MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers' star infielder Max Muncy can't wait for the MLB World Series to begin

This is the most exciting World Series possible according to Muncy and he is chomping at the bit for the start of Game 1.

ALLISON DINNEREFE

Max Muncy leans back in his chair, grinning like a kid about to open presents on Christmas morning. The Dodgers’ infielder knows what’s coming, and he’s ready for it. The World Series is just days away, and it’s the matchup every baseball fan dreams of: Dodgers vs. Yankees. Two heavyweights of the game, clashing once again under the October lights. For Muncy, this isn’t just another postseason; it’s the one that matters.

“As a fan of baseball, how could you not be excited about this?” Muncy says with the kind of enthusiasm that you don’t often hear from players this deep into the season. “You’re talking about two of the biggest franchises. The biggest stars in the sport. You’ve got Freddie, Mookie, Shohei. On the other side you’ve got Aaron Judge, Giancarlo, Juan Soto, Gerrit Cole. The game’s biggest stars on the biggest stage - how can you not be excited about this as a fan?”

It’s a rare thing when the excitement of the players matches the buzz around the ballpark, but you can hear it in Muncy’s voice. The anticipation is palpable. The Dodgers and Yankees don’t meet in the World Series every year - heck, it’s been since 1981, a fact that seems to hang in the air like a slow curveball waiting to be crushed. It’s a rivalry born in the trenches of baseball’s most legendary moments, with the Yankees holding the edge historically. Out of 11 World Series matchups between these two, the Yankees have claimed eight.

But for Muncy, none of that matters right now. What matters is what happens on Friday, when the first pitch flies, and the crowd roars. “Come on, man. It’s Dodgers-Yankees – come on!” he says, shaking his head, almost in disbelief that he’s part of something this big. It’s not just history he’s stepping into; it’s the heart of the game.

The road to this point hasn’t been easy. The Dodgers fought their way past the Mets in the National League Championship Series, while the Yankees clawed through the Guardians to claim the American League title. Both teams have been tested, stretched to their limits, and now, they’re standing at the doorstep of baseball immortality. The stars will be out in full force. MVPs like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani will be in the spotlight, while veterans like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts look to add another championship to their résumés. It’s a collision of talent, and Muncy knows just how special that is.

The last time these teams faced off, back in June, the Dodgers came out on top, winning two out of three games. But that was a different time, a different team in some ways. Players have come and gone. The Dodgers have had to make do without key pitchers like Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow, both sidelined with injuries, while adding new faces like Michael Kopech and Jack Flaherty. The Yankees have had their own changes, notably bringing in Jazz Chisholm Jr. to help bolster their lineup.

But all that is just noise now. What matters is what’s in front of them - the chance to etch their names in the game’s greatest rivalry, a chance to be remembered alongside legends. And Muncy? He’s just ready to get out there and play.

“Come on, man,” he repeats, the excitement still fresh. “It’s Dodgers-Yankees.” And really, what else needs to be said?

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