After what seemed like an eternity of a layoff, the highly-anticipated World Series matchup between the American League champion New York Yankees and the National League champion Los Angeles is set to get underway on Friday night. The showdown between these two storied franchises is one of the most star-studded in recent memories, as five former MVPs will be taking the field along with several other All-Stars.
In preparation for this historic face-off, the World Baseball Network writers gathered to go over their predictions for the series. Here are the results:
Aaron Judge: Six votes
Gerrit Cole: One vote
Yoshinobu Yamamoto: One vote
Unsurprisingly, our writers believe that Aaron Judge is under the most pressure to perform in his first World Series. The Yankees’ superstar has repeatedly excelled in the regular season only to falter when the calendar turned to October, and this season has proved no different. Judge hit a career-high .322 with 58 home runs during a likely MVP campaign but has batted just .161 during the postseason.
Over 202 career postseason plate appearances, Judge has posted a .203/.311/.450 line, a stark drop-off from his .288/.406/.613 line in regular season play.
“He has knocked on the door of a championship for so long and finally has a chance, “ one writer said. “He cannot squander this opportunity, and he has to be clutch.”
Another writer identified a different Yankee star who would be in the spotlight, claiming that Cole’s importance to the rotation as the Game 1 started gave him the biggest burden.
“Cole has solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. However, he has not delivered with consistency this postseason,” they said. “He needs to come out with a statement start in Game 1 to save the Yankees bullpen and give them a 1-0 lead.”
Fellow ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the only Dodger to earn a vote, and the writer explains that his massive contract and lack of support in the Dodgers’ rotation will add extra importance to his starts.
Jack Flaherty’s/Jack Flaherty’s health: 2 votes
Blake Treinen: 1 vote
Shohei Ohtani: 1 vote
Kiké Hernández: 1 vote
Gleyber Torres/Juan Soto: 1 vote
Jazz Chisholm: 1 vote
Max Muncy: 1 vote
Unlike the previous question, our writers went in many different directions with their X-factor predictions. The only player to receive multiple votes was Jack Flaherty, who will be getting the Game 1 start after a disastrous Game 5 start against the Mets in the NLCS in which he allowed eight runs and displayed diminished velocity.
“If he can go six once or twice, it saves the bullpen and opens everything up,” said the writers.
Even if Flaherty works deep into the game, the bullpen will be pushed to the limit once again, with the Dodgers only possessing three starters for the seven-game series. One writer claimed Blake Treinen, who has posted a 1.13 ERA so far this postseason, was the key to the Dodgers navigating a hot Yankees lineup late in games.
“He’s the reliever LA will look to really silence the Yankees lineup,” they said. “It may come down to the bullpen performances to determine who wins and who can quell lineups the best. In my opinion, I think Treinen fits the bill really well. “
While many of our voters who focused on offense went with middle-of-the-order bats, one writer identified Kiké Hernández as a player who could help add length to the Dodgers order. Hernández batted just .229 during the regular season but has been one of the most prolific postseason performers of the last decade, homering 15 times in 81 career playoff contests.
“Everyone knows about Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. However, with Freeman’s ankle holding him back slightly, the Dodgers have needed the rest of the lineup to step up,” they said. “Kiké Hernández has answered the call. He provides defensive versatility and has delivered at the plate so far.”
Another writer chose a different supporting hitter as their X-factor, claiming that the struggling Jazz Chisholm could play a massive role in the series when pitchers work around Judge, Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton.
“He was fairly silent in the ALDS and ALCS, but he is due for some big-time production and moments in the WS,” they said. “Could be a key offensive player for the Yanks if need be.”
Gerrit Cole vs Dodgers: 2 votes
Tim Hill vs Shohei Ohtani: 1 vote
Gerrit Cole vs Dodgers: 1 vote
Luke Weaver vs Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman: 1 vote
Nestor Cortes vs Shohei Ohtani: 1 vote
Gerrit Cole vs Shohei Ohtani: 1 vote
Dodgers bullpen vs Yankees sluggers: 1 vote
Dodgers RHP vs Yankees LHP: 1 vote
Though Aaron Judge received the majority of the votes for who was under the most pressure, exactly half of our writers had Gerrit Cole included in their key matchup for the series.
“Anything with Gerrit Cole,” said one writer. “He has to be the guy.”
In particular, our writers believed that Cole, who struggled against weaker lineups in the ALDS and ALCS, will need to come up big against the three MVP winners atop the Dodgers order.
“It’s no secret who the Dodgers superstars are. Cole needs to manage Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman if he hopes to have a long outing, “ said one writer. “Cole should be expected to dominate against the rest of the lineup, but if the Dodgers Big Three roughs him up early, he may not see a third time through the order.”
Similarly, four of our writers’ matchups included Ohtani, although each had him against a different pitcher. The focus was primarily on the Yankees bullpen, as three writers identified a Yankee reliever who will enter a critical situation against the Dodger’s superstar. Yankee closer Luke Weaver was predictably one of those relievers. Still, lefties Tim Hill and Nestor Cortes also received votes, exemplifying manager Aaron Boone’s need to use platoon matchups to his advantage.
Cole will get knocked out in the third inning in Game 1
Shohei Ohtani will hit for the cycle in Game 1
Shohei Ohtani hits three home runs in the series, including a big one in Game 7
The Yankees will score at least five runs in each of the first three games
Jazz Chisholm steals more bases than Shohei Ohtani
One player will hit at least six home runs
Yankees win at least one game in Los Angeles
Anthony Volpe will have a dominant all-around series
Though all these predictions are bold, one stands out above the rest. Red Sox’s second baseman, Brock Holt, was the only player to hit for the cycle in postseason history. He did so in the 2018 ALDS against the Yankees, and one writer says that the Yankees are going to get burned. As a bonus, the writer also predicted that the Ohtani would get the first leg with a leadoff home run off Gerrit Cole.
Speaking of longballs, one writer predicted that at least one player will become the first player since George Springer in 2017 to hit at least six home runs in a single World Series. The writer pointed to the number of sluggers in both lineups and the likelihood that the series goes at least six games as reasons for the pick.
In terms of individual player predictions, one writer felt very confident in Anthony Volpe’s ability to produce this series, saying that he will contend for series MVP.
Shohei Ohtani: 2 votes
Mookie Betts: 1 vote
Gioncarlo Stanton: 1 vote
Juan Soto: 1 vote
Teoscar Hernandez: 1 vote
Gleyber Torres: 1 vote
It speaks to just how star-laden this series is: six players earned picks for series MVP. Predictably, Shohei Ohtani was the only player to receive multiple votes. Still, one writer pointed to a different Dodgers superstar’s career success against the Yankees as a reason for his MVP pick.
“Mookie (Betts) has a career .281 average with 62 RBI against the Yankees,” the writer said. “Oh, and add in a .295 average and an OPS over 1.000 this postseason.”
On the Yankees side, one writer chose the red-hot Juan Soto to come through again in his second World Series appearance.
“Soto will have another couple of clutch moments that give the Yankees the edge this series,” they said.
Among the non-superstars to receive votes, one writer picked Teoscar Hernandez due to his potential to receive RBI opportunities after the Yankees pitch around Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman. Another vote went to Gleyber Torres, who has excelled this postseason after being moved to the leadoff spot.
Yankees in 7: 3 votes
Dodgers in 7: 2 votes
Dodgers in 6: 1 vote
Dodgers in 5: 1 vote
If our writers’ vote is any indication, this is going to be a classic series. Five of the seven votes were for a seven-game series, and the Dodgers won the overall prediction by the slimmest 4-3 margin. Only one writer believed the series would not return to LA for Game Six, claiming their offensive consistency gives them an edge.
“The Yankees offense has a tendency to go cold at times, while the Dodgers offense can deliver big innings against anyone on the mound,” they said. “The Dodgers will win their starts with Flaherty and Yamamoto on the mound. The Yankees will likely take the game that Buehler pitches. However, I think the Dodgers bullpen will lead them to a win in one game, allowing them to get Flaherty on the mound for a series-clinching game.”
Another writer who picked the Dodgers identified the NL champions’ home-field advantage as a determining factor.
“This series is just made to go the distance, and like the NLCS, LA has the benefit of Games 6 and 7 in Dodger Stadium.”
The three writers who picked the Yankees said they gave the edge to the AL champ based on their deeper pitching staff.
“The Yankees pitching staff can outlast the Dodgers, and the Yankees offense will be able to keep up,” said one writer.
Check out our video discussing our picks here: https://youtu.be/OokKlCVX4vc
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
