2024-10-27 03:45:03
LOS ANGELES – See? We weren’t kidding when we said this could be an epic World Series.
The Dodgers and Yankees just played a Game 1 that met the moment. A Series with a staggering number of superstars and featuring two of the most storied franchises in professional sports is off to an incredible start after Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman launched the first walk-off grand slam in the history of the Fall Classic.
But something tells us that coming out on the wrong end of the 6-3, 10-inning affair Friday night won’t deter a team as loaded and as dogged as these Yankees.
“We play to win,” shortstop Anthony Volpe said. “We expect to win the game. It’s obviously a gut punch to take a loss, but I think that’s baseball. We’ll bounce back and be ready to go.”
Here’s what the Yankees are trying to avoid in Game 2 on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium: Teams that have lost the first two games on the road in all 2-3-2 series are 11-45 in those series. In the World Series, specifically, they are 7-27.
So the pressure’s on the boys from the Bronx. And they’ll send Carlos Rodón to the bump hoping/expecting that he’ll build on the adjustments he’s made in this postseason to not let the excitement get the best of him.
“I think a lot of it has to do with just confidence,” said Rodón, “confidence in my ability and in myself.”
The Dodgers are drenched in confidence right now. How could they not be after the way they captivated the crowd in Game 1?
“To come out 1-0,” said man of the hour Freeman, “is a huge start.”
It’s a start that 67% of Game 1 winners at home in the 2-3-2 format have capitalized upon with series wins.
The Dodgers hope to get similar length from Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto that they got from Jack Flaherty, who pitched into the sixth in the opener. There’s an off-day after Game 2, but with a bullpen day looming in the middle of the Series, the Dodgers don’t want to overexpose their relievers.
Back in 1988, the Dodgers rode that famous Kirk Gibson walk-off in Game 1 to a convincing 6-0 victory in Game 2, en route to a five-game Series win – still their most recent in a full season. Will history repeat itself, or will the Yankees respond?
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 2 of the World Series will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT. All World Series games will start at the same time and be televised on FOX.
All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.96 ERA in the regular season)
Rodón will be making his fourth start of this postseason, coming off a 4 2/3 inning effort in the ALCS Game 5 clincher. After taking the loss in ALDS Game 2 vs. Kansas City, Rodón held Cleveland to three runs over 10 2/3 innings (2.53 ERA) in the ALCS, with 15 strikeouts against just one walk. He has made three previous career starts at Dodger Stadium, one in 2017 as a member of the White Sox and two in 2022 with the Giants. He is 0-1 with a 4.42 ERA at Chavez Ravine.
Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2, 3.00 ERA in the regular season)
Yamamoto was the Dodgers’ biggest pitching acquisition this offseason, and they’ll lean on him once again this postseason. The Japanese right-hander gave the Dodgers a dominant five innings in their Game 5 win over the Padres in the NLDS and was solid in his lone start against the Mets in NLCS Game 4. In his first World Series start, Yamamoto will now face a Yankees team that he dominated back in June at Yankee Stadium.
What are the starting lineups?
Yankees: The Yankees are sticking with the same lineup that they used in Game 1. Manager Aaron Boone said that his biggest decision was wrestling with Giancarlo Stanton in the cleanup spot, and Stanton rewarded that call with a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning — his fourth consecutive game with a home run.
Dodgers: With the Yankees starting a left-hander in Game 2, things will look a little different for the Dodgers. Tommy Edman, who is much better against southpaws, will move up in the order and Gavin Lux will not start for the Dodgers.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Yankees: Everyone should be available for Game 2 except for Nestor Cortes, as the Yankees are hesitant to pitch him on back-to-back days considering his left flexor elbow strain. Luke Weaver threw 19 pitches over 1 2/3 innings in Game 1, and that was the heaviest workload for a Bombers reliever. Clay Holmes (5 pitches), Tommy Kahnle (8 pitches) and Jake Cousins (14 pitches) also saw action.
Dodgers: The Dodgers used all their high-leverage relievers in Game 1, but they should be available again on Saturday. The question for L.A. will be whether or not Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol will be able to pitch on back-to-back nights given they’re both coming off injuries. L.A. has plenty of coverage, if needed, with Ben Casparius, Landon Knack and Brent Honeywell on the roster.
Any injuries of note?
Yankees: Verdugo said that he would probably be sore after making a terrific catch in the 10th inning of Game 1. Rizzo is playing through two fractured fingers on his right hand, which is a pain tolerance issue, as the fractures won’t heal until the offseason. Infielder DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement) has been continuing to hit and field throughout the playoffs.
Who is hot and who is not?
Yankees: Stanton continues to do his best Reggie Jackson impression, now batting .282 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 10 postseason games. Volpe has reached safely in all 10 games this postseason (.273/.429/.303). Soto reached base three times in Game 1 and is slashing .333/.457/.639. Torres singled and doubled in Game 1 and has a .400 on-base percentage. Judge was 1-for-5 with three strikeouts in his first career World Series game and is batting just .167 in the postseason.
Dodgers: Edman followed up winning NLCS MVP with a two-hit Game 1 in the Fall Classic. Ohtani also continued his strong postseason run with a double and a run in Game 1.
• The Yankees have won eight of the previous 11 World Series meetings between the clubs (1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1977, 1978). The Dodgers were victorious three times (1955, 1963, 1981).
• The Dodgers and Yankees had a World Series preview June 7-9 at Yankee Stadium, with Los Angeles winning two of the three games. Teoscar Hernández had a go-ahead, two-run double in the 11th inning of the first game, a 2-1 Dodgers win, then hit two homers in an 11-3 rout the next night. The Yanks salvaged the finale with a 6-4 win, powered by Trent Grisham’s three-run homer off Tyler Glasnow.
