World Series 2024: Early MLB Bracket Storylines, Pitching Matchups and MVP Odds

October has more to offer than just tricks and treats.

There's also the World Series—and what a World Series the MLB has cooked up for the 2024 iteration. It's the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, a couple of longtime rivals arriving at the Fall Classic as the best teams—by regular-season and playoff performance—from their respective leagues.

Between the major markets, the history between these organizations (this is their 12th World Series collision) and the copious amounts of talent on both rosters, this is a series that sells itself. In case you need more convincing, though, or just want to whet your appetite ahead of Friday's series opener, let's dissect everything you need to know about this series, from storylines and schedules to matchups and odds (courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook).

Top Storylines

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 and Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers meet before Game One of the Championship Series against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

It's tempting to just say this Dodgers vs. Yankees, L.A. vs. New York—what else do you need, right? Well, the baseball gods are giving us far more than just a renewed rivalry.

The star power in this series is staggering. It's Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and a hopefully healthy(ish) Freddie Freeman on one side, and Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton on the other. Any one of these players can take over a game on his own, if not an entire series.

If the stars cancel each other out, it will be interesting to see how the pitchers fare. New York's rotation is a lot healthier and deeper, not to mention it opens with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, who have eight All-Star selections between them. Having said that, this injury-riddled L.A. staff did have four shutouts over a five-game stretch this postseason, so maybe the Dodgers' hurlers can heat up again.

More than anything, the top storyline here is the quality of baseball that could be in store. It isn't often that the sport's top seeds lock horns in the championship round; this is only the 13th collision between No. 1 seeds in the World Series in the Divisional Era (since 1969). This could be an all-timer.

Series Schedule, Pitching Matchups

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Series Schedule

Game 1: Friday Oct, 25 at Dodger Stadium

Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26 at Dodger Stadium

Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28 at Yankee Stadium

Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Yankee Stadium

Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Yankee Stadium

Game 6*: Friday, Nov. 1 at Dodger Stadium

Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 2 at Dodger Stadium

*if necessary

**all games at 8:08 p.m. ET on FOX

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Pitching Matchups

Between L.A.'s injury issues and the unique nature of the World Series, very little has been announced when it comes to pitching matchups. Cole will open for the Yankees. The Dodgers will trot out Jack Flaherty for the opener and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Game 2. That's the extent of announcements.

New York will presumably utilize Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil in Games 2, 3 and 4, though the order could differ. And there's always a chance things change. Maybe Nestor Cortes rejoins the rotation. Or perhaps the Yankees fall into an early hole and get aggressive with their assignments.

As for the Dodgers, it's a matter of when not if they'll have to lean on their bullpen. The hope is that Flaherty, Yamamoto and Walker Buehler do well enough in their starts to not overly tax the relievers behind them.

World Series, MVP Odds

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees jokes with Aaron Judge #99 during the 4th inning of Game One of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on October 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

World Series Odds

Dodgers -125

Yankees +105

MVP Odds

Shohei Ohtani +200

Aaron Judge +400

Juan Soto +500

Giancarlo Stanton +800

Mookie Betts +900

Max Muncy +1000

Gerrit Cole +2500

Tommy Edman +2500

Teoscar Hernández +2800

Kiké Hernández +2800

Gleyber Torres +3000

Jazz Chisholm Jr. +3500

Freddie Freeman +3500

Will Smith +4000

Jack Flaherty +5000

Carlos Rodón +6000

Austin Wells +7000

Yoshinobu Yamamoto +8000

Anthony Volpe +10000

Anthony Rizzo +10000

Luke Weaver +10000

Walker Buehler +10000

Gavin Lux +13000

Michael Kopech +15000

Blake Treinen +15000

Jasson Domínguez +15000

Clay Holmes +15000

Landon Knack +20000

Clarke Schmidt +20000

Chris Taylor +20000

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