Category: Baseball

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Before the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees get set to meet in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1981, we spoke about the matchup with John Smoltz, who pitched in five different World Series during his Hall of Fame tenure with the Atlanta Braves.

Smoltz talked about how he’d try to approach facing the red-hot Giancarlo Stanton, how Juan Soto has changed the Yankees’ lineup, which relievers he’d use against Aaron Judge late in games, whether the Yankees’ right-handed pitchers can learn anything from Yu Darvish’s success against Shohei Ohtani and which Dodgers starter might be best equipped to take on the patient Yankees lineup.

The MLB on FOX analyst also gave his thoughts on the Dodgers’ bullpen games — which are likely to continue this series — if Yoshinobu Yamamoto should keep the same approach that brought him success earlier this year in the Bronx, and possible World Series MVPs.

Kavner: Giancarlo Stanton is having another big postseason. Why do you think he seems to find another gear in October? How would you go about pitching to him?

Smoltz: When he’s healthy and he’s on time, he’s one of those unique hitters — so strong. He looks like he never uses anything but his upper body. But obviously, his legs are very important to him, and when he’s out of balance, it looks like he’s on roller skates, and his legs and feet are all over the place. When he’s in balance and on time, he can hit a 100 mph fastball at the top of the zone. He can hit 100 mph at the bottom of the zone. But you’ve really got to be able to get your secondary pitches out of the zone. If he doesn’t chase, you’re in trouble. 

Right now, I don’t know what this time off is going to do for everybody, especially the Yankees. They’ve had longer time off, but he has been a tough out, and that’s what the Yankees have to have, because behind Aaron Judge is the key. If those hitters are able to be, let’s just say, normally good, then the Yankees are a tough lineup. But if the guys behind Judge don’t do the things that allow you to capitalize with men on, then you’re going to see Judge not pitched to a lot. 

So, it’s a good thing for the Yankees that they got a couple guys behind him hot — I know they had to move Austin Wells down because he was not hot behind Judge — but that’s the secret. I mean, they’ve got the top-heavy, probably the two and three best hitters in the game, back to back. You can make an argument that when Freddie Freeman is healthy, the Dodgers’ top three are just as equal, if not better.

Kavner: Who would you be more careful with right now on the mound, Juan Soto or Aaron Judge?

Smoltz: The key any time that you’re facing them is don’t have traffic on base. So, early in the game, you’re navigating possible solo home runs. You want to stay away from the three-run homer, the two-run homer. And so, when Soto’s on his game, he’s much tougher to pitch to. Judge has the absolute monster ability of power and average. But again, if you’re going to pitch around anybody, after you’ve gone through Soto, you’ve got to pitch around Judge. 

But it’s not an easy answer either way, because they bat back-to-back, and it doesn’t matter right or left. That’s the thing. Soto is so complete at a young age, and he’s so intense to the strike zone. He’s the reason they traded for a game-changing lineup. He literally changed the entire lineup for the New York Yankees single-handedly.

Kavner: The Dodgers have done a pretty good job of lining up their high-leverage relievers late in games to attack specific matchups. Who would you plan to use against Judge?

Smoltz: I think what they’re going to do is they’re not going to let any one guy face him three times. This is going to be a bullpen series again for the Dodgers. I like Evan Phillips’ breaking ball against Judge, the way that he angles and throws it, and Judge is so big that the bottom part of the strike zone gives him issues. And that’s really the key, depending on what umpire gives him the bottom of the zone. That could change how Dave Roberts utilizes him.

Blake Treinen, he’s got the equalizer going both ways. The interesting thing about Michael Kopech is he throws a lot of fastballs, even though he has the slider, and you can maybe get them at the top of the zone against Judge. But again, I think the breaking ball is the key on being able to get the angle that you want to get, to get Judge to swing outside of the plate.

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Kavner: We saw the Padres have Tanner Scott face Shohei Ohtani late in games in the NLDS, while the Mets didn’t exactly have the kind of left-handed weapon in their bullpen. Do you expect the Yankees to use Tim Hill as a possible Ohtani neutralizer? For their right-handed starters, is there anything they can learn from Yu Darvish’s success against him?

Smoltz: Yes on Hill. As far as the Yankees starters go, they don’t really have those kinds of pitches that Darvish has. Obviously, Garrett Cole is a stud. When he’s on his game, he can handle anybody. But it’s going to be a challenge, no doubt, because there’s no lefties in that rotation. If Nestor Cortes is going to be on the roster, he possibly comes into play, he’s funky enough that I don’t know if they’ll ID him as someone who could face Ohtani, but Hill for sure is going to be on Ohtani. 

It’s going to be the same narrative for the Dodgers in this World Series — can the bottom of the lineup for the Dodgers create chaos so that it makes it much more difficult for Aaron Boone to navigate when that lineup turns over? At the start of the game, it is what it is. Ohtani didn’t get on base a ton when nobody was on until late in the series. He’s on a historic run with runners on. I would look for the Yankees to look at video and really dial in on what was happening with runners on with Ohtani versus what was happening with nobody on. There’s freedom to pitch to him with nobody on, and it gets a lot more stressful when there’s runners on.

Kavner: Which of the Dodgers’ three starting pitchers do you think is best equipped to have success against this very patient Yankees lineup? Is there any matchup you’d give the Dodgers the starting pitching edge in this series?

That’s going to be tough, because those guys have been up and down. I think Jack Flaherty has the opportunity to go to the deepest if he’s on. He just has more pitchability, he’s a starter that is closer to a throwback. I don’t think they’re going to let anybody go six innings at any point. That just doesn’t happen. I think the way the Dodgers are going to navigate this, in the games they have a chance to win, they’re going to push the throttle way down. They’re going to exit the starter and go right to the pen. And then the games that don’t look like they have a high chance of winning, they’re going to go a different route. 

It’s not throwing away games, that’s not what I’m saying. It’s just navigating what you have and the best way to use your resources. I think they did it unbelievably well in the Mets series, but the games allowed them to do that. I don’t know that the games are going to allow them to do that in this series. That’s why it’s going to be much tougher for Dave Roberts — he did a fantastic job last series — but this will be his toughest challenge, because I don’t think the games are going to be lopsided like we saw in the last series.

Kavner: We know bullpen games can work in a vacuum, but the concern over time is that it’s just not a sustainable method. While Dave Roberts did a good job of making sure the high-leverage guys were well-rested during the NLCS, do you expect the Dodgers’ success with bullpen games to continue in the World Series?

When this started eight years ago, everybody got excited that this was a new age and a way to get it done. There’s certain markets that made this very popular. But you know what started happening? All those relievers started going down with Tommy John and getting hurt. It’s an unsustainable long-term philosophy — but the Dodgers don’t have any choice right now. Let’s not forget, they put together a superstar rotation that just happened to get hurt. They had a lot of guys in the mix. They had eight or nine starters. Now they’re down to three, and so this was not their desire. This was not in the plans, but it’s the only way they can go now. It’s the only way for them to be successful. 

But it is not a blueprint. With this playoff system, it is not a blueprint to get through the whole postseason like this. These guys are gassed, and they’re doing an incredible job. But I promise you, the Dodgers would do backflips if a starter were to go six or seven innings. They would be the biggest cheerleaders in the world. I’ve been in both of those worlds, and there has never been a more exhausting time for me personally than when I was the closer. I got up and down and used, and people forget all that. So, to answer that question, there is no other choice for them. But this is not the blueprint they were looking for. Give them credit, though, for backlogging their bullpen as well with as many arms, just in case this were to happen.

Kavner: Yoshinobu Yamamoto had the best start of his young MLB career against the Yankees earlier this year in the Bronx. When you’ve had success against the team that you’re facing in the postseason, how much did that lift your confidence? Also, were you tempted to attack them the same way, or do you have to find a different way because they’ve already seen it?

If you’re simply healthy and you’re able to do the things you did last time, then you don’t make a change. But if you’re not as healthy, or things are different, or it’s a long time ago, you’re seeing a totally different pitcher, maybe. I only changed when I saw teams a lot. I remember seeing the Cincinnati Reds a lot during the year, and then I got them in the postseason, and I completely flipped the script. I know my pitching coach was having a heart attack because I didn’t throw one slider. I threw 35 straight fastballs or something to start the game when it was a heavy right-handed lineup, and he goes, “Are we going to throw a slider anytime soon?” And I said, “Absolutely, but I got a plan. I’m going to pitch them backwards.”

So, that’s the time you make ultimate changes. But I think the bottom line is you don’t really do it often. If you’ve had success, your mindset is an absolute: make the other team change before you necessarily change. Especially when — Yamamoto is starting Game 2 — it’s not in New York. It’s a little bit different in L.A., and the World Series is so much different than a regular-season game — and he was electric in New York.

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Kavner: I just covered the NLCS where, amid all the Dodgers’ superstars, Tommy Edman ended up being the NLCS MVP. Any predictions right now for MVP of the World Series?

It’s going to be heavy, heavy on the superstars. But this is what happens that you get guys that shine, they do things because the other team makes them be the guy. For the Yankees, I could see somebody like maybe Anthony Volpe doing something similar to what Edman did if he were to be in enough RBI situations. But you’re always looking for that player that nobody’s paying attention to.

For the Dodgers, I would be interested to see if Will Smith, with the way this rest lined up and his home run in his last game, I know the Dodgers are hoping he can get unlocked. Because if he can get unlocked, wow, does that lineup really go to another place. So, it’s all going to be heavy on the stars, and the MVP is probably going to be a star. But just like you said, Edman, great trade, great player that fits the mold for what the Dodgers needed.

John Smoltz, a first-ballot Baseball Hall of Famer, eight-time All-Star and National League Cy Young Award winner, is FOX MLB’s lead game analyst. In addition to calling the network’s marquee regular-season games, Smoltz is in the booth for the All-Star Game and a full slate of postseason matchups which include Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series assignments.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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Baseball has a rich history filled with memorable moments, but for some teams, the pursuit of a World Series title has been a long and challenging journey. From teams that are still searching for their first championship to those that haven’t won in decades, these droughts highlight the ups and downs of life in the league. Keep reading for more information about the longest active and inactive World Series droughts in Major League Baseball.

Longest Active World Series Title Droughts

• No. 1: Cleveland Guardians – 75 seasons (Last title in 1948)
• No. 2 (tie): Milwaukee Brewers/Pilots – 55 seasons (No titles)
• No. 2 (tie): San Diego Padres – 55 seasons (No titles)
• No. 4: Seattle Mariners – 48 seasons (No titles)
• No. 5: Pittsburgh Pirates – 45 seasons (Last title in 1979)
• No. 6: Baltimore Orioles – 40 seasons (Last title in 1983)
• No. 7: Detroit Tigers – 39 seasons (Last title in 1984)
• No. 8: New York Mets – 37 seasons (Last title in 1986)
• No. 9: Oakland Athletics – 35 seasons (Last title in 1989)
• No. 10: Cincinnati Reds – 34 seasons (Last title in 1990)
• No. 11: Minnesota Twins – 33 seasons (Last title in 1991)
• No. 12: Colorado Rockies – 32 seasons (No titles)
• No. 13: Toronto Blue Jays – 31 seasons (Last title in 1993)
• No. 14: Tampa Bay Rays – 27 seasons (No titles)

Longest Inactive World Series Title Droughts

• No. 1: Chicago Cubs – 107 years (1909-2016)
• No. 2: Chicago White Sox – 87 years (1918-2005)
• No. 3: Boston Red Sox – 85 years (1919-2004)
• No. 4: Philadelphia Phillies – 77 years (1903-1980)
• No. 5: Baltimore Orioles/St. Louis Browns – 63 years (1903-1966)
• No. 6 (tie): Texas Rangers/Washington Senators – 62 years (1961-2022)
• No. 6 (tie): Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators – 62 years (1925-1987)
• No. 8 (tie): San Francisco Giants – 55 years (1955-2010)
• No. 8 (tie): Houston Astros – 55 years (1962-2017)
• No. 10: Los Angeles Dodgers – 52 years (1903-1955)

What is the longest world series drought ever?

The longest world series drought ever, whether active or inactive, belongs to the Chicago Cubs, with a 107-year drought. This drought lasted from 1909 all the way to 2016, when the Cubs defeated Cleveland 4-3. 

What is the longest active world series drought?

Currently, the Cleveland Guardians have the longest active world series drought, having won their last title in 1948, 75 seasons ago. 

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It’s been 11 years since the top seeds in each league met in the World Series. It’s arguably been decades since the Fall Classic featured this much star power. 

While the perennial All-Stars will attract most of the headlines, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers each feature deep rosters that will be needed to triumph over the other.

Taking both the regular season and this postseason into account, FOX Sports MLB experts Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar ranked the top 24 players competing in the 2024 World Series.

1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, designated hitter

Unable to pitch this season, baseball’s most unique talent found another way to make history with 54 homers and 59 stolen bases. Ohtani ended the regular season with 12 hits in his last 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position, then carried that clutch production into his first career postseason, where he is 6-for-9 in those spots. He had more hits (eight) and walks (nine) than strikeouts (seven) in the NLCS and has a .934 OPS overall this October. He joined the Dodgers for the chance to win championships. Now, MLB’s grandest stage beckons. — Kavner

2. Juan Soto, New York Yankees, right fielder

The top three on this list came so close in our voting that it goes to show how tight these top offenses will be in this showdown. What makes this one interesting is that Soto actually didn’t play against the Dodgers this year; he was sidelined with left forearm inflammation when they came to the Bronx in June. Soto’s absence was sorely missed — the Dodgers outscored the Yankees 17-10 in the three-game series — but his 203 wRC+ this postseason indicates he’ll make up for it in the Fall Classic. — Thosar

3. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, center fielder

With the narrative of his playoff slump behind him, Judge came up big in the ALCS with a game-tying home run in Game 4, and it looks like he’s just getting started. Judge, born in Linden, California will have a ton of family, including his parents, coming to the World Series in Los Angeles. The presumptive AL MVP will want to show off at what he has described as one of his favorite places to play — after New York, that is. — Thosar

4. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers, right fielder

Remember when we were talking about Betts’ postseason struggles? That feels like a thing of the past now for the former MVP, whose hundreds of swings per day seem to have gotten him right. He was 3-for-44 over his previous 12 postseason games when he broke out with a homer and two hits in Game 3 of the NLDS. Now, he is hitting .342 with four homers and a 1.182 OPS over his past nine playoff games. Most importantly, he is consistently making opponents pay any time they pitch around Ohtani. There’s nowhere for pitchers to hide. — Kavner

5. Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees, designated hitter

Completing the Yankees’ problematic trifecta, Stanton turns into a different player when October rolls around because, in his words, he “wants a ring” and he isn’t going to be satisfied until he gets it. Looking at the ALCS MVP trophy and declaring that it doesn’t mean anything to him, because he wants the next one, is the kind of mentality that has carried the Yankees to the biggest stage in baseball. He homered in each of the final three games of the ALCS. Will he win the World Series MVP award next? — Thosar

6. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees, starting pitcher

The Yankees’ veteran right-hander is inarguably the best pitcher in the World Series, so it’s only right that he’s the first arm to show up in our player rankings, too. This will be Cole’s second time pitching in the Fall Classic, and his first time since Soto hit home runs off him in back-to-back World Series starts in 2019. Good thing for Cole that the generational slugger and the reigning Cy Young winner are on the same team now. — Thosar

7. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers, first baseman

He’d probably find his way higher than seventh on this list under normal circumstances. When Freeman sprained his ankle on Sept. 26, doctors told him it was probably a 4-6 week injury. Nine days later, he was in the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS. He gritted through the pain, missing only one game of the series and somehow posting a .353 batting average through his first five games of October. But his production halted in the NLCS, and he missed two of the final three games of the series. Is a week of rest enough to get him back to form? — Kavner

8. Teoscar Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers, left fielder

Hernández built a penchant for coming through in the biggest moments in his first season in Los Angeles, and that was never more apparent than in the NLDS, when his grand slam in Game 3 turned what should have been a rout into a nail-biter and his homer in a do-or-die Game 5 helped the Dodgers move forward. The NLCS, however, was a different story. His swing looked out of sorts while going hitless through his first five games of the series before he broke out with two hits in the Game 6 clincher. The Dodgers will have to hope that gets him going again. — Kavner

9. Carlos Rodón, New York Yankees, starting pitcher

The latter arm of the Yankees’ 1-2 punch has looked much better in his outings since he managed to control his emotions on the mound after a ALDS Game 1 start that quickly spiraled out of his hands. Rodón said, back in June when the Yankees hosted the Dodgers, it crossed his mind that the meeting might be a World Series preview. He’s looking forward to facing Ohtani and going deep into his start for New York. — Thosar

10. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers, starting pitcher

How much confidence will June 7 in the Bronx give Yamamoto in the World Series? On that day, he featured his slider more than ever before and fired seven scoreless innings in his best start of his first season stateside. There was some thought, however, that the pitch might have also contributed to the shoulder strain that would sideline him soon after for nearly three months. He has not gone more than five innings since that outing, but even in short stints, he has proven this postseason to be effective. He picked the slider back up his last time out and struck out eight in 4.1 innings in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Mets. Can he replicate his success with the pitch against the Yankees again? — Kavner

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11. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers, third baseman

At one point in the NLCS, Muncy set a new single-season postseason record reaching base 12 consecutive times up. His ability to work counts, draw walks and do damage when he gets something in the zone is maybe the best example of what makes this Dodgers’ lineup so dangerous, even beyond the MVPs at the top. After an oblique and rib issue eliminated three months of his season, he picked up where he left off prior to the injury and finished the season with an .852 OPS. Muncy led all players in the LCS with 11 walks and also homered twice. — Kavner

12. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers, catcher

After a difficult second half, the playoffs have been a similar struggle at the plate for the All-Star catcher. Smith is 6-for-38 with seven walks this postseason, but he has made his hits count. He homered in the first of back-to-back elimination games for the Dodgers in the NLDS and helped send his team to the World Series with another home run in Game 6 of the NLCS, giving him a little momentum moving forward and providing a reminder that he is still one of the best catchers in baseball. — Kavner

13. Jack Flaherty, Los Angeles Dodgers, starting pitcher

Will the Dodgers get the version of Flaherty who tossed seven scoreless innings against the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS? Or will they get the version with diminished velocity who surrendered eight runs and didn’t strike anyone out his last time out in Game 5? The deadline addition has been a vital piece for the Dodgers’ ravaged rotation, but considering Flaherty’s importance to his team, the answer to that question could determine whether the Dodgers are celebrating their franchise’s eighth championship. — Kavner

14. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees, second baseman

Talk about an unsung hero. After a midseason benching for his lackadaisical play, including too many fielding errors to count at second base, Torres really turned his season around in September and hasn’t looked back. Hitting leadoff in front of Soto, Judge, and Stanton, Torres has a .832 OPS along with nine runs scored in nine playoff games this year. He’s served as a terrific tablesetter in October, when it has finally come together for the soon-to-be free agent. — Thosar

15. Tommy Edman, Los Angeles Dodgers, shortstop

“When we got him, we said NLCS MVP or bust,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman quipped after the under-the-radar midseason addition led all players in the LCS with 11 hits and tied Corey Seager’s 2020 NLCS record with 11 RBI. When the Dodgers acquired Edman at the deadline, they couldn’t have imagined he’d be knocking in four runs in the clean-up spot in the NLCS clincher. But they did envision a versatile defender who could play multiple spots and lengthen the lineup, which is what he has done. His ability to play both center and shortstop has been crucial with Miguel Rojas banged up. The offensive production is a major bonus. — Kavner

16. Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees, shortstop

The Yankees shortstop played in 160 games this year and his ability to post has been invaluable to the Yankees – even if his bat wasn’t where the club wanted it to be. Fortunately for New York, Volpe has looked much better at the plate in October, batting .429 (6-for-14) with a 1.029 OPS in his past four games. Even though this is all a small sample size within Volpe’s first-career trip to the playoffs, his ability to step up when the lights are brightest has mattered a great deal to this Yankees lineup. — Thosar

17. Luke Weaver, New York Yankees, relief pitcher

The Yankees reliever with a 6-foot-2, 183-pound wiry frame has suddenly become one of the most important players on the roster as the team gets ready for the NL’s most lethal offense. Having just jumped into closer duties in September and bringing four career saves into October, Weaver completed his first five appearances without a blemish. The Yankees are now betting the house on Weaver to deliver the most critical lockdown performances of the journeyman’s nine-year career to date. — Thosar

18. Kiké Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers, second baseman

The Dodgers’ Mr. October is living up to the moniker again. A career .238 hitter known more for his ability to help defensively across the diamond, Hernández continues to transform into someone entirely different this time of year. After going deep twice this postseason, he now has 15 career playoff home runs — the same number as Aaron Judge and Babe Ruth. Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are the only players in baseball history to log a higher career postseason OPS than Hernández (.889) in at least 75 playoff games. — Kavner

19. Blake Treinen, Los Angeles Dodgers, relief pitcher

He’s no longer pumping fastballs in the high-90s the way he did prior to the shoulder surgery that wiped out his 2023 season, but he has demonstrated that his pitch mix can still be just as nasty a few ticks down. His sweeper-sinker pairing is one of the most effective in baseball — opponents struck out 37 times and registered just nine hits against his sweeper this year — and his ability to miss bats hasn’t been compromised in his return. He threw the final two innings to send the Dodgers to the World Series and has allowed just one run in eight innings this postseason. — Kavner

20. Jazz Chisholm, New York Yankees, third baseman

Chisholm was one of the most important trade pieces of the summer and his immediate hot start in the Bronx energized a Yankees team that was in need of a spark at the time. He remains a key glue guy in the clubhouse now, his youthful personality seemingly bringing out the best in other, quieter guys like Volpe. Chisholm has yet to find his signature moment in his third-career trip to the playoffs this year, but as one of the Yankees’ fastest runners, he’s still a threat every time he gets on base. — Thosar

21. Anthony Rizzo, New York Yankees, first baseman

As Aaron Boone noted after Rizzo returned from injury in the playoffs, the veteran first baseman has been performing even better than what the Yankees expected. Rizzo has made playing with fractured fingers look easy, and his experience on how to navigate the World Series — and win it, like he did for the 2016 Cubs — still makes him one of top players of any postseason roster this October. — Thosar

22. Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees, starting pitcher

The right-hander from University Of South Carolina tends to fly under the radar on this star-studded Yankees roster, but that doesn’t make him any less consequential on a team needing these final four wins for a championship. Schmidt might even see his start day moved up to Game 2 in Los Angeles in place of Rodón, because the Dodgers hit lefties so well and Schmidt undoubtedly has the mental stamina to block out the pressures of pitching on the road. He isn’t talked about enough, but Schmidt’s many assets, including a 50% ground-ball rate this October, are essential in this race to the title. — Thosar

23. Evan Phillips, Los Angeles Dodgers, relief pitcher

This was the most up-and-down season for Phillips since he joined the Dodgers in 2021 and became one of MLB’s most reliable relievers. After logging a 2.73 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in the first half, he had a 4.68 ERA and 1.32 WHIP after the break. However, Phillips ended the regular season with just one run allowed in his final six appearances and has carried that momentum into October, again serving as one of Dave Roberts’ most trusted leverage options. Phillips has not allowed a run in five appearances this postseason and is holding hitters to a .130 average, which is especially notable when he’s consistently facing the opponent’s top threats. — Kavner

24. Tommy Kahnle, New York Yankees, relief pitcher

The Yankees’ high-energy reliever famously used to drink five Red Bulls and two cups of coffee a day, so it’s a miracle that he’s still a viable option in this Yankees bullpen. But, more than that, Kahnle will enter his first career World Series appearance having just recorded a huge save for New York in Game 4 of the ALCS while Weaver was down. After recording a 2.11 ERA in 50 regular-season outings, Kahnle has yet to allow a run in seven innings this October, proving to be a key piece of the Yankees’ postseason puzzle. — Thosar

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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Has there ever been a World Series with more star power?

Probably not — but only one can emerge as MVP when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the New York Yankees.

Let’s check out the odds for World Series MVP at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Wednesday, with the Fall Classic set to begin Friday.

And don’t forget, you can catch all the action on FOX and FOX Sports App.

World Series MVP odds:

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total)
Aaron Judge, Yankees: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Juan Soto, Yankees: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Mookie Betts, Dodgers: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Max Muncy, Dodgers: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)

If the Championship Series MVP results were any indication, the World Series MVP will be up for grabs based on who has a breakout performance.

Several times during the ALCS, Soto and Judge were atop the oddsboard, but it was Stanton that took home the hardware, after going deep in each of the last three games of the ALCS, tallying six RBIs in the process. 

As for the NLCS, Ohtani, Betts, Muncy and the Mets’ Francisco Lindor all hovered near the top of the oddsboard, before Tommy Edman — a long shot entering the series — was eventually named the winner.

In six NLCS games, Edman racked up 11 hits, 11 RBIs and a huge two-run homer in Game 6 that eventually helped propel the Dodgers to the World Series.

Edman sits at +2500 to win World Series MVP entering the series.

If recent history meant anything, Edman might be in a good spot, considering three of the last four World Series MVPs have been shortstops, including ex-Dodger Corey Seager in 2020.

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