The Los Angeles Dodgers set up a blockbuster World Series showdown with the New York Yankees after beating the New York Mets in the National League championship.
Both teams feature some of the top players in the MLB, including AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge and NL MVP front-runner Shohei Ohtani. Although the Fall Classic will feature arguably two of the greatest hitters in MLB history, not everyone is happy with the matchup.
The Dodgers and Yankees are among the top 5 teams with the highest payroll in the major leagues, something the fanbase of other teams often points to. Kansas City Royals shortstop Vinnie Pasquantino has poked fun at the MLB fans who are 'unhappy' with the two teams making the World Series, probably because of their financial strength.
"I love baseball fans. Unhappy it’s Dodgers Yankees for a multitude of reasons. But if it was a 3-6 seed to make the World Series the system would be flawed because the 1-2 teams lost because of the bye. I think we are simply proving that no one is happy with anything."
Pasqantino also argued that the fans would have questioned the new postseason format had none of the top-seeded teams made it to the Fall Classic. The current postseason format allows a bye week to the top seeds from the two leagues.
Yankees have history on their side in Dodgers rivalry
The last time the Dodgers met the Yankees in the World Series, the NL West team triumphed in 1981. However, the Bronx Bombers have been more dominant in the past. The two teams have faced each other in the Fall Classic 11 times, more than anybody else.
The Yankees boast an impressive 9-2 record in the marquee clashes against their storied rivals. But all of that is in the past, the two teams had the best regular season record in their respective leagues and will likely go toe to toe in one of the most anticipated matchups in recent history.
Both Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, two of the biggest names in baseball, will be desperate to get their hands on a first World Series ring.