On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured their place in the 2024 World Series, where they will compete against the New York Yankees. Both teams entered the playoffs as the top seeds in their respective leagues, showcasing powerful offenses that emphasized scoring and home runs.
This World Series is filled with intriguing narratives, particularly due to the impressive statistics of both teams. Here’s a breakdown of key stats led by either the Dodgers or Yankees during the regular season.
Batting Statistics
Average Age: The Dodgers had the oldest lineup at an average age of 30.3 years, while the Yankees were slightly above the league average at 28.0 years.
Home Runs: The Yankees led MLB with 237 home runs, driven by Aaron Judge’s 58 and Juan Soto’s 41. The Dodgers were close behind with 233 homers, led by Shohei Ohtani’s 54.
Walks: New York also topped the league with 672 walks, primarily from Judge and Soto. The Dodgers followed with 602 walks and led in intentional walks with 33.
Slugging Percentage: The Dodgers posted the highest slugging percentage in baseball at .446, with the Yankees fourth at .429.
OPS: The Dodgers led in both OPS (.781) and OPS+ (121), while the Yankees ranked third in both categories.
Double Plays: The Yankees grounded into the most double plays in the league (138), whereas the Dodgers ranked 21st with 99.
Defensive Statistics
Neither team led in standard pitching or fielding metrics, a surprise given the strong performances of other teams in those areas.
Additional Notable Stats
Runs Per Game: The Dodgers averaged 5.20 runs per game (second overall), with the Yankees at 5.03 (third).
Plate Appearances: The Dodgers had 6,255 plate appearances, just ahead of the Yankees at 6,245.
Doubles: The Dodgers recorded 291 doubles (third in MLB), while the Yankees had 243 (24th).
RBIs: The Dodgers ranked second in RBIs (815), with the Yankees third (782).
On-Base Percentage: The Dodgers had a .335 OBP (second), with the Yankees at .333 (third).
Sacrifice Flies: The Yankees had 57 sacrifice flies (second), and the Dodgers had 51 (fourth).
Left on Base: Both teams struggled at times to convert runners into runs, with the Dodgers leaving 1,143 on base (second most) and the Yankees 1,141 (third most).
Pitchers Used: The Dodgers utilized 40 pitchers, tied for second most in the league, while the Yankees used 33 (thirteenth).
Wild Pitches: The Dodgers ranked second in wild pitches (64), with the Yankees at twenty-fifth (39).
Defensive Efficiency: The Dodgers were second in defensive efficiency (.724), while the Yankees were thirteenth (.703).
Conclusion
Both the Dodgers and Yankees demonstrated exceptional offensive capabilities throughout the season. Despite not leading in defensive or pitching stats, their offensive strength suggests an exciting World Series ahead, likely filled with home runs and high scores. Expect a thrilling showdow
n as these iconic teams vie for the championship.