Yankees-Dodgers World Series Game 1 FAQ (Friday on FOX)

The two best teams from the National and American Leagues in 2024. The two expected MVPs. The two franchises with the most World Series history against each other. The two largest cities in the country.

This is an iconic Fall Classic that’s about to take place between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. When the World Series begins with Game 1 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, it will be a clash of coastal behemoths who have been accumulating luminaries in anticipation of a moment just like this.

“It’s kind of what the people wanted,” Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts said after L.A. dispatched the Mets in the NL Championship Series. “It’s what we all want. It’s fun. A battle of two good teams, a lot of long flights across the country, but that’s what makes it fun.”

The very basics — an extensive postseason past, big and broad fan bases and those classic, clean uniforms — make this a marquee matchup. The Dodgers, in their fourth World Series appearance in the last eight seasons, are chasing the franchise’s eighth title, first since 2020 and first in a full season since 1988. The Yankees, who have ascended to this stage for the first time since they last won it all in 2009, are looking to add to their unparalleled total of 27 championships.

But what lofts this clash to another level is the significant star power attached to it.

You’ve got Shohei Ohtani coming off the first 50-homer, 50-steal season in MLB history and Aaron Judge coming off the greatest OPS+ mark (223) by a right-handed hitter in modern AL/NL history.

They both have the league MVP (third for Ohtani, second for Judge) in the bag, but now we get to watch the two biggest names in baseball perform in their first World Series.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Judge said. “That’s what you grind all season for — for moments like this. It’s something special.”

Speaking of special, you’ve got Juan Soto, fresh off the go-ahead homer in the Yanks’ ALCS clincher, pursuing his second ring — he won it with the Nationals in 2019 — ahead of what looks to be a record-breaking free agency.

You’ve got Betts blazing his way (1.020 OPS in this postseason) to his third World Series after winning it all with the Red Sox in 2018 and Dodgers in 2020. You’ve got Freddie Freeman trying to will his way to a second title (after winning it with the Braves in 2021) on a badly injured ankle.

This will be the dozenth dalliance between the Dodgers and Yankees going back to 1941 but the first since 1981. Given the investments these two teams pour into their rosters and their postseason pedigree — in the Wild Card era (since 1995), the Yankees have reached the playoffs 25 times and the Dodgers 18 — it was only a matter of time before they simultaneously overcame October’s unpredictability and found each other in the fall.

They have found each other in a year in which they each had their league’s best record and run differential. This is only the third time this century (also the 2013 matchup of the Red Sox and Cardinals and the 2020 pairing of the Dodgers and Rays) and second in a full season that the No. 1 seeds are clashing in the Fall Classic.

So here’s to a World Series that’s as big as it gets.

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 1 of the World Series will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. The start time has not yet been announced, but the game will 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: RHP Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA in the regular season)
Cole will make his third career World Series start, having taken the ball twice in 2019 for the Astros, winning one and losing one. The AL’s reigning Cy Young Award winner, Cole’s season debut was delayed until June 19 due to nerve irritation in his pitching elbow, and he was limited to 17 starts during the regular season. Cole is 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in three starts this postseason. His sharpest outing came vs. the Royals in ALDS Game 4, when he navigated seven innings of one-run ball.

Dodgers: TBD
Had they needed to play a Game 7 in the NL Championship Series, the Dodgers would have gone with Walker Buehler. But with four days off before Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers will have options. They could stay with Buehler, or they could lean on Yamamoto or Jack Flaherty.

What are the projected starting lineups?
Yankees: With the Dodgers primed to start a right-hander, the Yankees’ lineup likely will appear much like it did in ALCS Game 4 at Cleveland. They moved Stanton to cleanup for Game 5, but manager Aaron Boone is uncomfortable stacking four out of five lefties at the bottom of the order and would prefer better balance. Our suggestion here is bumping Jazz Chisholm Jr. down in favor of Anthony Rizzo in the No. 4 spot, as Rizzo’s at-bats looked much better than expected during the ALCS, considering he is playing with two broken fingers on his right hand.

Dodgers: With the Yankees starting a right-hander in Game 1, L.A. likely will trot out this starting nine in some order. Freeman missed Game 6 of the NLCS with his badly sprained ankle, but he should be ready to play in the World Series.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Yankees: The Yankees have worked their bullpen heavily to notch seven wins through their first nine postseason games, but they’ll benefit from the layoff before the World Series. Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver have appeared in eight of those nine games. Weaver — the de facto closer — leads all Yankees relievers with 10 1/3 innings. Boone has been aggressive in asking Weaver for as many as six outs in the postseason, which likely will continue in the World Series. Tim Hill has made seven appearances and Tommy Kahnle six. Mark Leiter Jr. made a pair of crucial outings late in the ALCS after being added as an injury replacement for Ian Hamilton.

Dodgers: Carrying one of the best bullpens in the sport — and the biggest key to this postseason run — the Dodgers will continue to deploy their bullpen aggressively. Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen will be the team’s top relievers, with veterans Daniel Hudson and Ryan Brasier providing depth. Alex Vesia, if healthy, and Anthony Banda give the Dodgers two strong left-handed options.

Any injuries of note?
Yankees: As mentioned, Rizzo is playing through two fractured fingers on his right hand. It is a pain tolerance issue for Rizzo, as the fractures won’t heal until the offseason. Lefty Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain) has been facing hitters in simulated action and is considered very much in play for the World Series roster. The Yanks were tempted to add him as a mid-series injury replacement during the ALCS. Infielder DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement) has been continuing hitting and fielding with the club, just in case he is needed.

Dodgers: Freeman has played through a badly sprained right ankle all postseason long. The star first baseman has missed three games, including NLCS Game 6 against the Mets. But with a handful of days off before Game 1, he should be in the starting lineup. Vesia missed the NLCS with a right side injury but could be available in the World Series. Relievers Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly have not pitched in the postseason and it’s unclear how available they’ll be against the Yankees.

Who is hot and who is not?
Yankees: Stanton returns home to Los Angeles swinging one of the Bronx Bombers’ hottest bats, having secured honors as the ALCS MVP after hitting four home runs with seven RBIs in five games against Cleveland. Overall this postseason, Stanton has 10 hits in 34 at-bats (.294), with five homers and 11 RBIs. Soto hit a huge go-ahead homer in ALCS Game 5 and has a slash line of .333/.439/.667 this postseason. Torres (.400 OBP) and Volpe (.459 OBP) have been constant threats. Judge began seeing results in the ALCS, but is still hitting .161 in this postseason. Chisholm (.147 BA) and Wells (.091 BA) have also been cold.

Dodgers: Edman is coming off winning NLCS MVP, putting together one of his best stretches of the season with 11 RBIs. Ohtani also set a Dodgers record in the NLCS, reaching base safely 17 times against the Mets. After the Dodgers drew 41 walks in the six-game NLCS, it’s difficult to find one player who isn’t at his best offensively.

Anything else fans might want to know?
• 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.