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2024 World Series predictions: Expert picks for Yankees vs. Dodgers showdown

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2024 World Series predictions: Expert picks for Yankees vs. Dodgers showdown

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The 2024 World Series is a heavyweight battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, beginning Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the 12th World Series meeting between the two storied franchise, most recently in 1981 – after the Yankees won matchups in and 1977 and 1978.

MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are each playing in their first Fall Classic, this Dodgers run being Ohtani’s first career postseason appearance. Ohtani, who became the first player in history with 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season, has three home runs and 10 RBI in 11 games so far in October.

The Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS and Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS to reach their first World Series since 2009, while the Dodgers overcame the San Diego Padres in the NLDS and New York Mets in the NLCS.

Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ MLB writers and editors see the World Series playing out:

2024 World Series predictions: Expert picks

Bob Nightengale: Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 – The Dodgers simply are deeper, more versatile, and can beat you in so many ways. Once they knocked off the San Diego Padres in the Division Series, they were confident no one could possibly stop them.

Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 6 – The lineup is too lethal, and their Johnny Wholestaff bullpen approach will hold up better than the Yankees’ crew

Steve Gardner: Dodgers in 7 – The Dodgers don’t have Freddie Freeman at 100% and can’t match the Yankees’ pitching depth. But they’ve been an offensive juggernaut throughout the playoffs, and that will be the deciding factor in a slugfest of a series capped by a Shohei Ohtani walk-off.

Jesse Yomtov: New York Yankees in 7 – The Dodgers have been walking a tightrope with their pitching for the past few weeks and will be exposed by Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in this Fall Classic. Los Angeles is going to have to watch another team celebrate on a title at Dodger Stadium for the third time in eight years.

Scott Boeck: Dodgers in 6 – In a Fall Classic that features six former MVPs, its Shohei Ohtani – baseball’s $700 million man – who leads the Dodgers to their first championship in a full season since 1988 in his first season in Hollywood.

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