By Chris Havlicek
Updated 10/21/24 3:21pm ET
The dream matchup for baseball and television executives is also one for sportsbook operators. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to generate the largest betting handle ever for the World Series.
The Dodgers are slight -122 favorites at FanDuel, while the Yankees have +104 odds. Los Angeles has home-field advantage will host Games 1 and 2 and then also Games 6 and 7, if necessary.
The Dodgers are -130 home favorites in Game 1 on Friday. Starting pitchers have not been announced but Southern California natives are expected. Former top overall pick and UCLA Bruin Gerrit Cole should get the call for the Yanks, while the Dodgers will likely turn to Jack Flaherty.
Both teams feature a potpourri of All-Star talent, including the likely MVP in each league: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.
The Yankees have a league-best 27 World Series titles but have not won since 2009. The Dodgers have a total of seven but only since 1988. That came during the 2020 Covid-shortened season, despite winning 11 of the past 12 N.L. West titles.
The Yankees and Dodgers have met a record 11 times in the World Series. However, they last decided the Fall Classic in 1981.
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