Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Standings Comparisons

For an unprecedented 12th time, the Yankees and Dodgers meet again in the World Series.

Despite the frequency of their Fall Classic matchups, this is the first time since 1981 that New York and Los Angeles will meet in October.

Without further ado, the positions of each team will be compared.

Yes, the Dodgers broke the NL record for the most consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason, but that was mostly the bullpen, and not long after. The Dodgers’ rotation enters the 120th World Series with a 6.08 postseason ERA and a 5.59 FIP.

Trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty has a 7.04 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 15 October 1/3 innings pitched. Yoshinobu Yamamotothe highest-paid starting pitcher in MLB history, has also underperformed this October. He has a 5.11 ERA and a 4.71 FIP during the playoffs.

New York’s rotation, anchored by Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, has fared much better over the past three weeks. The Yankees’ primary arms have a 3.89 ERA and a 3.35 FIP through the ALCS.

While Gerrit Cole has given up a .288 average against this month, he also has a 3.31 ERA. Carlos Rodon has given the Yankees their best postseason outings by a starting pitcher, bar none. In his last two starts, Rodon has struck out 15 of the 41 batters he has faced and given up three earned runs.

The Yankees rotation is healthier, and there is a possibility that Nestor Cortes Jr could return. Despite playing four fewer games than the Dodgers, the Yankees’ rotation has 43 strikeouts to Los Angeles’ 27 and has a lower walk rate, 6.9% to the Dodgers’ rate of 9.7%.

New York’s rotation is healthier and has been objectively better. The Yankees have the edge here.

Luke Weaver has found his way as the Yankees closer and has been mostly masterful in that role. Weaver’s main concern is his workload. He has pitched in all but one game in the postseason and has made several four or five shutout saves. Luckily, he gets everything he needs.

Despite some scares, Tommy Kahnle, Tim Hill and Clay Holmes have been mostly effective this postseason. Overall, the Yankees’ bullpen has produced a 2.56 ERA and has given up just a .204 average against. They even passed Cleveland’s historically vaunted bullpen in the ALCS.

The Dodgers’ late-inning pitchers have been good this month in their own right. Their collective ERA of 3.16 is second-best among all NL playoff teams this year, behind only the Padres.

Closer Blake Treinen has been brilliant, with three saves and a 1.13 ERA. Brent Honeywell, Edgardo Henriquez and Ryan Brasier have battled hard. However, Evan Phillips, Anthony Banda and Daniel Hudson have all been off.

Slight advantage for the Yankees here. Not only has their bullpen been better peripherally, but they’ve also induced ground balls at a much higher rate and have more depth.

Austin Wells has been a ghost all postseason. He has struck out 41.7% of the time and has one negative wRC+ (-1).

Will Smith has had a lackluster October showing, but it hasn’t been as bad as Wells. That goes to the Dodgers hands down.

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani will make up most of the stories in this World Series, but it’s worth mentioning that two highly decorated first basemen will also be playing.

After fielding Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera at first base in the ALDS, Anthony Rizzo hit in the ALCS. Rizzo had six hits in 14 at-bats and posted a 1.000 OPS. He did it all while playing several broken fingers.

Freddie Freeman is also no stranger to playing through injury. He has missed three games, and Max Muncy has filled in for him in his absence. Freeman, for all his strength, has not produced this postseason; he has a .377 OPS and has hit .167.

Max Muncy, however, has been outstanding this month, with a 1.014 OPS and three home runs. Freeman and Rizzo will have plenty of time to rest and heal even more.

That position is even, because Rizzo has produced through pain and still has a flashy glove, while Freeman needs to produce, but he and Muncy have strong pedigrees.

Who would have thought Gleyber Torres would be a catalyst since moving into the top spot? This has also continued till October.

Torres was the second best second baseman of the entire second half, and his postseason numbers have been excellent. In 46 plate appearances, Torres is hitting .297 with an .832 OPS and has walked 15.6% of the time. Walks generally haven’t been a part of Torres’ game, but he has a .400 on-base percentage this month.

The Dodgers’ Gavin Lux was the only second baseman to be better than Gleyber Torres in the second half, but he hasn’t come close to Torres’ level in the postseason.

Chris Taylor and October spark plug Kike Hernandez have also alternated time at second base. Taylor has a 92 wRC+ so he hasn’t done much. Hernandez has identical numbers to Torres this postseason, but second base is not his primary position. The Yankees take the cake here.

Jazz Chisholm he has brought great courage and arrogance to the Yankees, but he has been one of the worst hitters this postseason. With a 37 wRC+ and .481 OPS, Chisholm essentially hasn’t had his bat with him at the plate in October.

Max Muncy and Kike Hernandez have led the hot corner for the Dodgers, and they have been excellent, as mentioned above. Easy lead for Los Angeles here.

Tommy Edman had a historic NLCS for the Dodgers, during which he won MVP and hit 11 RBI, a Dodgers record.

Both shortstops have been swinging uncharacteristically scorching bats, and both have identical numbers. Neither team has an advantage over the other here, as it currently stands.

Mookie Betts has had a sensational postseason, to no one’s surprise. Teoscar Hernandez has proven to be a good trade acquisition, but has been quiet in the postseason, with a .690 OPS. The Dodgers have alternated between Andy Pages and Chris Taylor in center field. Pages has been much better, and will get more playing time in the World Series.

As great as Betts is, he is no Juan Soto. Soto won the pennant for the Yankees with one electrifying and valid three-run home run in the top of the tenth inning of Game 5 of the ALCS. Soto’s 1.106 postseason OPS and 203 wRC+ dwarf Betts’ still excellent performance.

by Aaron Judge bat finally woke up in the ALCS, and has walked 17.1% of the time. As for Pages and Taylor, they are not Judge.

Alex Verdugo has had a mostly underwhelming postseason, but yes it has not been without great moments. Teoscar Hernandez has clearly been better, but the Yankees have the better overall outfield. Edge, Yankees.

Yes, Shohei Ohtani had one of the best regular seasons ever, and his first postseason appearance has ended with a .934 OPS and 10 RBI.

Giancarlo Stanton, however, who already had a flashy October resume earlier this year, won the ALCS MVP and has a 1.179 OPS and five home runs in nine playoff games. He’s also hitting .794, which is easily the best of any player this postseason.

Ohtani is the greatest baseball player and perhaps the greatest athlete we have ever seen in our lifetime. It’s a privilege to watch, but Giancarlo Stanton combines Ohtani’s mystique and skill with his own postseason production, and he’s the main reason the Yankees won the pennant.

This position is tied and will most likely determine the World Series champion.

This is the World Series we’ve been waiting for. Both teams have the bank accounts, star power and illustrious history.

The lineups are roughly equal in skill and methodology, but the Yankees have a deeper, more reliable bullpen, a better rotation, and Soto and Stanton playing at historic levels.

The Yankees will win the World Series in seven games, and this will be an instant classic.