After a long battle throughout the MLB playoffs, there are only two teams left to battle in the World Series: the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. It will not be an easy series for either team. 

Unlike last year, when the surprising Rangers and Diamondbacks made it to the World Series, nobody is shocked about this year’s teams. Both are considered among the best teams in baseball, and they each have some of the best players in the league.

The biggest strength for the Yankees is their power hitters. In the postseason, Giancarlo Stanton has hit five home runs and has been amazing for the team. The Yankees also have Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who are major pieces in the lineup and are reasons why they are in the World Series.

Unlike the Yankees, the Dodgers have multiple well-rounded hitters. The Dodgers have superstars Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani. Betts has four home runs and a .295 batting average this postseason, and Ohtani has three home runs with a .286 batting average. They also have a playoff standout Tommy Edman, who is hitting .341 this postseason. With all of those threats at the plate, the Dodgers should not have a hard time scoring runs. 

Even though the Dodgers bats are better, the Yankees have much better pitching. In the postseason, the three main starting pitchers for the Dodgers – Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Walker Buehler – are not doing well. Yamamoto has the lowest ERA out of the three with a 5.11. 

The Yankees pitching is not amazing, as they do not have any standout starting pitchers and one of their best pitchers is reliever Luke Weaver. But it is not as bad as the Dodgers. 

Even though both teams are incredibly talented, due to the pitching struggles of the Dodgers, the Yankees should be able to take the series.

The first game of the World Series is on Friday at 8:08 p.m. on FOX.