Yankees - Dodgers summary online: stats, scores and highlights | 2024 MLB World Series Game 2 highlights
Yankees fall 4-2 to the Dodgers in Game 2
GOODBYE!!!
That is going to do it for our live coverage of 2024 World Series Game 2, as the Los Angeles Dodgers take a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did!
We are back with you on Monday for Game 3 in the Bronx, but until then, have a great evening and God bless!
Terrible Yankee bats, stellar outing by Yamamoto
The story of Game 2 of the 2024 World Series is without any doubt Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Yankee bats were completely silenced by him, save a lone home run surrendered to Juan Soto in the second inning. He was taken out of the game in the seventh after just 86 pitches, a move that unnecessarily jeopardized the Dodgers chances in this game. Ok, that threat never materialized, but that was down more to the terrible Yankee bats than anything out of the Dodger bullpen.
Yes, there was a late rally by the pinstripes in the ninth that threatened to be something before the Dodgers shut it down but again, that was a product of terrible Yankee at bats rather than brilliant Dodger pitching.
This 4-2 win gives the Dodgers a commanding 2-0 lead in the series heading back to the Bronx. While it is far too soon to get complacent against this Yankees team, there are a few things that Los Angeles can feel good about. Both rookie Anthony Volpe and captain Aaron Judge looked completely overmatched at the plate tonight. Their kryptonite? Breaking balls. If I were Dave Roberts, I would be scouring my bullpen for pitchers who can command a low curve ball or slider.
Los Angeles faced its own hurdle as Shohei Ohtani exited the game after injuring his left arm during a failed attempt to steal second base. There is not any news about it forthcoming as yet, but that must have Dodger fans on edge.
Game 3 is set for Monday in New York, and the Yankees will need to regroup quickly to keep the series from slipping further out of reach.
The final out
Good, but not good enough
Cargando...
Dodgers win
That is 2-0 as the series heads to New York
Cargando...
DODGERS WIN!!!
Jose Trevino pinch hits for Austin Wells and will face the new pitcher. He jumps on the first pitch and launches it to deep center field, but not deep enough! Tommy Edman is there to put it away and the Dodgers win!
Pitching Change
Dave Roberts strides out and asks Alex Vesia to get that 27th out. This is the situation that you dream of. Top of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded. It is real.
K
Anthony Volpe comes up and chases a breaking ball outside for strike one. That has been his kryptonite. Breaking balls.
He lays off another one for a ball and takes a high fastball for ball two.
The 1-2 is fouled back and it is 2-2.
Another foul and Volpe stays alive.
Treinen goes back to that low sweeper and Volpe bites at it, going down on strikes.
Hit by Pitch
Anthony Rizzo the hitter now and he fights off a tough at-bat, working the count to 2-2 with a foul in the process, before getting hit by an inside pitch. Rizzo is the best in the game at doing that and draws more than anyone else. The bases are now full.
single to right
Jazz Chisholm comes to the plate now representing the tying run. Stanton is on first. He gets behind in the count 1-2 and hangs in there, fouling one off before a sweeper misses inside. 2-2
Another foul before a fastball misses high and the count is full. Treinen's payoff delivery is lined to right field and the Yankees are still alive.
Stanton advances to second on the play.
Yankees score!!!
Giancarlo Stanton comes up now and he rips a bullet off the bag at third base! It pops high into the air and gets into left field. Chris Taylor has no chance to throw Juan Soto out at the plate and the Yankees claw one back!
Composing himself, Treinen delivers a beauty of a sweeper and Judge goes down swinging. He still has trouble with breaking balls.
Wild Pitch
Aaron Judge at the plate now and if ever the Yankees needed this torpor to snap it is now. He gets into a hole 0-2 before Treinen lets one get away from him. It gets to the backstop and Soto advances to second.
Top 9th
Juan Soto will lead things off for the Yankees and he takes a fastball inside for ball one. A sinker outside misses for ball two. Treinen tries it again and this time it catches the edge of the zone. A sweeper is fouled off and the count evens at 2-2.
Soto holds off another sweeper low and in and the count is full. Treinen's payoff delivery is pounded into right field, coming off the wall for a leadoff single. That got over Mookie Betts' head in a hurry and missed being a home run by a foot or so.
Pitching Change
Blake Treinen will come on to try and slam the door shut on the Yankees here as Chris Taylor replaces Teoscar Hernández in left field.
Tommy Edman comes to the plate and digs himself into a hole before tapping the 0-2 delivery back to the mound. Leiter flips it to Rizzo to end the inning.
The Yankees are down to their last three outs as they head to nine trailing 4-1.
Freddie Freeman the hitter now and he taps a short-hopper to second. Torres to Rizzo and it is two away.
Bottom 8th
Teoscar Hernández will lead things off for the Dodgers and he rips a hard shot to center field but Aaron Judge is there to put it away. One out
Pitching Change
The Yankees will tap Mark Leiter Jr. to take over on the mound.
Top of the order and Gleyber Torres lifts a high pop fly to first but Freddie Freeman is there to end the inning.
Alex Verdugo comes to the plate and chases the first pitch, grounding one to third. Max Muncy throws to first for the second out.
Top 8th
Austin Wells leads things off for the Yankees and fights through a tough at-bat, fouling off four before going down swinging. One gone
Pitching Change
The Dodgers will ask Michael Kopech to take over on the mound.
Not good
Ohtani is clutching that arm
Cargando...
Caught stealing
Teoscar Hernández comes up and Shohei takes off on the first pitch. Austin Wells throws down in plenty of time and has him dead to rights. Three gone, but the big worry is that Shohei is down and holding his elbow. It is not his throwing arm, so not the one that was operated on, but still. This is not good news for Dodger fans!
Mookie Betts comes up and does just the opposite, going down swinging on three pitches. Two down.
walk
Shohei Ohtani comes to the plate and lays off the breaking pitches, drawing a walk on four pitches.
Bottom 7th
Miguel Rojas leads things off for the Dodgers and he fouls three back on the way to working the count full. The payoff from Holmes is a nasty sinker that catches him swinging for strike three.
Anthony Volpe lifts a shot to straightaway center field for Tommy Edman and the inning is over. The Dodgers are still ahead 4-1 in the middle of seven
walk
Anthony Rizzo heads to the plate and he works the count full before the payoff delivery from Banda misses high and tight for ball four. The Yankees have a two out baserunner.
Jazz Chisholm faces the new pitcher and runs the count to 2-2 on three foul balls before lifting a soft fly ball to left field for Teoscar Hernández. Two gone
Pitching change
In what may qualify as one of the dumbest moves ever, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts comes out to the mound and takes the ball off of Yamamoto. He is not in trouble, he has show no signs of any weakness at all, and despite what the number crunchers will tell you 86 pitches is not nearly coming close to "too many".
Be that as it may, lefty Anthony Banda comes on to pitch.
Top 7th
Giancarlo Stanton leads off for the Yankees and they are running out of runway in front of them. They need to get something started but Yoshinobu Yamamoto has their number. He is sitting on a one-hitter going into seven.
Stanton fouls off four pitches before lifting a pop fly to shallow right field. Kiké Hernández gets over to it from second for the first out.
Will Smith will face the new pitcher and Holmes struggles to find the zone with his breaking pitches, running the count full before delivering a sweeper that Smith chops to Chisholm at third. The long throw across the diamond ends the inning.
Pitching Change
Once again, Aaron Boone walks out to the mound to call for the ball. Right hander Clay Holmes will come out of the bullpen to replace Tim Hill.
Max Muncy comes to the plate and fouls three pitches back before leaving one in play, popping out to third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in foul territory.
Bottom 6th
Kiké Hernández leads things off for the Dodgers and he rips the first delivery straight to Aaron Judge in center field. One away.
Fired up
Yamamoto is up for this
Cargando...
K
Aaron Judge comes to the plate and Yamamoto licks his lips. He has a curve ball that owns Judge tonight. And as predicted, Yamamoto missed on two fastballs before striking him out with two curves and a sinker. He may be a beast with the bat, but Judge is having real trouble with the curve tonight.
Juan Soto the hitter and he chops a slow roller to second. Kiké Hernández to Freddie Freeman and it is two away.
Top 6th
Gleyber Torres leads off in the sixth and grounds the first delivery to third base. Muncy fields it, goes to first, and it is one away.
ꓘ
Tommy Edman the hitter now and he stays patient, working the count full. The payoff delivery from Hill is an absolute peach of a fastball and it just jelly-legs Edman for strike three.
Freddie Freeman will face the new pitcher and he has been as good as any hitter in the game lefty on lefty.
He goes after a high fastball and pops it into shallow left field. Shortstop Anthony Volpe drifts back and calls for it and it is two down.
Pitching change
Yankees manager Aaron Boone strides out to the mound and calls for the change. He is suddenly working a bullpen game tonight and he signals for left hander Tim Hill to take over.
single to right
Teoscar Hernández the hitter now and he works the count full before ripping a shot to right for a single.
Bottom 5th
Mookie Betts leads off for the Dodgers and lifts a fly ball out to left but Alex Verdugo is there to put it away. One down.
Alex Verdugo up now and he lifts a fly ball out to left but right at Teoscar Hernández. The Yankees are retired in order and the score is still 4-1 Dodgers in the middle of five.
Austin Wells up now and he rips a grounder to first. Freeman nabs it and flips to Yamamoto on coverage. Two gone.
Top 5th
Anthony Volpe leads things off for the Yankees and they really need to get on top of the situation here. Yamamoto looks to be in complete control on the mound and he starts things off by with a strikeout on Volpe.
Shohei Ohtani jumps on the first pitch and dribbles it to short. Volpe goes to first to end the inning.
Miguel Rojas the hitter now and he watches three in the dirt before Cousins finds the zone with a sinker. 3-1
Another one is watched for a strike and the count is full. The payoff pitch is tapped to second and Torres goes to first for out number two. Smith advances to third on the play.
Double
Will Smith will face the new hitter and he watches a slider up high for a called strike. Another misses outside and it is 1-1
Cousins sticks with it and gets another strike before missing with a sinker. 2-2
Another slider misses low and the count is full. The payoff delivery is ripped to center, over the head of Judge and off the wall for a double!
Pitching change
That is going to do it for Rodón as Aaron Boone strides out to the mound and takes the ball from him. Right hander Jake Cousins will take over from him.
Top 4th
The Yankees are sticking with Rodón for the moment but they have the look of a team that is shell shocked. Max Muncy leads off for the Dodgers and he chops the first pitch foul. He can't hold off on the slider so Rodón goes back to it. 1-2
A high fastball catches him swinging and it is one out.
K
Anthony Rizzo the hitter now and he chases three fastballs to go down swinging. That is not the way for the Yankees to respond.
Jazz Chisholm the hitter now and he dribbles a soft roller to short. Miguel Rojas goes to first and it is two away.
Top 4th
Giancarlo Stanton leads things off for the Yankees and he chops a shot to third base. Muncy goes to first for the 5-3 putout. One away.
Freddie Freeman home run
Freddie goes back to back
Cargando...
Teoscar Hernández home run
Lifted out of the park
Cargando...
It is two outs, Edman at third and Kiké Hernández smashes a bullet toward the line in left field. For an instant the crowd is up and ready, but Alex Verdugo is on his horse and gets to it to put it away and end the inning.
But what an inning! The Dodgers came hammering back with three runs on two homers! They now lead 4-1 at the end of three!
Stolen base
Kiké Hernández comes to the plate and while Rodón is trying to work on the man at the plate, Tommy Edman steals third on the first pitch.
Double
Tommy Edman comes to the plate and gets into a hole quickly 0-2. The next shot is ripped into the gap in left center for a two out double! The Dodgers aren't finished yet!
Mound visit
Pitching coach Matt Blake comes out to have a word with Rodón.
Freddie Freeman HOME RUN!!!
Freddie Freeman works a full count in typical style, being very selective before he crushes a shot to right center! Same spot as yesterday! Another solo shot!
Teoscar Hernández HOME RUN!!!
Teoscar Hernández up now and Rodón goes after him up hight. The first one misses but the second delivery is demolished for a two run shot to right center! The Dodgers are back out in front!
single to left
Mookie Betts up now and he works the count to 3-1 before slapping a single to left. The Dodgers have a baserunner.
Back to the top of the order and Shohei Ohtani gets all twisted up chasing an outside slider to go down swinging. Two away.
Bottom 3rd
Miguel Rojas leads things off and he works the count to 1-2 before lifting one to right field for Juan Soto. One away.
Juan Soto Home Run
What a swing! What a shot!
Cargando...
Aaron Judge to the plate and gets a steady diet of curve balls. Yamamoto and the Dodgers look like they have his number. One is swung at, one misses, and a slider misses before he gets jammed and lifts a soft fly ball to right field. Mookie Betts is there to end the inning but not before the Yankees level things up with that solo home run. 1-1 in the middle of three and we have a ballgame!
Juan Soto HOME RUN!!!
Juan Soto up now and he works a 2-2 count before smashing an inside fastball into the next postal distict! There is your response! The Yankees even it up on a Juan Soto home run!
a 1-4-3 play
Gleyber Torres the hitter and he taps one to the mound. Yamamoto flips it to second baseman Kiké Hernández, who completes the play to first for the out.
Top 3rd
Alex Verdugo leads things off for the Yankees in the third and they need to answer back quickly.
Yamamoto goes after him with a fastball for strike one. Another is fouled back and Verdugo is in a hole 0-2.
Another fastball is lifted to left field but Teoscar Hernández is right there. One down.
Ice Cube lays it down
Before the game, Ice Cube lays down a challenge
Cargando...
Edman's shot
That was crushed!
Cargando...
Will Smith the hitter now and he fouls off four pitches on the way to a 2-2 count. Rodón delivers a changeup that is tapped softly up the third base line. Rodón pounces on it and delivers a bullet to Rizzo at first for the thrid out.
But the Dodgers are on the board after that Tommy Edman solo shot!
K
Max Muncy up now and he works a full count before getting all twisted up by a slider away for strike three. Two down.
Kiké Hernández chases the first delivery before lining the second one to Jazz Chisholm at third. One down.
Bottom 2nd
Tommy Edman leads things off for the Dodgers here in the second and he takes a fastball outside and a slider up for balls. 2-0
Rodón delivers a fastball and Edman crushes it to left! That ball is gone! The Dodgers draw first blood!
a 4-3 play
Austin Wells comes to the plate and rolls one to second base. Hernández to Freeman and that ends the inning. Again the Yankees strand one and it is still scoreless.
Anthony Volpe up now with Rizzo on first. Yamamoto misses outside before dropping a breaking ball in for a strike. 1-1
A fastball is hit on the screws but right at Tommy Edman in center field. Two away.
Walk
Anthony Rizzo up now and he takes a ball before swinging through a high fastball. The 1-1 delivery misses high and it is 2-1.
Another misses high and it is 3-1 to Rizzo. Yamamoto misses outside and Rizzo works the walk.
Top 2nd
Jazz Chisholm leads things off for New York and he taps a swining bunt back toward the mound. Yamamoto delivers the throw to Freeman for out number one.
Freddie Freeman up now with Betts at first and the crowd erupts. They love him here and with good reason. Freeman skies one straight up and everyone acts as if they have trouble finding it. Luckily for the pinstripes Rizzo eventually does and puts it away to end the inning.
Teoscar Hernández pops a high foul ball to right field but Juan Soto just jogs over and it falls in for a foul strike. What a missed opportunity! The Yankees had an easy out in their laps and let it slip away. Another pitch is delivered and Hernández lifts it out to right, this time in Soto's area and he makes the catch for out number two.
single to right
Mookie Betts the hitter now and he takes a fastball outside for ball one. Rodón tries the other side and gets the strike to even it up. A high breaking ball misses before a fastball is chopped foul. The 2-2 is lined into right field for a single. Mookie is such a complete hitter!
Bottom 1st
Shohei Ohtani leads things off for the Dodgers and he will face Carlos Rodón.
Rodón has been as solid as they come all season long.
The first pitch misses outside for a leadoff ball. Ohtani jumps on the next pitch to center field and Judge makes the grab. One down.
The designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton comes up and pops the first delivery straight up. Freddie Freeman gets under it and puts it away to end the inning. A wasted opportunity for the Yankees!
With Torres on second, Aaron Judge comes to the plate. He fouls off a curveball then takes two fastballs that miss for balls. Yamamoto tries another curve and gets another swinging strike. 2-2
He lays off another low curve and the count is full. Yamamoto delivers the payoff and Judge fouls it back. We do it again.
A peach of a curve gets Judge swinging for strike three. Two away!
Juan Soto to the plate now and Yamamoto delivers up the middle-middle fastball that Soto whiffs through for a strike. That was his shot! He may not see another strike tonight.
Yamamoto delivers a curve that misses low and tries again with the same result. 2-1
Smith calls for a fastball up in the zone and Soto fouls it back. Another split finger fastball gets the same treatment and the count is 2-2. A fastball misses low and it is now full.
The payoff is dribbled slowly to short. No time to turn two, so Volpe goes to first for the out. One down.
Top 1st
Here is the windup and the first pitch is a four seamer that misses low for a ball. We are off!
Torres fouls off another fastball before taking a curve up for strike two. Another one misses high and it is even. Another fastball misses outside and the count is full.
The payoff delivery misses up high and the Yankees start things off with a walk.
PLAY BALL!
The Dodgers are on the field, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is on the mound. The fans are in their seats and the umpires are ready as Gleyber Torres will lead off for the New York Yankees.
Let's PLAY BALL!
ALMOST THERE!
Go get the chips and the drinks. Walk the dog and take out the trash. Don't miss the first pitch as it is about come and you won't want to miss it.
There’s a hint of history in the air, too. For Dodgers fans, memories drift back to 1988, when Kirk Gibson’s iconic Game 1 homer powered the team to a quick 2-0 lead on the Series path. For Yankees fans, however, there’s still time to rewrite that script. The Bronx Bombers may be down, but no one doubts they’ll bring their fire tonight. As Game 2’s first pitch nears, all of baseball leans in, knowing this one is bound to be a showdown that leaves its mark.
Freeman's grand slam in the tenth inning led the Dodgers to defeat the Yankees in a dramatic Game 1 of the World Series.
Across the diamond, the Dodgers have all the reasons to feel good. Freeman’s late-game magic has them ahead, and they know that a Game 1 win at home often spells good things. With 67% of teams that take the first game in this format ultimately winning the Series, they’re sitting in the driver’s seat. Manager Dave Roberts has called on Yoshinobu Yamamoto to keep them on track tonight. Yamamoto will aim to carry some of the weight, giving the bullpen a bit of a breather and stifling New York’s hitters. There’s no better way to keep the Yankees’ hopes buried than to make them feel every pitch as a reminder of what they lost the night before.
Verdugo played for the Dodgers and Red Sox before his switch to the Yankees last year. He also represented Mexico in the last World Baseball Classic. Read about how bad the Yankees wanted him here
Taking the mound for the Yankees tonight is Carlos Rodón, who’s been fine-tuning his delivery and mental game all October. The intensity doesn’t faze him—he’s been here before. He knows that tonight isn’t about wild pitches or spectacular plays; it’s about staying steady and confident. “I think a lot of it has to do with just confidence,” Rodón says. “Confidence in my ability and in myself.” That poise could be the edge New York needs, especially with a Dodgers team riding high on adrenaline and momentum from Game 1.
The Dodgers lead the best-of-seven series with Game 2 coming up on Saturday night, once again at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Take a look at who will sing the anthem here
For the Yankees, it’s time for a deep look in the mirror. Losing two straight on the road in a best-of-seven series is a hard path to reverse; only a small fraction of teams claw back from that start to win it all. New York isn’t calling it “must-win” just yet, but they know the stakes. Young shortstop Anthony Volpe seemed to understand the weight of the moment, saying, “We play to win. We expect to win the game. It’s obviously a gut punch to take a loss, but I think that’s baseball. We’ll bounce back and be ready to go.” That’s the attitude they’ll need, and Volpe’s not the only one aware of it.
After that powerful Brad Paisley performance of the National Anthem ahead of the Yankees vs. Dodgers Game 1, who will be the Game 2 entertainer? Let's take a look at it right here
The World Series has barely begun, and already it’s shaping up to be a classic. Game 1 left Dodger Stadium buzzing long after the lights went out, thanks to Freddie Freeman’s unforgettable walk-off grand slam. It’s the kind of opening act that cements a series in the minds of fans for years to come. With the Dodgers up 1-0, the Yankees arrive at Game 2 knowing they’ve got to answer back, or they’ll return to New York down two. Game 2 will test which of these two giants holds their ground tonight.
As we head into Game 2 of the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, let’s take a look at some fun facts about the series. Read it all right here
Game 2 Lineups
The Home Team
Dodgers Batting Order
1. Shohei Ohtani, (L) DH
2. Mookie Betts, (R) RF
3. Teoscar Hernández, (R) LF
4. Freddie Freeman, (L) 1B
5. Tommy Edman, (S) CF
6. Kiké Hernández, (R) 2B
7. Max Muncy, (L) 3B
8. Will Smith, (R) C
9. Miguel Rojas, (R) SS
Manager: Dave Roberts
Pitching coach: Mark Prior
The Visitors
Yankees Batting Order
1. Gleyber Torres, (R) 2B
2. Juan Soto, (L) RF
3. Aaron Judge, (R) CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton, (R) DH
5. Jazz Chisholm, (L) 3B
6. Anthony Rizzo, (L) 1B
7. Anthony Volpe, (R) SS
8. Austin Wells, (L) C
9. Alex Verdugo, (L) LF
Manager: Aaron Boone
Pitching coach: Matt Blake
STARTING PITCHERS SEASON STATS
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Yoshinobu Yamamoto RHP
7 - 2
3.00 ERA
105 K
90.0 IP
1.11 WHIP
NEW YORK YANKEES
Carlos Rodón LHP
16 - 9
3.96 ERA
195 K
175.0 IP
1.25 WHIP
PITCHING
Yankees: Carlos Rodón
The Yankees hand the ball to Carlos Rodón, a left-hander known for mixing power with a touch of finesse. Rodón’s regular season record of 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA shows his reliability, but he’s been even more electric under the postseason lights. This will be his fourth start of the playoffs. He’s coming off a tough but crucial Game 5 in the ALCS against the Guardians, where he threw 4 2/3 innings to help clinch New York’s spot in the World Series. Rodón also had to bounce back from a loss in Game 2 of the ALDS against Kansas City, but he responded with a standout showing against Cleveland in the ALCS, giving up just three runs over 10 2/3 innings. Striking out 15 batters and issuing just a single walk over those two games, he showed that even under the high-stakes pressure of the playoffs, he’s a pitcher the Yankees can lean on.
Rodón knows his way around Chavez Ravine, too, though it hasn’t always been friendly ground. He’s made three previous starts at Dodger Stadium: one back in 2017 with the White Sox and two last year as a Giant. Though his record here sits at 0-1 with a 4.42 ERA, that only adds to the intrigue. Every outing is a chance to rewrite the story, and tonight Rodón looks to turn Dodger Stadium into his personal proving ground.
Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Dodgers’ ace on the mound tonight, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, brings a different but equally thrilling style to the field. The Japanese right-hander joined the Dodgers this season with a lot of buzz—and so far, he’s been every bit the phenom Los Angeles hoped for. Yamamoto wrapped up the regular season with an impressive 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA. In October, he’s only sharpened his edge, putting up dominant numbers in his postseason starts. He delivered a critical five-inning shutout in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Padres and followed it up with a solid start against the Mets in the NLCS Game 4, setting the Dodgers on a path to the World Series.
Yamamoto has already seen this Yankees lineup back in June when he pitched against them in the Bronx. That game left an impression: he held New York down, and now he’s prepared to do it again, this time under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium.
WELCOME!!!
Welcome to the Diario AS USA live commentary of Game 2 of the 2024 World Series as the New York Yankees try to bounce back after a thrilling Los Angeles Dodgers win in Game 1.
The 2024 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers kicked off in a way that fans won’t soon forget. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman brought the Dodger Stadium crowd to its feet with the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, giving Los Angeles a 6-3 win in a thrilling 10-inning opener. Now, all eyes turn to Game 2, where the Yankees look to even the score and avoid the daunting hole that would come from dropping two on the road. As they say, pressure makes diamonds or dust, and tonight we’ll see which side shines.
The Yankees come into Game 2 with some soul-searching to do. For all their talent, they know the odds are stacked against teams that lose their first two games on the road in the best-of-seven format. Teams in that position have only won the Series 11 out of 56 times; in the World Series specifically, it’s an even slimmer chance, just 7 of 34. So, while Game 2 might not be a do-or-die situation, it’s close enough. Shortstop Anthony Volpe captured the urgency in his post-game comments, saying, “We play to win. We expect to win the game. It’s obviously a gut punch to take a loss, but I think that’s baseball. We’ll bounce back and be ready to go."
Stepping onto the mound for New York in Game 2 is Carlos Rodón, a man who knows the stakes. He’s been working on a few adjustments this postseason, trying to find that mix of precision and grit needed under the blinding lights of October baseball. “I think a lot of it has to do with just confidence,” Rodón shared. “Confidence in my ability and in myself.” For Rodón, it’s a chance to show that he can control the tempo and put the Yankees in a position to bring this Series back to New York tied up.
Over on the Dodgers’ side, they’re brimming with confidence. They came out of Game 1 with not just a win but a statement, a reminder that this team is ready to fight for every inch. Freeman’s Game 1 heroics have already put them in an advantageous spot: 67% of teams that win Game 1 at home in this format go on to win the Series.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will send Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound in Game 2, hoping for a start that can ease some of the bullpen’s load. Game 1 saw Jack Flaherty pitch into the sixth inning, and the Dodgers are hoping Yamamoto can deliver something similar. With a bullpen day planned for later in the Series, the Dodgers can’t afford to exhaust their relief arms just yet. The goal is to keep the Yankees’ hitters off-balance and make them feel the weight of that Game 1 loss with every pitch.
The memories of 1988 are also stirred, when Kirk Gibson’s legendary walk-off homer in Game 1 sparked the Dodgers to a 6-0 win in Game 2 and ultimately propelled them to a five-game Series win. For Dodgers fans, the echoes of history only heighten the excitement, but the Yankees are ready to spoil that storyline. This isn’t a team that shies away from adversity, and they’re bound to bring everything they’ve got to even things up.