Dodgers and Yankees, schedule, how to watch

There are many stars in this series not named Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.

There's Mookie Betts, a former MVP who has already won two World Series.

There's Juan Soto, a four-time All-Star and former champion who is playing his first season with the Yanks. He's only 25 years old and, for some unknown reason, still looking for his long-term home.

There's 34-year-old Giancarlo Stanton, a former NL MVP looking to cement his legacy in New York. (Oh, and he once hit a home run literally out of Dodger Stadium.)

Tonight, starter Gerrit Cole and right fielder Juan Soto are teammates on the Yankees and played on opposite sides in the 2019 World Series.

Cole started for the Houston Astros while Soto played for the Washington Nationals. The Nationals won that series in seven games.

The ball that Shohei Ohtani launched to his 50th home run of the season after also stealing 50 bases sold at auction early Wednesday for more than $4.3 million.

Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers phenom, became the first player to reach the 50/50 milestone in a season in September, widely considered one of the greatest achievements in baseball history.

There were 40 bids from around the world, with the winning bid coming in at 12:26 a.m. ET. New Jersey auction house Goldin said it was the highest price ever paid for a baseball – or any ball.

Read the full article here

We're still about an hour away from the start of the action at Dodger Stadium and NBC News will be here for all the big plays during Game 1.

Randy Johnson tells Dan Patrick where he keeps his Cy Young awards, how he would pitch in front of Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, what kind of pitcher he would be in today's game, his World Series pick and more.

The Dodgers lost one of their great players earlier this week when Fernando Valenzuela died at the age of 63.

The 1981 Cy Young and Rookie of the Year winner helped that team to a World Series title, coincidentally ahead of the Yankees.

In honor of Valenzuela, the team will wear a black uniform patch beginning tonight and for the remainder of next season.

The Yankees' return to the World Series marks their first appearance in the Fall Classic since 2009.

The 15-year absence was the longest in their franchise history, occurring between 1981 and 1996.

This year's Fall Classic features an epic showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees – a World Series matchup that fans and pundits alike have dreamed of and feared for decades.

The two teams with the best records in baseball, two legendary franchises both steeped in history and controversy, will take the field to claim the 2024 World Series title. But in the court of public opinion the entire country is divided.

A recent survey conducted by BetOnline.ag gave us insight into fan loyalty.

Using geotagged Twitter/X data and hashtags such as #RepBX, #GoYankees, #DodgersNation and #GoDodgers, BetOnline has tracked over 160,000 tweets since last Sunday night, when the World Series match was officially scheduled. The results reveal a divided nation: A majority of fans from 29 states support the Yankees, while 21 states rally behind the Dodgers.

Read the full article here

The Yankees' last two captains, Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter, chat on the field at Dodger Stadium before Game 1.

The World Series pits the home run kings of both leagues, something that hasn't happened since 1956, when Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider played for the Yankees and Dodgers.

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani each hit more than 50 home runs this season, and we've never had a World Series with two hitters who hit that many hits.

Both are also expected to win the MVP title, and it will also be the second time since 1988 that the (presumptive) MVP winners will face each other in the series. The last time this happened was in 2012.

Juan Soto, the Yankees' star outfielder, has two reasons to celebrate today: his team is playing Game 1 of the World Series and it's his birthday.

The slugger, who won a ring with the Washington Nationals in 2019, turns 26 today.

Aaron Judge had some big compliments for fellow MVP Shohei Ohtani.

At a Yankee practice in the Bronx, Judge called Ohtani “the best player in the game” and an “ambassador of this sport.”

With four days off before Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers selected Jack Flaherty as their starter.

No surprises with the batting lineup announced by the Yankees for Game 1. Giancarlo Stanton, coming off his ALCS MVP, cleans up behind Aaron Judge.

Gerrit Cole will make his third career World Series start after pitching twice for the Astros in 2019, with one win and one loss.

Due to nerve irritation in his pitching elbow, his season debut on June 19 was delayed, allowing him to make only 17 starts in the regular season. This postseason, he is 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA across three starts, with his best performance coming in ALDS Game 4 against the Royals, where he pitched seven innings and allowed just one run.

Both teams are dealing with a number of injuries heading into the World Series.

According to MLB, first baseman Anthony Rizzo is playing for the Yankees with two broken fingers on his right hand because the fractures will not heal until the offseason. Pitcher Nestor Cortes, recovering from a left elbow flexor strain, faced batters in practice and is being considered for the World Series roster. Infielder DJ LeMahieu is still at bat and fielding in case he is needed after suffering a right hip impingement.

As for the Dodgers, first baseman Freddie Freeman suffered a sprained right ankle and missed three games but was expected to return for Game 1. Pitcher Alex Vesia missed the NLCS with a right side injury but could be available for the World Series.

This will be the twelfth time the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have met in the World Series, the most of any two teams in Major League Baseball. Although it was once a common gathering, it is one that has not been seen in over 40 years.

The connection dates back to the 1940s, when both franchises were based in New York. It has happened 11 times since then, with the Yankees winning eight of the titles.

The teams last competed in the Fall Classic in 1981, with the Dodgers winning six games.

Games 1 and 2 of the World Series will be played at Dodger Stadium because the Dodgers had a better regular season than the Yankees.

Here's how the rest of the World Series schedule will play out:

Game 1: Dodger Stadium, Friday, October 25, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 2: Dodger Stadium, Saturday, October 26, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 3: Yankee Stadium, Monday, October 28, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 4: Yankee Stadium, Tuesday, October 29, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 5: Yankee Stadium (if required), Wednesday, October 30, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 6: Dodger Stadium (if required), Friday, November 1, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 7: Dodger Stadium (if required), Saturday, November 2, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 1 of this year's World Series will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday at 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT. All ongoing games also begin at this time and are televised on FOX.

Those without cable can stream World Series games on platforms that offer FOX, such as Hulu with Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV and YouTube TV, as well as FoxSports.com.

All games are also available on MLB.TV. However, authentication with a participating pay-TV provider is required to watch.

Read the full article here

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who became the first baseball player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases this season, is a top player to watch in the 2024 World Series.

This will be Ohtani's first World Series appearance, although he already has a strong track record with two MVP wins (a third is likely on the way).

The ball he launched for his 50th home run, considered by many to be one of baseball's greatest achievements, sold at auction on Wednesday for more than $4.3 million.