The stage is set for the 2024 World Series: the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the New York Yankees for the first time since their last World Series matchup in 1981. Prior to the final two teams, the playoff series included matchups between the Dodgers and the New York Mets, and the Cleveland Guardians against the Yankees.
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers via Twitter.
National League Championship Series (NLCS)
The Dodgers and Mets were in contention for the NLCS title over the weekend. The Dodgers had the best NL record this year so they had home-field advantage.
The Dodgers won the series 4-2, and infielder Tommy Edman was named NLCS Most Valuable Player after coming to the team at the trade deadline in July and injury recovery in his early days in Los Angeles.
Game six began with New York leading 1-0, though the Dodgers quickly responded, putting two points on the board to regain the lead, with more points scored throughout the game including Edman’s and Will Smith’s home runs. Both teams put a lot of runs on board during this series, with a combined 72 total points across both teams throughout the series.
Courtesy of the New York Mets via Twitter.
The Mets
The Mets have won two World Series titles, one in 1969 and one in 1986. They have appeared in the playoffs 11 times, and have won five National League pennants.
First-year manager Carlos Mendoza led his team to their first playoff appearance since 2015, when they last won the league pennant. Meanwhile, third baseman Mark Vientos was one of the Mets’ rising stars, setting a franchise postseason record with 14 RBIs.
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers via Twitter.
The Dodgers
The Dodgers most recent World Series win was in 2020 following a shortened pandemic season. They have won the World Series seven times and now have 25 National League pennants, this being their first clinched at home since 1988.
Against the Mets, the Dodgers set an NL record of 46 runs – the most scored in a single postseason series. Infielder Max Muncy also broke his own franchise record from 2020 by reaching base 17 times, with five hits, a hit by pitch, and 11 walks.
Courtesy of the New York Yankees via Twitter.
American League Championship Series (ALCS)
The Guardians faced the Yankees in the ALCS in a five-game series. The Yankees had home-field advantage for the best AL record.
The Yankees won the first two games played at their home stadium, though the Guardians took game three upon their arrival to Progressive Field. Though this home field surge did not last long, the Guardians fell to the Yankees over the next two games.
In game five, the Guardians held the lead 2-0 until the top of the sixth inning when Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run home run to tie the game. Juan Soto drove in the game-winning three-run home run at the top of the 10th inning.
Stanton was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player for his four hits during the series, all of which were home runs, on top of his seven runs batted in.
Courtesy of the New York Yankees via Twitter.
The Yankees
The Yankees have the most World Series wins in baseball with 27. Their most recent one was in 2009. They have won 40 American League pennants and have made the playoffs 59 times in their history.
27-year-old second baseman Gleyber Torres made franchise history during game four of the series, reaching base safely seven times within the first inning of a single postseason series.
Courtesy of Jeff Roberson, AP Photo.
The Guardians
The Guardians have two World Series titles from 1920 and 1948. They have won six AL pennants and had made the postseason 16 times in their history prior to this run.
Despite entering the matchup as an underdog team, players such as Tanner Bibee, Andrés Giménez, and brothers Bo and Josh Naylor were integral parts to moving the team along to their 17th postseason visit.
Edited by Brittany Snow
Comentarios