It's World Series time! We've got Game 1 of the 2024 WS between the Yankees and Dodgers and I'm here to break it all down.
With Jack Flaherty on the mound, the Dodgers are slight favorites (-124) in this contest, with Gerrit Cole taking the ball for the Yankees. The run total for these bombastic offenses has been set at O/U 8.5.
Here's a preview and some of my top picks for World Series Game 1:
Yankees vs Dodgers Game 1 Odds
As of October 24th at FanDuel
Yankees vs Dodgers Pick – Game 1
Dodgers ML (-124 )
I find it hard to separate Flaherty and Cole. Both LA and NY’s starters are solid righties with the tendency for the occasional blow-up game. So, the big differentiator for me here is Los Angeles’ offense.
The Dodgers enter this World Series on a collective hitting hot-streak. They averaged an absurd 7.7 runs per game in the NLCS. The Yankees have scored more than seven runs in just one of their last 12 games, so that's a high average for New York to chase.
The Dodgers also have a trio of bats with a history of getting to Cole. Freddie Freeman, Enrique Hernandez, and Mookie Betts all have career averages over .350 and OPS over .890 against Cole. The only Yankees player who has good numbers against Flaherty is Anthony Rizzo.
In what appears to be a pretty even Game 1, Los Angeles’ offensive ceiling will be the difference. The Dodgers are also 10-3 in their last 13 games as favorites, so who am I to doubt that.
Yankees vs Dodgers Game 1 Key Matchup
Shohei Ohtani vs Gerrit Cole
In his first postseason, Ohtani has a .286 average and .934 OPS so far. He's driven in 10 runs in 11 games. But, Ohtani doesn't have the best track record against Gerrit Cole, with the Yankees ace holding him to just four hits in 10 career at-bats (.200 average, .638 OPS). Will Ohtani finally get to Cole on the biggest stage?
Ohtani is currently -280 to get a hit and +220 to homer tonight at FanDuel.
Yankees vs Dodgers Player Prop Pick
Enrique Hernandez To Get A Hit (-160)
Enrique Hernandez is the definition of clutch.
During his career, Hernandez's low-leverage OPS is .641. In high-leverage spots it’s .779. He’s got a regular season career slugging percentage of .405 that goes way up to .533 in the postseason. Kiké is made for the big spots, and this Game 1 is certainly that.
Hernandez also seems to have Cole’s number, rocking a .368 career average and 1.162 OPS against tonight’s New York starter.
With one of the better value hit lines you’ll find for this matchup, trusting Hernandez to get a knock tonight is an easy play for me.
Yankees vs Dodgers Betting Trends
- The Dodgers are 10-3 in their last 13 games as favorites
- The Yankees are 7-2 on the runline in their last nine road games
- The OVER has hit in six of the Dodgers' last seven games at home
- Tommy Edman has an RBI in five of his last six games