Dodgers lineup a tough test for walk-prone Gil
Sometimes, it’s not quite obvious what the story of an upcoming game or matchup is going to be. Sometimes, it’s one good team against another, without a clear “what to watch for” hook beyond that.
This is not one of those times....
Luis Gil
Why a light-hitting shortstop is a World Series X-factor
In a World Series where all the focus will be on the top sluggers who populate the lineups of both teams, it’s easy to forget that there are other players who are going to make a difference, too. Maybe that’s 20/20 Yankee third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., or 2016 World...
Anthony Volpe
MLB's 4 hardest hitters are all in the World Series
This World Series could be a slugging showcase for the ages. The Yankees and Dodgers have the four hardest-hitting players in baseball between them: Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Ohtani.
The eye test would tell you that all by itself. Just watch the home runs those four...
Shohei Ohtani
Aaron Judge
Giancarlo Stanton
Juan Soto
Here's how to get the best sluggers of the World Series out
The 2024 World Series has no shortage of offensive firepower, obviously; each team might have three Hall of Fame bats apiece hitting in their top four, and it's that offense that's a large part of why the Dodgers (.854 OPS in the NLCS) and Yankees (.809) are here. So: how...
Juan Soto
Aaron Judge
Giancarlo Stanton
Max Muncy
Shohei Ohtani
Mookie Betts
This is the World Series of tough at-bats
Plate discipline can (and often does) make all the difference come October. The 2024 National League postseason was a perfect example.
Earlier this month, the Phillies chased their way to an early exit in the NL Division Series against the Mets, while the Dodgers waited out New York’s pitching staff...
Both World Series catchers will be on one knee. Here's why it's fine
“The catching fundamentals are terrible,” said the longtime catcher and manager. "They changed catching, but not for the best," he continued, talking about some of the best catchers of the previous decade.
"Catching today," he added," is a disaster."
If that sounds like it could have been spoken by any...
Austin Wells
Will Smith
Should managers fear 'reliever familiarity effect' in World Series?
In an October version of baseball that is increasingly ruled by how often you can roll out your filthiest relievers – where “starters” very much means only that – there’s an unexpected yet fascinating question to be asked:
Why does it seem like all of the most dominating relievers in...
Manaea has had Ohtani's number -- but will he in Game 6?
Now that the Mets have forced a Game 6 against the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, all eyes will be on one matchup in particular on Sunday at Dodger Stadium: Shohei Ohtani vs. Sean Manaea.
Manaea is the Mets' best starter, and he absolutely dismantled Ohtani in Game...
Sean Manaea
Shohei Ohtani
Why the Yankees have the most dominant closer in the playoffs
You'd think the most dominant closer in the 2024 playoffs -- or at the very least, the most dominant closer in the ALCS -- would be Emmanuel Clase. But really, it's been Luke Weaver.
The Yankees closer, who was not a closer at all until September, and who was a...
Luke Weaver
Judge just had his postseason breakout. Is Ohtani next?
The Dodgers and Yankees each made it to their respective League Championship Series, and they combined to win three of the first four games of those series, and yet they each had a similar question to answer: Why have our biggest hitting superstars not done a whole lot so far?...
Aaron Judge
Shohei Ohtani
