, base-running gaffes, mental errors, and even lack of hustle on display for New York. And up against a team as talented as these Dodgers, it’s at the margins where a series can be decided. The Yankees cannot afford any more lapses, or else they’ll see their best season in 15 years come to an abrupt end.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

FOX postgame - Kevin Burkhardt

As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

2024 World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees

Games Three and Four @ Yankee Stadium

The Dodgers head into the Bronx leading the series two games to none, taking care of business in their home ballpark against the Yankees. It took an incredible walk-off grand slam, courtesy of Freddie Freeman, and then a dominant performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto to get Los Angeles in to this position, but they’ll certainly take it. Freeman has been the star so far, with another homer in game two. Tommy Edman and Teóscar Hernández added home runs in game two as well, but the rest of the offense has not been humming like it was in the NLCS. To add to that worry, Shohei Ohtani dislocated his shoulder attempting a steal, and while he’ll be in the lineup, it’s unclear how that injury may affect him. On the mound for Dave Roberts in game three will be Walker Buehler, who has been lights out in his previous World Series starts. The Dodgers will certainly need some length from the. Kentucky-born righty, as game four is slated to be a bullpen game.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is under fire after the questionable game one decision to bring in Nestor Cortes, who surrendered the walk-off grand slam. It has been characterized as indefensible by many (rightly so in my opinion); however, there were other letdowns and misplays that put the Yankees in that position. You can nitpick and criticize bullpen management all you want, but if your offense isn’t putting up enough runs, especially against these Dodgers? You won’t stand a chance. Perhaps the most concerning for the Yankees faithful is the continued slump of Aaron Judge. He has been a dead spot in the order, and quite simply he needs to turn it around, or he may face the wrath of a fanbase that adores him. You can expect the Bronx Zoo to cheer for him loudly when he first steps to the plate, but if the strikeouts and weakly hit balls show up with him, do not be shocked by a chorus of boos for the MVP.

On the pitching side, Aaron Boone will turn to Clarke Schmidt in game three, and then Luis Gil in game four. Given the stakes, the leash on the two young righties will be quite short. Expect heavy usage from the likes of Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, Clay Holmes, and Luke Weaver. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a World Series, and no team has even forced a game five since the 1970 Cincinnati Reds. If the Yanks go down in game three, it may just be the death knell on their season.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz

As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

2024 World Series - New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Dodgers

Games One and Two @ Dodger Stadium

Here we go. For the first time since 1981, the Yankees and Dodgers will face off in the Fall Classic. It will be the twelfth matchup between these storied franchises, and the Yankees have certainly had the advantage in the past. The Bronx Bombers have taken eight of the previous eleven series, though the Dodgers have split the last six. On baseball’s biggest stage, we have the game’s biggest stars ready to shine.

The Dodgers have already walloped a New York team this postseason, dispatching the Mets in six games behind an historic offensive performance. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts were outstanding, but it was midseason pickup Tommy Edman who took home NLCS MVP. With star first baseman Freddie Freeman hobbled with an ankle injury, Edman stepped into the cleanup spot and boy, did he clean up against Mets pitching. With a few days off heading into the series, Freeman is expected to return to the lineup, though how he’ll be feeling is unknown. The Dodgers have been able to piece together effective innings with solid enough starting and nearly untouchable bullpen arms. LA kid Jack Flaherty (13-7 3.17 ERA 162 IP) will get the ball in game one. It has been a Jekyll and Hyde postseason for the righty, so who’s gonna show up? For game two, it will be Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2 3.00 ERA 90 IP). The Japanese ace had an awful postseason debut, but has been pretty good since, albeit in limited innings. Things have gotten a little shorter in Dave Robert’s bullpen, as Evan Philips went down with an arm injury; however, he gets reliable lefty Alex Vesia back after he missed the NLCS. We’ll see how Roberts navigates the late innings without one of his key arms.

On the surface, the Yankees have been rolling this postseason, dropping just two games heading into the Fall Classic. Digging a little deeper, it has not been as dominant as their record has demonstrated. Every game against Kansas City was close, and it took incredible heroics from Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto to escape from Cleveland in just five games. The bullpen was dominant early, but it has struggled lately. And of greatest concern, Aaron Judge has looked completely lost at the plate, apart from a pair of home runs. The Yankees will need him to refine his MVP form to have a shot in this series. Ace Gerrit Cole (8-5 3.41 ERA 95 IP) will get the start in game one. The reigning AL Cy Young has had to labor through his playoff starts, but he’s found a way to be effective. In game two, lefty Carlos Rodón (16-9 3.96 ERA 175 IP) will get the ball once again. He’s had one brilliant start and two mediocre outings so far. Manager Aaron Boone will definitely be hoping for the former, as his options in the bullpen are certainly thinner than his LA counterpart’s. In the past, these two teams have delivered on tension and drama, and this series should be no different.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz

As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.