The World Series is here, and the broadcast networks are getting exactly what they dream about each year—a battle between the two largest media markets in the country. It’s sure to draw a lot of viewers. I’ll certainly be tuned in despite the fact that I’m already groaning over the sycophantic behavior from the media fawning over New York and Los Angeles.
And to be clear, it has almost nothing to do with the players who will be showcasing their skills during the next week and change. This World Series features a matchup between the likely National League MVP and sole member of the 50-50 club, Shohei Ohtani, and the likely American League MVP, Aaron Judge, who hit 58 home runs while posting a remarkable .458 OBP. Judge will be backed up by 26-year-old phenom and soon to be free agent Juan Soto, who has gotten on base at a .421 clip while hitting 201 home runs in his first seven seasons—two of which were partial. Meanwhile, the top of the Dodgers lineup is a virtual murderer’s row of hitters with Ohtani leading off followed by back-to-back former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. The MVP of the NLCS, Tommy Edman, lurks in the eight hole.
The pitching is a little rockier for the Dodgers, although Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler plus the bullpen got it done for them against a tough Mets team in the Championship Series. The Yankees boast legit starters with two of the top ten highest paid pitchers in baseball, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón as their aces.
The problem is not the talent on the field. It’s that every player I just named except for Aaron Judge and Walker Buehler started their career as the hopes and dreams of some other fanbase’s future. The greatest hitter for some other team who decided they just could not be bothered to part with the hundreds of millions of dollars they most certainly have due to the lucrative business of owning a baseball team in the name of retaining generational talent. Okay, maybe the former Cardinals on this list are a smidge below that talent line, but you get the gist—to most of the people who live and die with a 162-game season for one of the 28 other teams in baseball the Yankees and Dodgers are just the annoyingly wealthy teams who laugh in the face of the luxury tax. The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee put it well earlier this week in his “Hater’s Guide to the World Series”:
Both of these franchises stare at themselves in the mirror when no one’s looking. They also do it when everyone’s looking. Monuments and plaques, a deserved sense of history that still manages to be overblown at the same time. No mascots. Jerseys that have barely changed in a century.
They insist upon themselves. They think they’re better than you and your team. And, sure, by getting to the World Series, that’s technically true, but they don’t have to insist upon themselves so danged hard all the time. It’s much funnier when entitled, history-drunk teams keep getting so close and losing year after year.
The only way this World Series could be more annoying is if the St. Louis Cardinals were in it instead of the Dodgers. I don’t want either team to win. The reason there will be so many more people potentially watching this World Series than other possible matchups is because the Dodgers and Yankees have a lot of fair weather fans who do not care enough about baseball to watch it for baseball’s sake. I’m not even sure some of these people are baseball fans. They might just be influencers who intuit that a World Series where standing room only tickets are going for $1,300 is a place they have to be seen.
There are individual players I’ll be cheering for during these games beyond the superstars listed above. There is real joy in seeing Anthony Rizzo play in another World Series—almost as much joy as the associated heartbreak that he’s not a Cub for life. I genuinely like former Cubs Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr. and I want good things for Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jasson Domínguez, who are both outstanding young players and dynamic to watch.
On the Dodgers side there are no former Cubs to cheer for, but intriguing talent and fun guys nonetheless, including two who share a last name. Teoscar Hernández took a one-year deal to show the world that his offensive output during a year in Seattle was an outlier and boy did he deliver. The 32-year-old slashed .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs for the Dodgers and will surely get paid by someone (maybe the Dodgers or Yankees, they are certainly into that) this offseason. Enrique Hernández is 33 years old and has struggled in each of the last three seasons—but the man is electric in October. He’s slashed .278/.356/.533 in 239 postseason plate appearances. And no, those numbers aren’t padded by earlier years in his career. In the 2024 postseason Hernández is batting .303/378/.485 with a wRC+ of 145 in 37 plate appearances.
The media and coverage around this World Series is going to be nauseating, but the baseball should be exceptional. Try to focus on the incredible hitting and slick fielding rather than the copious amounts of bandwagon fans who couldn’t pick Vin Scully or John Sterling out of a lineup. You can see the Yankees World Series roster and the Dodgers World Series roster at MLB.com. I’ll refrain from cheering for the meteor, mostly because it would deprive all of us of what’s sure to be a robust corner in the Hall of Fame someday. Game 1 begins on Fox tonight at 7:08 p.m. CT. A game thread will post at 6 p.m. CT.
World Series 2024: Ticket Prices Reach New Heights
Tickets to the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the priciest in Major League Baseball history. The historic matchup between the two storied teams from opposite coasts, who haven't met in a World Series since 1981, is the driver behind high ticket prices, experts say.
"It is one of the most in-demand World Series we've ever seen. Two marquee teams, from two major cities, both with star power brings a ton of demand," Chris Leyden, director of growth marketing for SeatGeek told CBS MoneyWatch. "It has everything you could ask for form demand perspective, and we are seeing that push up ticket prices."
The first game of the series will take place in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, at 8:08 ET. Fans will have to pay at least $700 just to get into the stadium, according to Leyden.
Average ticket prices for tonight's matchup and other games set to take place in Los Angeles are around $1,700, according to SeatGeek. Ticket prices for games held in New York are slightly higher at around $2,300 each on average, partly because Yankee Stadium accommodates fewer fans than Dodger Stadium does.
"You can definitely get tickets for less, and certainly for more," Leyden added. "Tickets are really hot in both markets."
How hot are they? Leyden noted that average ticket prices for the 2024 World Series are comparable to those for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts in the U.S.
Leyden said he's seen demand both increase and decrease for sports championships, with prices dipping for tonight's game over the course of the day—given that the first pitch will be thrown out in just a few hours. But it can be hard to predict the direction in which ticket prices move.
"Sometimes prices come down for championship events, sometimes they go up," he said.
On resale sites like SeatGeek, the market determines the price. Sellers who list tickets for too much money won't have any buyers. Folks who don't set prices high enough will see their tickets sell quickly, but leave money on the table.
StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said 2024 World Series ticket purchases on the resale platform have already outpaced sales for last year's MLB championship series, and that this year's tournament will be the best-selling World Series in history.
"Get-in" prices for the cheapest available tickets to Game 2 on Saturday night are holding steady at around $950 per ticket, Budelli said.
Pricing will be more dynamic as the series progresses, based on the outcome of each game and fan speculation.
The World Series Championship is determined by the best out of seven games, meaning the first team to win four games wins the title. In the event that one team sweeps the first four games, Games 5 through 7 won't take place.
That said, Budelli noted that it's better for fans to purchase tickets to later games now, given that prices are holding steady and that sellers refund buyers 100% of the ticket price if a game never happens.
"Tickets to those games will only go up in price from here," he said.
Budelli offered another insight for buying tickets: Typically, the best time to buy seats is 24-48 hours before the game, after the market has settled. This is to avoid peak-demand windows when prices spike, he said.
"We sometimes see ticket prices go up closer to the games, because of the amount of people shopping who have been waiting," he said.
A Tale of Two Rosters: Yankees and Dodgers Make Their Choices
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have announced their World Series rosters, revealing the 26-man squads ahead of Friday’s Game 1. The Yankees dropped their roster first, followed by the Dodgers.
New York will have 13 pitchers and 13 position players for the series, with only three infielders. Oswaldo Cabrera and Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be utility players to fill in the gaps.
Lefty starter Nestor Cortes is back on the roster for the Yankees after being placed on the injured list on Sept. 25 due to an elbow injury. Cortes was diagnosed with a flexor strain on his left elbow. While the injury was initially feared to be season-ending, the 29-year-old pitcher will be back to help the Yankees attempt to win their 28th title.
With Cortes on, third baseman Jon Berti was left off the roster.
For their 26-man roster, the Dodgers have also opted for 13 pitchers and 13 position players. The team will have just two outfielders, with four players, including Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández, serving as utility. Shohei Ohtani will serve as designated hitter.
The most glaring omission is pitcher Evan Phillips, who is out for the Dodgers in the final series. Phillips has been dealing with arm fatigue and has been limited in the postseason; the 30-year-old right briefly took the mound during the NLCS against the New York Mets but left after just one inning.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series takes place Friday in Los Angeles, followed by Game 2 in L.A. on Saturday. The teams will then travel to New York for Game 3 on Monday, Game 4 on Tuesday and, if necessary, Game 5 on Wednesday.
World Series Showdown: A Clash of Titans
The Yankees have 27 World Series wins under their belts—the most of any MLB team—to the Dodgers' 7 wins, the most recent of which was in 2020. The Yankees have not taken home a World Series since 2009.
For many years, a match-up between LA and NY, the two largest cities in the U.S., was not uncommon. The teams have faced off against one another in the World Series 11 times: more than any other pair of teams in the MLB. But this is the first time in 43 years they'll be going head-to-head for the title.
The Dodgers, who previously were based in Brooklyn, moving to Los Angeles in 1958, faced the Yankees for the first time in 1941—and lost. The last battle against the Yanks was in 1981, where they took home the win.
Here is the game schedule in its entirety, according to the MLB.
- Game 1 (Los Angeles): Friday, Oct. 25, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
- Game 2 (Los Angeles): Saturday, Oct. 26, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
- Game 3 (New York): Monday, Oct. 28, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
- Game 4 (New York): Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
- Game 5 (New York, if necessary): Wed., Oct. 30, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
- Game 6 (Los Angeles, if necessary): Friday, Nov. 1, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
- Game 7 (Los Angeles, if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 2, 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox
How to Watch the World Series
Absolutely! There are several online options. If you do have a cable subscription, the game is being streamed live on the Fox Sports Go app. (You can also try logging into Fox.com or use the Fox Now app.) Otherwise, one of these should work.
- Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three combined (or $30 per month for no ads on Hulu). Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
- Sling TV: The free trial on this service lasts three days. Afterward, it will cost you $77 per month.
- fuboTV: After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.
- Dish Network’s Sling: The lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, unfortunately.
- AT&T TV: Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option.
- YouTube TV: This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
- MLB.TV: Offers every post season game, including archived broadcasts of the playoffs. There’s no free trial, but for $29.99, you can watch the World Series games. If you’d prefer to only listen to the games, that will cost just $3.99. Either way, you will need to authenticate a subscription to a participating Pay TV provider to stream the games live.
The Dodgers’ Pitching Woes
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers, with just three starting pitchers, will rely heavily on their bullpen to try to topple the New York Yankees and win the World Series. And they'll have to do it without one of their top relievers.
Evan Phillips was left off the club's roster, which was unveiled Friday morning ahead of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, after suffering an arm injury during Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
"Each day has gotten better," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "First and foremost, we're not going to put him in harm's way, and where there's an ambiguity around it, it's not clear. And the way the Major League Baseball injury rule is written, we wouldn't be able to replace him in that it was something that was preexisting."
Phillips' absence registers as a significant blow. The right-hander didn't allow a run in 6⅔ innings across five postseason games through the NLCS after posting a 3.62 ERA with 18 saves in 61 appearances during the regular season.
The good news for the Dodgers is Alex Vesia, the team's best left-hander, and infielder Miguel Rojas are on the roster after missing the NLCS with injuries. Brusdar Graterol, who hasn't pitched in the postseason, was also included. Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who was used as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch runner in the NLCS, was left off the roster.
Vesia, who posted a 1.76 ERA in 67 games during the regular season, was not available for the NLCS after suffering an intercostal injury during the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres in which he logged three scoreless innings. He was cleared to return after throwing 15 pitches in a live bullpen session Wednesday.
Shoulder and hamstring injuries limited Graterol to just seven appearances during the regular season. The playoff-tested reliever owns a 1.64 ERA in 22 career postseason games.
Rojas has been dealing with a nagging adductor that has kept him off the field since he was removed from Game 3 of the NLDS. The veteran began the postseason as the Dodgers' starting shortstop, but his role could change given that Tommy Edman, the NLCS MVP, moved to shortstop and starred against the New York Mets, and Kiké Hernández continued his October excellence when given the opportunity to play every day after Rojas' injury.
The Yankees’ Return of a Key Pitcher
For the Yankees, Nestor Cortes, out for the past month, was included on their roster, replacing infielder Jon Berti from their AL Championship Series roster. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Berti was left off the roster because he suffered a hip flexor injury in Game 4 of the ALCS.
Cortes, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 18, finished the regular season with a flexor strain in his left forearm. He rejoins the club as a reliever, with a limit of 30 pitches, after making 30 starts during the regular season.
"I told them since the beginning that I just don't want to be on this roster because it's the World Series," Cortes said. "I want to be able to contribute and make sure when I'm out there that I'm giving my best and close to 100% as possible."
