World Series 2024: Early MLB Bracket Storylines, Pitching Matchups and MVP Odds
World Series 2024: Early MLB Bracket Storylines, Pitching Matchups and MVP Odds0 of 3
B/R
October has more to offer than just tricks and treats.
There’s also the World Seriesâand what a World Series the MLB has cooked up for the 2024 iteration. It’s the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, a couple of longtime rivals arriving at the Fall Classic as the best teamsâby regular-season and playoff performanceâfrom their respective leagues.
Between the major markets, the history between these organizations (this is their 12th World Series collision) and the copious amounts of talent on both rosters, this is a series that sells itself. In case you need more convincing, though, or just want to whet your appetite ahead of Friday’s series opener, let’s dissect everything you need to know about this series, from storylines and schedules to matchups and odds (courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook).
Top Storylines1 of 3
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It’s tempting to just say this Dodgers vs. Yankees, L.A. vs. New Yorkâwhat else do you need, right? Well, the baseball gods are giving us far more than just a renewed rivalry.
The star power in this series is staggering. It’s Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and a hopefully healthy(ish) Freddie Freeman on one side, and Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton on the other. Any one of these players can take over a game on his own, if not an entire series.
If the stars cancel each other out, it will be interesting to see how the pitchers fare. New York’s rotation is a lot healthier and deeper, not to mention it opens with Gerrit Cole and Carlos RodĂłn, who have eight All-Star selections between them. Having said that, this injury-riddled L.A. staff did have four shutouts over a five-game stretch this postseason, so maybe the Dodgers’ hurlers can heat up again.
More than anything, the top storyline here is the quality of baseball that could be in store. It isn’t often that the sport’s top seeds lock horns in the championship round; this is only the 13th collision between No. 1 seeds in the World Series in the Divisional Era (since 1969). This could be an all-timer.
Series Schedule, Pitching Matchups2 of 3
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Series Schedule
Game 1: Friday Oct, 25 at Dodger Stadium
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26 at Dodger Stadium
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28 at Yankee Stadium
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Yankee Stadium
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Yankee Stadium
Game 6*: Friday, Nov. 1 at Dodger Stadium
Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 2 at Dodger Stadium
*if necessary
**all games at 8:08 p.m. ET on FOX
Pitching Matchups
Between L.A.’s injury issues and the unique nature of the World Series, very little has been announced when it comes to pitching matchups. Cole will open for the Yankees. The Dodgers will trot out Jack Flaherty for the opener and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Game 2. That’s the extent of announcements.
New York will presumably utilize RodĂłn, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil in Games 2, 3 and 4, though the order could differ. And there’s always a chance things change. Maybe Nestor Cortes rejoins the rotation. Or perhaps the Yankees fall into an early hole and get aggressive with their assignments.
As for the Dodgers, it’s a matter of when not if they’ll have to lean on their bullpen. The hope is that Flaherty, Yamamoto and Walker Buehler do well enough in their starts to not overly tax the relievers behind them.
World Series, MVP Odds3 of 3
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World Series Odds
Dodgers -125
Yankees +105
MVP Odds
Shohei Ohtani +200
Aaron Judge +400
Juan Soto +500
Giancarlo Stanton +800
Mookie Betts +900
Max Muncy +1000
Gerrit Cole +2500
Tommy Edman +2500
Teoscar HernĂĄndez +2800
Kiké Hernåndez +2800
Gleyber Torres +3000
Jazz Chisholm Jr. +3500
Freddie Freeman +3500
Will Smith +4000
Jack Flaherty +5000
Carlos RodĂłn +6000
Austin Wells +7000
Yoshinobu Yamamoto +8000
Anthony Volpe +10000
Anthony Rizzo +10000
Luke Weaver +10000
Walker Buehler +10000
Gavin Lux +13000
Michael Kopech +15000
Blake Treinen +15000
Jasson DomĂnguez +15000
Clay Holmes +15000
Landon Knack +20000
Clarke Schmidt +20000
Chris Taylor +20000
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