Yankees vs. Dodgers: World Series Game 1 predictions, odds and picks — Oct 25, MLB 2024

On Friday night, the Yankees and Dodgers will meet in LA for the first game of the 2024 World Series. The 11 times when the two clubs have squared off in the Fall Classic, New York has come away with eight victories. The most recent clash was in 1981, when Los Angeles won.

Both teams have surged through the postseason, making quick work of the opposition. Now, as two teams with the largest payrolls in the game, a mere six wins stands between either side and the 2024 MLB World Series title.

"SHOHEI OHTANI IS HEADED TO HIS FIRST WORLD SERIES @BRWalkoff" - Bleacher Report

Yankees vs Dodgers recent form and records

The New York Yankees' 94 wins were the most in the AL this season, and enough to win their division by three games over the Baltimore Orioles. The team with the most homers in the 2024 regular season, New York bested both Kansas City and Cleveland en route to the Fall Classic, and will be looking for their 28th World Series title.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' 98 wins this season led MLB. After a close NLDS series against San Diego, the Dodgers' bats came alive in the NLCS against the New York Mets. LA will be seeking to win the World Series for the first time since 2020.

Players to Watch

Starting Pitchers

NYY: Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) vs LAD: Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA)

Cole had a 1.126 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 99 K in 95 IP.

Last Start: ND, 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K vs CLE

Career vs LAD: 4-2 5.01 ERA (46.2 IP, 26 ER) 2 HR in 8 games

Flaherty had a 1.068 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 194 K in 162 IP.

Last Start: Loss, 3 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 0 K vs NYM

Career vs NYY: 1-0 0.00 ERA (6 IP, 0 ER) 0 HR in 1 games

Must-Watch Hitters

New York

Game 1 at Dodger Stadium will conjure memories of breaking his toe there in 2023 for Aaron Judge. Regardless, Judge is a career .389 hitter against the Dodgers, with eight homers in 10 career games. Win or lose, the Yankees captain will have a massive part to play in the World Series.

Juan Soto's two-out, two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS booked his club's ticket to the World Series. This will be the second Fall Classic of his young life, as Soto hit .333/.438/.741 with three home runs and seven RBIs in the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals.

"The Juan Soto home run call in Spanish. So good." - Jeff Eisenband

Los Angeles

With an OPS of 1.163 thus far in the postseason, Mookie Betts leads his team in the category. A winner of the 2018 World Series as a member of the Boston Red Sox, and the 2020 Dodgers, Betts is no stranger to glory. The former MVP enters the World Series with four homers and 12 RBIs in the postseason.

"MOOKIE BETTS RBI DOUBLE PROVIDES SOME INSURANCE" - Jack Delperdang

After a somewhat lackluster NLDS against the San Diego Padres, Shohei Ohtani found his stride in the NLCS, connecting two homers and six RBIs against the Mets. In 20 career at-bats against Game 1 starter Gerrit Cole, Ohtani has a homer, a double and three RBIs.

Max Muncy was among his team's most effective hitters in the NLCS. In addition to hitting for a 1.363 OPS with two homers and four RBIs, Muncy's 11 walks led the team in the series.

Yankees vs Dodgers baseball betting odds

Friday 25/10	Money Line	Run Spread	Total Runs
New York Yankees	+ 105	+ 1.5 -200	O 8.5 -105
Los Angeles Dodgers	- 125	- 1.5 +165	U 8.5 -115

Yankees vs Dodgers expert picks and game prediction

Despite the fact that the Yankees led MLB in home runs during the 2024 regular season, it has been LA who has been the offensive gem of the postseason.

Los Angeles' postseason-best 20 home runs are far ahead of the Yankees, and LA has scored 70 runs in 11 games, compared to 43 in nine for New York. From batting average to slugging to OPS, LA has the edge when it comes to hitting this postseason.

Pitching has been stronger for the Yankees, whose 3.27 team ERA stands at nearly a full run lower than the Dodgers. Over the past three games, both teams ERA figures stand at 5.00 or above.

The Yankees will need to hope for a strong showing from Gerrit Cole, but his career numbers against the Dodgers are not exactly reassuring for fans in the Bronx. Expect a high-scoring game with LA captializing on their home-field advantage.

Run Line: -1.5 +165

Total Runs: O 8.5 -105

Prediction: Los Angeles W, 8-7