It is a World Sequence of massive cities, huge fanbases, huge stars and massive expectations, and all of it begins Friday evening at Dodger Stadium. For now, although, here’s a have a look at 5 key storylines heading into this extremely anticipated matchup.

1. The largest postseason rivalry is renewed
No two groups have confronted off in October as usually because the Yankees and Dodgers. The matchup, which dates again to the Forties when each golf equipment have been based mostly in New York, has occurred 11 occasions within the postseason, with the Yankees profitable eight of these. However we have not witnessed this once-frequent World Sequence pairing in additional than 40 years. These groups final met within the 1981 Fall Basic when L.A. triumphed in six video games.

2. Proud franchises hungry for extra
As their many earlier World Sequence conferences would counsel, the Yankees and Dodgers each are at or close to the highest of baseball in the case of having a profitable custom. For each, success is an expectation, whether or not that’s coming from followers, media or inside the entrance workplace or clubhouse. And which means not simply making the playoffs or making a deep run — however truly profitable all of it. However regardless of liberal spending, aggressive maneuvering, and near-annual journeys to the postseason, neither workforce has achieved that just about as usually as it might like in recent times. One will accomplish that in 2024 … however which one?

3. No. 1 seed vs. No. 1 seed
Since something is feasible within the MLB playoffs, the game’s high seeds do not usually meet up within the World Sequence. A showdown between the groups with one of the best document in every league has occurred simply 13 occasions within the Divisional Period (since 1969). A Yankees-Dodgers matchup is the primary Fall Basic between every league’s No. 1 seed for the reason that shortened 2020 season. That yr, the Dodgers defeated the Rays in six video games. The final full-season Fall Basic to function the 2 high seeds got here in 2013 when the Crimson Sox beat the Cardinals in six.

4. MVP vs. MVP
It will not be official till a couple of weeks after the World Sequence, however this matchup will doubtless embrace the Most Priceless Participant in every league: Aaron Decide and Shohei Ohtani. We at all times wish to see how the sport’s finest gamers carry out on the most important stage, and that’s what we get with a Yankees-Dodgers World Sequence. An MVP vs. MVP faceoff was an everyday incidence in October earlier than the Divisional Period, but it surely has occurred solely as soon as up to now 35 years. That got here in 2012 when Buster Posey’s Giants swept Miguel Cabrera’s Tigers. The latest league MVP to win a World Sequence title in the identical season was Mookie Betts with the 2018 Crimson Sox. Betts, in fact, is now Ohtani’s Dodgers teammate.

5. Doing the Monster Mash
If you happen to take pleasure in watching baseballs get hit very onerous and really far, that is the collection for you. And whereas there are a number of gamers on these groups able to placing a hurting on a pitch, this primarily comes all the way down to 4 huge names: Ohtani on the Dodgers; Decide and postseason heroes Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton on the Yankees. These 4 ranked all ranked within the high 4 this season in barrel price and residential runs hit 110 mph or more durable. All of them ranked within the high 5 in hard-hit price and the highest 13 in common bat velocity. Backside line: When any of those guys is on the plate within the World Sequence, that’s not the time to seize a snack or take a rest room break.