The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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“I have to show you, I have my rosary,” said Sister Johnellen Turner, holding it up. ”I always hum ‘da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da’, cause that’s what they do at the park when a strike, and it helps!”

When the Dodgers won their way to the World Series Sunday night, the victory was an answer to Turner’s prayers.

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“People always say, if they win the game over there, they say we won the game for them because we were praying the rosary,” said Turner. “Well, I think it’s the players had something to do with it, myself.”

Turner may look familiar because she and fellow Dodger fan sister, Joann Ashburn, an eighth-grade teacher from Saint Catherine’s Academy in Anaheim, were captured praying in a widely circulated photo from a Dodger game in 2018.

“We’ve been fans for our lives. I mean, when people say, ‘Do you bleed blue?’ I mean, it’s serious,” Turner said with a laugh.

She recalled going to that game as guests of Tommy Lasorda.

“We were with Tommy and I had my rosary out and Sister Joann had hers out,” the nun said. “And Justin Turner was sliding into home plate and he was out.”

Sister Johnellen said her love of the “Boys in Blue” began with her parents, who were Dodger fans when they were the Brooklyn Dodgers. The nun said meeting Lasorda at a rotary club function 16 years ago was life-changing.

“Meeting Tommy Lasorda was probably one of the greatest gifts of my lifetime,” she said.

Sister Johnellen said she and Sister Ashburn remained very close friends since Lasorda’s death in 2021.

“I brought this little guy with me,” said Turner in reference of her Tommy Lasorda bobblehead. “This is Tommy, he’s one of my best friends and he’s now in heaven, and so he’s been with us during these playoffs.”

After many years at Saint Catherine’s Academy, Sister Johnellen recently moved to Northern California. She doesn’t believe she’ll be able to go to the World Series, but she said she’ll be praying for her Boys in Blue from hundreds of miles away.

“I’ll cheer from here, and I’ll cheer loud and clear,” said Sister Johnellen. “We’re going to do this!”

Robert Vargas, the muralist behind Shohei Ohtani’s mural on the Miyako hotel in Little Tokyo, will begin the Valenzuela mural Tuesday with the goal of finishing it by Nov. 1, the birthday of the Mexican-born pitcher.

“This mural is going to be an iconic mural, an instant landmark that will not only be a great source of pride here for people who grew up watching Fernando, but it allows the children of the future to be able to look at an image and see themselves,” Vargas, a Boyle Heights natives, said.

The mural will be named Fernando Mania Forever, according to Vargas.

“Before Ohtani Mania, there was Fernando Mania,” Vargas said.

While Valenzuela is said to be focusing on his health after he stepped away from his Spanish-language broadcaster duties for the Dodgers early October, the iconic Dodger continued to be an inspiration for Hispanic Angelenos, according to Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León whose district includes Boyle Heights.

“Fernando’s journey from the dusty fields of Mexico to the bright lights of Dodger Stadium showed us what is possible when dedication and passion meet opportunity,” de León said. “Fernando gave the city something to believe in. He brought together Angelenos from every walk of life, and his legend from Nando Mania made us proud not just of the Dodgers but our shared heritage as Angelenos.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers Oct 1

Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela reportedly hospitalized

The Dodgers posted a statement on Oct. 2 after reports circulated about the health of one of the team’s most beloved players. Since 2003, Valenzuela has worked for the Dodgers organization as a Spanish-language broadcaster.

“Fernando Valenzuela has stepped away from the Dodgers broadcast booth for the remainder of this year to focus on his health,” the Dodgers said. “He and his family truly appreciate the love and support of fans as he aims to return for the 2025 season, and the have asked for privacy during this time.”

Details regarding the 63-year-old health condition were not included in the statement. He left the broadcast booth during the series between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Sept. 24. 

Valenzuela is among the Dodgers’ all-time franchise leaders in several categories, ranking fourth in complete games (107), fifth in strikeouts (1,759) and sixth in wins (141). He’s the only player in major league history to the win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same season, doing so in the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series campaign.

He won his first eight games in the 1981 season, pitching a shutout in five. That success led to the “Fernandomania” craze and continued in the postseason, when Valenzuela and the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series. Valenzuela was also on the Dodger team that won the World Series in 1988 over the Oakland As.

The Navajoa, Mexico, native is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. His No. 34 has also been retired by the Mexican Baseball League.

Last year, the City of LA issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 11 as “Fernando Valenzuela Day.” The six-time All-Star’s No. 34 jersey was retired by the team that same year.

After months of speculation and predictions, and a couple of nail-biting series, the teams are set for the 2024 World Series.

Game 1 of the Fall Classic starts on Friday, Oct. 25, between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers claimed their spot in the series after delivering a crushing defeat to the New York Mets on Sunday night in Game 6 of the NLCS. Their World Series opponent had already been decided after the Yankees took down the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS in just five games.

Should the Yankees pull off victory, it would be their first World Series win since 2009. The Dodgers, meanwhile, tasted glory only a few years ago when they won the World Series in 2020.

This is the 12th time the two powerhouse organizations have faced off in the World Series, but their last meeting in the Fall Classic was all the way back in 1981.

Needless to say, there’s a lot on the line.

The odds to win have already been released, and the Los Angeles team is at a slight advantage, according to BetMGM. Let’s take a look:

Odds to win World Series

(As of Monday, Oct. 21, at 10:16 a.m. ET)

• New York Yankees (+110)
• Los Angeles Dodgers (-130)

The Fall Classic has arrived

It's a battle between The Bronx vs. Hollywood in the 2024 World Series. Here's a look at some of the storylines entering the big series between the Dodgers and Yankees.

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World Series Game 1 odds

• Spread: Dodgers (-1.5)
• Moneyline: Dodgers (-130), Yankees (+110)
• Over/under: 8

World Series schedule

• Game 1, Friday, Oct. 25: Dodger Stadium
• Game 2, Saturday, Oct. 26: Dodger Stadium
• Game 3, Monday, Oct. 28: Yankee Stadium
• Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 29: Yankee Stadium
• Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 30: Yankee Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 6, Friday, Nov. 1: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 7, Saturday, Nov. 2: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)

If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, please call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700 to speak to a counselor. Help is also available via an online peer support forum at www.gamtalk.org, and additional resources can be found at NCPG website.

New York neighbors who became cross-country rivals, the Yankees and Dodgers renew their starry struggle in the World Series for the first time in 43 years.

“When you’re playing for the Dodgers and playing for the Yankees, it better feel different,” L.A. manager Dave Roberts said at Yankee Stadium last June. “If not, you better do something different for a profession.”

Two of baseball’s most successful teams face each other starting Friday at Dodger Stadium, the Yankees coming off their 41st American League pennant and the Dodgers their 25th National League championship. New York is seeking its 28th World Series title but first since 2009, the Dodgers their eighth and second in a five-year span.

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Yankees pinstripes vs. Dodgers Pantone 294. The Bronx Bombers vs. the Dem Bums’ descendants. The granite-and-limestone of new Yankee Stadium on chilly autumn nights vs. Dodger Stadium in sunny Chavez Ravine, with the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the pavilions.

“It’s kind of what the people wanted, what we all wanted,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts said. “It’s going to be a battle of two good teams, a lot of long flights across the country.”

New York is 8-3 against the Dodgers in the most frequent World Series matchup, including 6-1 against Brooklyn and 2-2 since the rivalry became Big Apple against Tinseltown.

Mickey Owen, Al Gionfriddo, Cookie Lavagetto, Sandy Amoros, Johnny Podres, Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax and Reggie Jackson created indelible images in the matchup, which started in 1941 with one of the wackiest World Series turns.

Trailing 2-1 in the Series, Brooklyn led 4-3 with two outs in the ninth inning at Ebbets Field when Tommy Henrich swung and missed at strike three from Hugh Casey. The ball bounced away from Owen and rolled toward the Dodgers dugout as Henrich reached on the dropped third strike. Joe DiMaggio singled, Charlie Keller hit a two-run double and Joe Gordon added another two-run double later in the inning as the Yankees won 7-4 and went on to win the title in five games.

Lavagetto’s two-out, pinch walk-off double in the ninth ended Bill Bevens’ no-hit bid in 1947’s Game 4 and two games later Gionfriddo robbed DiMaggio of a tying three-run homer.

New York beat the Dodgers again in 1949, 1952 and 1953, frustrating the fans in Flatbush, but Brooklyn finally won the title in 1955 when Podres pitched a Game 7 shutout at Yankee Stadium and Gil Hodges drove in both runs. Amoros preserved the lead when he made a running catch of Yogi Berra’s sixth-inning drive in the left-field corner with two on and relayed to shortstop Pee Wee Reese, who threw to Hodges at first and doubled up Gil McDougald. Those players were celebrated in Roger Kahn’s 1972 book “The Boys of Summer.”

Larsen pitched the World Series’ only perfect game in 1956’s fifth game in the Bronx, Berra jumping into his arms after the final out, and the Yankees won Game 7 behind Johnny Kucks’ three-hit shutout in what turned out to be the last World Series game at Ebbets Field.

Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers to California after the 1957 season, and Koufax had an interlocking “LA” on his cap instead of a “B” when he struck out a then-Series record 15 in the 1963 opener at Yankee Stadium. The rivalry didn’t resume until 1977 with the first of three matchups in a five-year span.

Jackson’s three home runs led the Yankees to a clinching win in 1977’s Game 6. The Yankees won another six-game Series the following year, highlighted by third baseman Graig Nettles’ diving stops on Reggie Smith, Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes.

Los Angeles lost the first two games in the Bronx in 1981, and then won four in a row — capped by a 9-2 victory that had Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda dancing. The defeat prompted Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, his right hand bandaged after an alleged fight with Dodgers fans in a hotel elevator, to issue a written apology “to the people of New York and to the fans of the New York Yankees everywhere.”

Both teams feel the history created by their predecessors.

“You put that jersey on and those pinstripes, it just feels different,” Yankees slugger Juan Soto said.

Los Angeles took two of three when they met in a much-hyped series in June.

Roberts is reminded of the history when he approaches Dodger Stadium.

“I can’t believe I’m driving up Vin Scully Way, when I go to work,” he said. “It’s overwhelming, but I try not to let my head go there too often; I just try to do my job.”

Now, history is upon them. For the 12th time it will be the Dodgers versus the New York Yankees in the World Series. 

The Dodgers journey to baseball’s dream destination was unconventional and fraught with obstacles. They needed three bullpen games and every single player on the 26-man roster to get here. 

One of those players was utility man Tommy Edman. 

Edman hit a home run and knocked in four runs as the Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to clinch their 22nd pennant in franchise history. 

“This is what you always dream about as a little kid,” said Edman, who was named the MVP of the series. “I get to play in the World Series, and I get to play in it for the Dodgers against the Yankees. It’s pretty surreal.”

The celebration in the Dodgers’ clubhouse after punching their ticket to the 2024 World Series was one of relief and exultation. In a vacuum, they could have cared less about who they play next, they were ecstatic to get past the “OMG” Mets and back to their first Fall Classic since 2020. 

“We’re going to celebrate tonight, as we should,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after the game. “But after that, I think the whole world was looking forward to this potential matchup between the Yankees and the Dodgers, this showdown.”

For Edman, the winner of the NLCS MVP, after finishing 2-for4 with a double, home run, and four RBI in the game, it will be his first time playing in the World Series.

“I kept getting up with guys on base and had a lot of opportunities to drive runs in,” said Edman of his record-tying 11 RBI during the series. “Playing in the World Series is a dream come true.”

For two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, it’s his first World Series after languishing a few miles up the freeway in Anaheim for the last six seasons. 

“I feel like I’ve finally arrived at this stage,” said Ohtani through an interpreter. “The goal was to get this far. I pictured myself getting this far. So just to be able to play on this stage with this team, I’m just so glad to be here.”

For Teoscar Hernandez, who had the biggest smile than anyone in the postgame clubhouse, it punctuates a risky decision in the offseason to sign with the Dodgers, validating that choice as he will also play in his first World Series. 

“It paid off,” Hernández said of his decision to sign with the Dodgers. “I’m the kind of guy who like to take risk, and this was definitely a risk, but I made the decision based off of which team gave me the best chance to win, and now I’m playing in the World Series. This is a dream come true.”

Sunday’s Game 6 nerve-racking victory came from all angles and involved almost all the players on the Dodgers roster.

Edman, who can play centerfield, shortstop, and second base knocked in the first two runs of the game with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line in the bottom of the first inning. 

Tommy Edman gives the @Dodgers the lead!

He's driven in NINE runs this series 😤 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/Q4qy8kM4dT

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

Edman, who may have been the biggest acquisition for the Dodgers during a flurry of trade deadline moves that also featured Game 1 winner Jack Flaherty and Game you 6 opener Michael Kopech, extended the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. 

TOMMY EDMAN!

HE'S DRIVEN IN ALL FOUR @DODGERS RUNS TONIGHT! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/qlZSadVZMU

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

“I never imagined once we acquired him, that he’d be hitting fourth in a postseason game,” said Roberts of his cleanup hitter in Game 6. “But I trust him. The guys on the team trust him. He’s made huge defensive plays for us and had huge hits. We are just very fortunate to have a player like Tommy.”

Will Smith followed with a two-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead 6-1, and sent the 52,674 blue towel waving fans into a frenzy. That was the moment they collectively began counting outs.

WILL SMITH!

IT'S BEEN ALL @DODGERS IN THIS ONE! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/uZxgOEvLnO

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

The Dodgers deployed the full arsenal of their bullpen by rolling out seven different relievers to cobble together 27 outs. 

Ben Casparius, who started the season in Double-A, was the only reliever to throw more than one inning of scoreless relief. 

Ironically, it was veteran reliever Blake Treinen, that recorded the final six outs to send the Dodgers to the World Series. Treinen, who played a major role in relief during the 2020 title run, was not able to participate in the postseason the last three. Finally healthy, and back to full strength, he put the Boys in Blue on his back when they needed him most. 

“I’ve been through a lot,” said Treinen reflecting on his own journey since winning the World Series inside the Bubble in 2020. “I’ve done a lot of digging on who I was as a person, and who God created me to be. To be back here, and to have the opportunity to just play at this level, there’s just so much to be grateful for.”

The Mets left 13 more men on base in a series full of missed opportunities. On Sunday, they stranded the bases loaded not once, but twice during the game. All six games of the series were decided by four runs or more, the only time that’s happened in history.

Evan Phillips escapes the bases-loaded jam! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/kenovjjogF

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

Now it’s time for a different team from New York to take center stage and try their hand at beating the Dodgers, the team that finished with the best record in baseball during the regular season. 

Cue the highlights from the previous 11 times the Dodgers and Yankees met in the World Series. Names like Pee Wee Reese, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Reggie Jackson, will now be joined by Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman, Gerrit Cole, and Walker Buehler in the rivalry’s lore. 

Surely the Dodgers will bring members of the 1981 championship team that defeated the Yankees in six games the last time the two teams faced off. Because for legends like Dusty Baker, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Rick Monday, Bill Russell, Steve Yeager, Mike Scioscia, Dave Stewart, Bob Welch and the rest of the heroes of that squad, a Dodgers-Yankees World Series means everything. 

But for a city that hasn’t seen their team clinch a berth in the World Series at Dodger Stadium since 1988, and didn’t get to celebrate with a parade in 2000, Sunday’s victory means so much. 

It means the Dodgers are back in the World Series, against the hated New York Yankees of all teams. It means a Fall Classic for the ages and the stuff of storytelling dreams. It means the ghosts of Dodgers and Yankees pasts will finally have company when the history books are read centuries from now. 

Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Friday night at Dodger Stadium. 

The Dodgers defeated the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series Sunday night and will face the Yankees in the Fall Classic.

It’s the Dodgers’ first World Series appearance since 2020.

After beating the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the ALCS, the Yankees are headed to their first World Series since 2009, when the Bronx Bombers won their last championship.

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Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 World Series featuring the Yankees and Dodgers:

When will the World Series start in 2024?

The 2024 World Series will begin on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8:08 p.m.

How can I watch the World Series?

The World Series will be broadcast on FOX.

What is the World Series schedule?

Here’s the schedule for the 2024 World Series.

Which teams are playing in the 2024 World Series?

The World Series will be between the Yankees and Dodgers, the 12th time the two teams have met in the Fall Classic.

What is the World Series format?

The World Series features a 2-3-2 format where the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, along with Games 6 and 7 if necessary.

Where will the World Series games be played?

The team with the best regular season record gets home field advantage in the World Series, meaning they get Games 1 and 2 at home, along with a potential Games 6 and 7. The other team gets Games 3 and 4, and a possible Game 5, at home.

Because the Dodgers had a better regular season record than the Yankees, Games 1, 2 and possibly 6 and 7 will be at Dodger Stadium, while Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 5 will be at Yankee Stadium.

• Game 1: Dodger Stadium
• Game 2: Dodger Stadium
• Game 3: Yankee Stadium
• Game 4: Yankee Stadium
• Game 5: Yankee Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 6: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 7: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)

The Dodgers hold a 3-2 lead over the New York Mets, just one win away from clinching their record-setting 25th National League pennant. But it won’t come easy—not with two crucial players, All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and second baseman Gavin Lux, absent from the lineup.

Freeman, who has been a linchpin in the Dodgers’ offense all season, is sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. The team made the call to rest him for another day, a decision that could reverberate throughout should they lose on Sunday.

Lux, another key piece, also won’t be in the lineup. Lux, a left-handed hitter likely would have been out of the lineup anyway against left-hander Sean Manaea. But Freeman, who faced Manaea in Game 2, is a little bit of a surprise even though he went 0-for-5 in that game.

Switch-hitter Tommy Edman is back in the cleanup spot, just as he was in the 10-2 victory in Game 4 of the series. Chris Taylor starts at second base. 

How Will the Dodgers Handle Manaea Without Freeman and Lux?

Sean Manaea, the Mets’ southpaw, is no stranger to the Dodgers. He handed them one of their worst losses of the postseason in Game 2 of the series, allowing just two with seven strikeouts, across five innings. 

With Freeman and Lux out of the picture, the Dodgers will have to depend on Max Muncy, who will slide over to first base and bat fifth. While Muncy brings a potent left-handed bat, he homered off Manaea in Game 2. 

Freeman’s absence is monumental not just for his bat, but for his leadership and ability to work counts. He thrives in high-pressure situations and can change the course of a game with one swing. Losing him is a massive blow, as he provides a layer of protection in the lineup that makes pitchers work harder for every out, and his defense at first base is elite. 

 Without him, the Dodgers lose a player who has been a consistent source of offense all season—especially against left-handers. Freeman slashed .290/.395/.520 against southpaws during the regular season, a level of production the Dodgers can’t simply replicate.

Lux’s absence only compounds the issue. While not the slugger Freeman is, Lux has emerged as a key contributor, especially in situational hitting. His speed on the basepaths and ability to turn singles into doubles put pressure on opposing pitchers. In Game 2, the Dodgers were flat offensively, and losing two of their spark plugs against a pitcher who’s already dominated them is not ideal.

Both players should be available off the bench to pinch-hit later in the game. 

The Bullpen Strategy

With Michael Kopech starting Game 6, manager Dave Roberts is leaning heavily on his bullpen—a strategy that has both its risks and rewards. 

Kopech has been lights out in the postseason, giving up no runs in his six appearances, and he’ll be tasked with setting the tone early. But the Dodgers will need their entire bullpen to be sharp, especially without the cushion of a full-strength lineup.

Roberts’ decision to start Kopech in a bullpen game is an interesting one, given that Kopech has spent the second half of the season as the Dodgers closer.  Since coming to the Dodgers in a midseason trade from the Chicago White Sox, he has been stellar. 

In his 24 regular-season appearances with the Dodgers, he posted a 1.13 ERA, striking out 29 in 24 innings. He’s earned the trust of Roberts, and rightfully so—his electric fastball and devastating slider could be just what the Dodgers need to neutralize the Mets early.

That said, relying on a parade of relievers comes with its own set of challenges. The Dodgers’ bullpen has been strong all year, but in a do-or-die game, fatigue can be a factor. If Kopech can give them two solid innings, it will be up to a mix of arms, including Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Ryan Brasier, to hold the fort against a dangerous Mets lineup that includes Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso.

The Dodgers are 1-for-1 this postseason in bullpen games. Essentially, Game 6 comes down to a coin toss. Here’s hoping it’s heads. 

The Dodgers are one victory away from securing their spot in the World Series, leading the Mets 3-2 in the National League Championship Series. Ahead of Game 6 on Sunday, and possibly Game 7 if necessary, the Dodgers released helpful information to help fans arrive and maximize their time.

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Gates opening

Auto gates will open at 2:08 p.m. – three hours before first pitch – for both games. Stadium gates will open at 2:38 p.m., two and a half hours before first pitch.

First pitch is scheduled to take place at 5:08 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early.

Public transportation

The Dodger Stadium Express from Union Station will begin travel 120 minutes before first pitch. From the South Bay, services will begin 150 minutes before first pitch.

Both services will run 45 minutes after the final out or 20 minutes after the end of any post-game event.

First pitch

Bill Russell, 1981 World Series champion shortstop, will throw out the first pitch for Game 6 and R&B singer Angie Fisher will sing the national anthem.

If Game 7 is needed, 1988 World Series MVP Orel Hershiser will throw out the first pitch and mariachi artist Julian Torres will sing the national anthem.

Limited-time food

In honor of the NLCS, Dodger Stadium is cooking up new dishes that will be served during the remainder of the series. The new menu items include:

• loaded barbecue baked potato with burnt end brisket (Left Field Plaza, Reserve Level Sec. 22)
• ramen burger featuring compressed ramen noodles and caramelized onions (Field Level Sec. 22 and 23, Top Deck Sec. 4)
• colossal beef kabob (Field Level Sec. 45, Reserve Level Sec. 4)

The Mets offense broke out in a season-saving elimination game, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-6 in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night at Citi Field. 

“If we come back from this, then it’s going to be a heck of a story,” said Mets’ outfielder Brandon Nimmo of the possibility of overcoming a 3-1 deficit. “We’re going to be adding to that whole Grimace, OMG stuff.”

Similar to sharks circling in the ocean, the Dodgers smelled blood in the water after back-to-back blowout victories over the Mets in Games 3 and 4. 

Rather than go with a bullpen game to line up two of their best starters for when the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Games 6 and 7, they opted for Game 1 starter Jack Flaherty, who threw seven dominant innings against New York last Sunday. 

The move backfired, as Flaherty was a shell of his Sunday self, allowing eight runs on eight hits in just three short innings. 

“They made some adjustments and did a good job. I let the game speed up on me. I didn’t make the adjustments in-game that would normally get made,” said Flaherty of what went wrong on Thursday night. “All I had to do was be average and we’re in this game. But now we have to regroup, and go back to LA.”

After his gem in Game 1, Flaherty never expected to pitch a dud in a potential closeout game. 

“That’s what makes the postseason so interesting, facing a team two times in the span of five days. They wanted to get back for what happened in Game 1, and I wanted to continue rolling,” said Flaherty of Game 1 compared to Game 5. “But that’s not how it went. They were able to do a good job and tip your cap to them. It’s frustrating. Today sucks, but we have another one, and we get to go back to LA and get greeted by our fans.”

Pete Alonso, who didn’t have a home run or an RBI in the series entering the game, heaved his aching teammates off the ropes just when it appeared like the Polar Bear was going lead them into a long winter. 

Alonso, who could have played in his final game at Citi Field with the Mets, threw the first punch when he blasted a three-run home run to center field off Flaherty in the first inning. 

SMASHING PUMPKINS 🎃

PETE ALONSO THREE-RUN TANK pic.twitter.com/7emNSPhEub

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“I’m just really happy I could come through right there for the fellas,” said Alonso of his first inning homer. “I’m just so happy because this group is so special. And I’m happy that we get to live to fight another day and play another game of baseball together.”

The sputtering Mets offense, that had only produced two runs at home in the series, awoke from their hibernation with 12 runs in Game 5. 

Alonso wasn’t the only one with a Herculean performance for the Mets on Thursday. Francisco Lindor was 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Starling Marte was 4-for-5 with three doubles, and catcher Francisco Alvarez broke out of his slump with three hits in total. 

An offensive explosion at Citi Field 😤 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/oROJC7o603

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“It feels good, not only because I had a good game, but also because the team won,” Marte said of his three doubles and the Mets victory. “As long as I’m giving my 100 percent, the team’s producing. Yeah, it’s definitely exciting. As long as I’m on base I feel like we can have success.”

Entering the game the Mets looked like a junky old car that was driving on three flat tires and slowly running out of gas. Their struggling offense had them on the brink of elimination and they were forced to start David Peterson, who up until this point in the postseason had only pitched out of the pen. 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers looked like a Ferrari F1 race car. Seemingly firing on all cylinders, cruising to the finish line, poised to advance to their first World Series since 2020 in the bubble in Texas. 

Yet somehow the roles were reversed. By the end of the third inning it was 8-1 Mets. After the fourth it was 10-2 New York, the same score they lost by less than 24 hours earlier. 

TEN RUNS FOR THE @METS pic.twitter.com/FpFybMloRk

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“We’re capable of putting together games like this, especially when 1 through 9, we’re clicking, we’re not chasing,” said Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza. “We showed up today. We needed that. Obviously Pete setting the tone in the first inning was important, and we just continued to add on.”

Andy Pages tried to put the Dodgers on his back with not one, but two home runs in the game. 

The 23-year-old rookie became the youngest player to a have a multi-homer game in Dodgers franchise history when he belted a solo shot in the fourth, and a three-run shot in the top of the fifth. 

Andy Pages goes yard AGAIN 😳 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/7VWubsrGpx

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“I feel great about what I did at the plate,” said Pages through a translator. “I had a great game, but the team didn’t win and that’s the only thing I care about.”

Mookie Betts added a homer of his own, his fourth of the postseason, but it was too little, too late for the Dodgers. 

MOOKIE BETTS HOMERS AGAIN

He brings the @Dodgers closer 👀 pic.twitter.com/NWVK0d1m4p

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“We’re going to play 27 outs no matter what the score is,” said Betts of his 6th inning homer. “It doesn’t really matter what I did. A loss is a loss. I’m not here for personal accolades. We just have to find a way to win a ball game. We’ve got to turn the page and get ready for the next one.”

Baseball is a strange sport. One minute, the Mets looked dead on arrival, things were dire as they could be after their second straight blowout loss in Game 4. But the 2024 Mets thrive on dire. 

After getting swept by the Dodgers in late-May, they fell to 22-33 and fell six games back of a wild-card berth. They still made the playoffs. 

In the Wild Card round against the Brewers, they were two outs away from their season ending before Alonso’s three-run homer saved them in Milwaukee.

Then in the NLDS, they rallied with five runs in the eighth inning in the opener at Philadelphia, and Lindor hit a go-ahead grand slam to give them the lead in the sixth inning of Game 4.

“It’s taught us a lot about our character and who we are in our identity as a team. We’re a super resilient bunch, and we’ve had to pretty much answer the bell all year,” Alonso said. “The one word I can think of for the 2024 Mets other than Grimace is resiliency. That’s just who we are.”

The series now shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday, October 20th, with first pitch scheduled for 5:08PM PT on FOX.

Despite the $800 price tag, tickets sold out within the day for all four prospective home games at Dodger Stadium.

On the second hand market, $1,081 is the cheapest price of entry as of Friday afternoon. Those seats are located on the upper deck just right of the right field foul pole. 

World Series Oct 21

When is Yankees-Dodgers Game 1? World Series schedule, how to watch and more to know

Los Angeles Dodgers Oct 17

Dodgers bats stay hot in another blowout win over Mets in Game 4 of the NLCS, LA leads 3-1.

Sitting anywhere behind the outfield ranges from $1,392 at the lowest, to $1,733 in prime home run territory. 

And, to sit directly behind home plate? Between $15,000 and $20,000. 

The Dodgers did not opt to advertise or make a formal announcement of the ticket sale. The team instead sent an email to previous ticket buyers and shared the news over social media. 

The Dodgers website does note tickets bought with the intention of resale “are subject to cancellation and refund” by the team. 

The Dodgers currently lead the Mets 3-1 in the National League Championship Series, a best-of-seven series. If the Dodgers beat the Mets at Citi Field Friday, the boys in blue will then face the Yankees or the Guardians in the World Series.

The Yankees currently lead that series 2-1. If both leading teams were to win their series, it would be the first time since 1981 the Dodgers and Yankees have met in the World Series. 

Last year, the cheapest Game 1 ticket between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks sold at $451 for standing-room only. Sit down seats jumped to $774 at the lowest. 

If the Dodgers do not make the World Series, all ticket sales will be refunded.

But winning a baseball game in the playoffs without your all-star first baseman, starting second baseman, and shortstop, against the hottest pitcher in the postseason is even more difficult. 

Mission Impossible?

Not for the arm-flailing, sunflower seed throwing, home run hitting Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts both homered in Game 4, and the Dodgers defeated the New York Mets in blowout fashion, 10-2, on Thursday night at Citi Field. Los Angeles leads the series 3-1, and are now one win away from reaching their first World Series since 2020.

“It feels good,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts of being one win away from the Fall Classic. “I like the us-against-the-world attitude that our guys have taken on. I think that’s kind of ironic with the Dodgers, but I like that. But I’m very excited to be in this position and I just want to keep our guys hungry and focused and not let these guys back in the series.”

On paper, Game 4 looked like a mismatch for the Dodgers. No Freddie Freeman or Gavin Lux, instead they had Andy Pages, hitting .167 in center, Chris Taylor, who hadn’t recorded a hit this postseason at second, and Tommy Edman batting cleanup. 

When was the last time you saw a 5’8”, 180-pound, shortstop in the four-hole?

But none of that mattered for the Dodgers on Thursday. It was simply business as usual. 

“I feel proud that we can hang our hat on the fact that there’s never been an excuse all year for our club as far as winning the division and winning 11 games in October, “said Roberts. “To not have Freddie start a playoff game, there was still no excuse. We were expecting to win this game tonight. It’s that next-guy-up mentality. It’s the fight that I’ve seen in these guys.”

The business of baseball is one Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, knows well. He likes to construct his roster with as much versatility and flexibility as possible. He’s got more Swiss Army knives at his disposable than the entire population of Switzerland. 

When the Dodgers were sputtering in mid-April, losers of seven of nine, Friedman called up Pages from Triple-A Oklahoma City to provide a spark. They went on to win their next six. 

At the trade deadline he acquired Edman, a player he’d always coveted, despite the fact the utility player had not played a single game all season. Once he made his season debut on Aug. 19, the Dodgers went on to win 9 of their next 11. 

Freidman didn’t even re-sign Kiké Hernandez until the final day of February, and he’s arguably been the Dodgers best player in the postseason. 

“We’ve seen it a lot this year with the next-man-up mentality,” said Friedman of how his team has been able to step up this postseason despite all the injuries. “We saw it in the last round. We’ve had a lot of different things go on and guys have elevated their game and stepped up.”

All of them contributed to the victory in Game 4, but it was the Dodgers other two former MVPs that shouldered the load. 

Betts and Ohtani combined to go 5-for-9 with two home runs, three walks, five RBI, and seven runs scored. 

“We knew with Freddie [Freeman] being out we had to take care of business,” said Betts to MLB Network of the dynamic duo of he and Ohtani at the top of the lineup. “But it’s not just me and Sho, it’s the rest of the guys too. All of us have to step up.”

Mets’ starter Jose Quintana, who hadn’t allowed an earned run in six of his last seven starts, including back-to-back shutout appearances in the postseason, lasted just two pitches before he allowed an earned run in Game 4. 

 “They forced Quintana to come in on the strike zone,” said Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza of the Dodgers approach at the plate. “And when he did, they made him pay.”

Ohtani greeted Quintana with a leadoff homer into the Mets’ bullpen, his first hit of the postseason without a runner on base. 

SHOHEI OHTANI LEADOFF TANK

WELCOME TO #NLCS GAME 4 pic.twitter.com/LrUwXWpqMo

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“The focus has been pretty much the same regardless of the situation if there’s runners on or not,” said Ohtani through a translator. “I kind of stick to the same plan, the same approach.”

The Mets’ responded in the bottom half of the inning, when their hottest hitter, Mark Vientos, homered into the Dodgers bullpen to provide the punch back that New York needed. 

MARK VIENTOS! WE ARE TIED! pic.twitter.com/t70FJvkwf9

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

Edman, who knocked in three runs total, put the Boys in Blue back in front with a two-out, RBI double in the top of the third. Hernández followed with an RBI single. 

Tommy Edman delivers for the @Dodgers 😤 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/YiFKbZcvkv

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“I haven’t hit cleanup a lot in my life, and to do that in this lineup is pretty crazy. I just did my job today, had some good at-bats, and had a couple opportunities to get some runners in, and I cashed them in,” said Edman.

After that it was all Betts ,as he brought home two with a double in the fourth, and belted his third home run of the postseason with a blast in the sixth that silenced the raucous and ruthless crowd.

MOOKIE BETTS!

HE'S 3-FOR-4 WITH 4 RBI TONIGHT! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/tzFS5KHPEz

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“I felt pretty good,” said Betts of his performance at the plate in Game 4. “It’s good to feel good. It’s good to help the team. Pitching did amazing. It was fun.”

Max Muncy, who replaced Freeman at first base, remained locked in at the plate. He broke the single postseason record for reaching base safely in 12 consecutive plate appearances. 

Max Muncy has now reached base in 12 straight plate appearances 😤

He's tied with Reggie Jackson for the most consecutive #Postseason plate appearances reaching safely. pic.twitter.com/6zdDXRWuSz

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

“I wasn’t even aware of that stat,” said a surprised Muncy when told of his record. “The biggest thing to me is that it means I’m getting base for my teammates and giving them a chance to drive me in and creating traffic out there for the opposing team.”

The hero of Game 5 of the NLDS, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, delivered another solid performance, allowing just two runs on four hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts in four and one-third innings.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto closes out his night by striking out Francisco Lindor 😤 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/SWtecYh1Xh

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

For the second straight game, the Mets were haunted by missed opportunities. They nearly stranded the bases loaded in the third, but a manager’s challenge overturned an inning-ending double play. Instead they stranded runners at the corners. 

The Mets again loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, but were incapable of scratching a run across against the Dodgers bullpen. In total, the Mets were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base. 

“They have executed and we haven’t,” said Mets’ MVP Francisco Lindor of their struggled with runners in scoring position. “I came up with bases loaded and didn’t come through. Today we had people on base multiple times and we didn’t come through. You have to execute with people on base.”

The Mets inability to get the big hit when they needed turned the boisterous sellout crowd of 43,882 into a venomous viper pit. They turned on their team, grunting, groaning, booing, and moaning until they headed for the exits in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

After dispatching of the pesky Padres in the NLDS, the Dodgers appear to be firing on all cylinders in the NLCS. That bodes well for Game 5, so does the fact that right-hander Jack Flaherty, who threw seven shutout innings in Game 1, is expected to start on Friday.

“I think that Padres series was good for us,” said Chris Taylor. “It woke us up and got us in the right mindset right away. I really think this team has found another gear in the postseason and we’re showing it. We’re hungry.”

The Dodgers have now won five straight games at Citi Field dating back to the regular season. They need just one more win here to advance to their fourth World Series in eight years. But as the Dodgers know well, the potential clinching one is always the most difficult. 

All-Star first baseman and former MVP Freddie Freeman will not be in the lineup, sidelined by a high-ankle sprain that has nagged him since late September. 

Along with Freeman, second baseman Gavin Lux is also out with a hip injury, leaving the Dodgers without two of their top left-handed bats. Both absences loom large, especially with Mets’ left-hander José Quintana taking the mound.

The Dodgers lead the series 2-1 after a dominant 8-0 win in Game 3, but the absence of Freeman and Lux injects uncertainty into their lineup ahead of a pivotal matchup. The stakes are high, and Quintana has historically posed problems for left-handed batters.

The Freeman Effect

Freddie Freeman’s impact on the Dodgers’ lineup is undeniable. Over his career, he has been the heartbeat of their offense, capable of changing the course of a game with one swing. 

His recent postseason performance has been solid, but his history against José Quintana makes his absence even more notable. 

Freeman is 5-for-13 against Quintana, with a .313 batting average, a home run, two RBIs, and a double. That kind of production, especially against a left-handed pitcher like Quintana, is irreplaceable.

Without Freeman, the Dodgers lose a crucial lefty bat in a lineup that typically boasts balance. His ability to work deep into counts, draw walks, and put pressure on the pitcher will be missed, especially with the veteran Quintana, who thrives on limiting lefties, on the hill. 

Perhaps more importantly, Freeman’s defense at first base will also be removed from the game. His ability to scoop low, bouncing throws is infamous, and it could prove the difference in Game 4. 

Max Muncy, another left-handed hitter, will step into Freeman’s spot at first base, and while it’s a dropoff defensively, Muncy has homered in back-to-back games and has three total in the 2024 postseason. 

On the bright side, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts said that Freeman could be available off the bench to pinch hit “in a big spot” in the 5th inning or later.

Quintana’s History Against the Dodgers

Quintana has had a mixed bag of results against the Dodgers. The last time he faced them was in May 2024, where the Dodgers managed to score three runs on eight hits, including two home runs. While Quintana was able to keep the damage in check, it wasn’t his sharpest outing. 

However, he’s no stranger to postseason pressure against the Dodgers, having faced them twice in the 2017 NLCS as a member of the Chicago Cubs. 

In Game 1 of that series, he limited the Dodgers to two runs over five innings, but in Game 5, they rocked him for six runs in just two innings. That Game 5 implosion is something that may give the Dodgers confidence, but they’ll need to execute without two of their regulars.

Without Freeman and Lux, the Dodgers will need their right-handed bats to step up. Mookie Betts Teoscar Hernández, and Enrique Hernández–who homered against Quintana in that Game 5 back in 2017–will all play a pivotal role in this game. Hernández’s power bat will need to compensate for the missing offense, and Betts’ ability to ignite the top of the order becomes even more crucial.

Quintana has been hot for the last two months. He’s only allowed an earned run in one of his starts since September 7th, and has back-to-back scoreless outings of six and five shutout innings in his two postseason starts against the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. 

Getting to Quintana early and putting traffic on the base paths will be essential to the Dodgers’ success and potentially getting the left-hander out of the game where they’ve had success against the Mets’ bullpen. Either way, it’s going to be another exhilarating and exciting matchup between the two remaining teams in the National League. 

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But whether it’s Jackson, or Derek Jeter, Madison Bumgarner or Joc Pederson, players that can perform on the game’s biggest stage, undisturbed and undeterred by the big moments, shining bright like a light, and gleaming like a gem, these are the legends that people remember long after the final out has been recorded. 

Kiké Hernández is one of those players. Walker Buehler is also one of those players, and their teammate, Shohei Ohtani, playing in his first-ever postseason, would like to become one of those players. 

Hernández and Ohtani both hit homers in the Big Apple on Wednesday, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers past the New York Mets 8-0 in Game 3 of the National League Champions Series, for a 2-1 series lead.

“That was huge. It was enormous,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts of the home runs from Hernández and Ohtani. “Kiké’s homer allowed Shohei [Ohtani] to kind of catch a breath and extend the lead, and Max [Muncy] had a huge game and continues to get big hits, but Kiké’s homer, that was the biggest hit of the game.”

Relegated to the bench from spring to fall, Hernández turns into Hank Aaron when the calendar turns to October. His 15th career postseason homer now puts him into a tie with Babe Ruth for 10th on the all-time list, and sixth among active players. He’s just two shy of David Ortiz and three behind the aforementioned Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson.

“I like Halloween,” joked Hernández of why he performs at his best in the postseason.

#POSTSEASON KIKÉ STRIKES AGAIN 💥 pic.twitter.com/8X8jNpBzqR

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2024

Hernández’s OPS in the postseason during away games is a whopping 1.077, fourth on the all-time list behind Carlos Beltran, Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig.

“I do a lot of visualization at night, the night before the games, and I try to put myself in every position, every situation that you can come up with during the game. I visualize myself having success over and over against their entire pitching staff and things like that,” said Hernandez about his postseason success. “But also the fact that I’ve had a pretty good track record in October. I can’t help it but bring me confidence. And it just makes you believe that you take your game to another level. I try to take it one game at a time, and I’m glad that I was able to contribute to the win tonight.”

Meanwhile, Ohtani’s first taste of the postseason has looked paltry compared to his historic regular season. The soon-to-be NL MVP, who had 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases during the 2024 campaign, was batting .222 with just one home run and no stolen bases in the postseason entering Game 3.

The narrative after the Dodgers 7-3 loss in Game 2, was that Ohtani was like Barry Bonds or Aaron Judge before him; great in the regular season, but a shell of themselves come October. 

Maybe it’s not a coincidence that Judge hit his first homer of the playoffs in NYC on Tuesday, because Ohtani took a bite out of the Big Apple with his mammoth blast on Wednesday. 

SHOHEI OHTANI SENDS THIS BASEBALL TO A DIFFERENT PLANET 🚀 pic.twitter.com/9PRfNF0d3S

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2024

“I don’t know why people are talking about Shohei’s struggles,” said teammate Mookie Betts of Ohtani. “He’s the best player on the field every day. Oh, he hasn’t gotten a hit without runners on base, who cares! It’s Shoehei Ohtani. Everyone knows who he is. Every time he steps into the box, everyone expects something good to happen and I think that’s the problem. He’s done it so many times that you expect it, and when he’s a human for 20 at-bats, people worry. It’s Shohei Ohtani, he’ll be fine.”

Betts is correct, but the strange correlation between Ohtani’s performance with runners on base compared to not is one of the more bewildering, and head-scratching stats in the 2024 playoffs.

With runners on base, Ohtani has 17 hits in his last 20 at-bats. That’s the most hits by any MLB player over any span of 20 at-bats with RISP in the last 50 years, regular or postseason.

However, when there are no runners on base, Ohtani is 0-for-22, put a runner in scoring position and he becomes a UPS driver, he always delivers.

“What I really focus on is how I play at the plate. If I’m feeling good and the results aren’t there, then I’m not too concerned because there’s luck involved,” said Ohtani through a translator of the difference in performance with runners on base and without. “Again, this is my first experience in the postseason, so I can’t really rely on the experiences or my reflection in the past. But what I do know is that we’ve been playing against good teams, better teams, with their best pitchers. So being able to get base hits, put up results isn’t as easy maybe as it could be. And so with that being said, my focus really is on just whatever happened in the previous game, that’s it. And I’m really focused on the next game and something that perhaps I would reflect back once everything is over.”

Both teams had their chances in Game 3. They left a combined 16 men on base, but whereas the Mets missed out on all their opportunities, the fortuitous Dodgers cashed in with three big swings. 

“We are creating traffic. I like the fact that we are getting guys on base. Just haven’t been able to come up with a big hit but I’ll continue to take my chances with guys,” said Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza. “As long as we continue to create traffic, somebody’s going to come up and get that big one for us.”

The Dodgers found themselves on the receiving end of some bad defense in the top of the second inning. 

Max Muncy, led off with a walk, Teoscar Hernandez reached on a fielder’s choice that bounced off Jose Iglesias glove, and the Dodgers scored their first run thanks to back to back comebackers to the pitcher that were mishandled. Tommy Edman followed with a sac fly that gave the Dodgers a two-run lead. 

Will and Tommy bring 'em in! pic.twitter.com/nVvvZ9FKfQ

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 17, 2024

“We didn’t make a couple of plays, obviously. Weak ground ball to Alvie, it’s a bang-bang play at second base. I don’t know if Iglesias would have caught that ball, he would be out. Maybe tried to do a little too much there,” added Mendoza of the bad defense in the second inning. “And then obviously Sevy couldn’t make that play on that comebacker, potential double play. We only get one out. So when you’re giving a team like this extra outs, extra bases, they’re going to make you pay.”

Buehler darted and danced his way out of danger all night, like a man avoiding a swarm of hornets. After loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the second inning, Buehler struck out back-to-back hitters, including Mets’ MVP Francisco Lindor, to end the threat. 

Walker Buehler strikes out Francisco Lindor to get out of a bases-loaded jam 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/Jk3ch2cR4a

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2024

“That was the pitch of the game,” said Roberts. “The crowd was in it, they were gaining momentum. To get the breaking ball below the zone and get a great hitter out, was huge.”

Buehler admitted that prior to his second Tommy John surgery in 2022, he would have probably thrown a fastball in that situation to Lindor.

“With 3-2 and the bases loaded, I have to throw a curveball now instead of a heater,” said Buehler of how he’s adapted as a pitcher following the surgery.

Buehler struck out six in four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with two walks in his 17th career postseason start, second-most in Dodgers history behind only Clayton Kershaw with 32. 

“We’ve been in the playoffs every year I’ve been here and healthy at least. And I’ve been very fortunate to get the ball,” said Buehler of ranking second on the Dodgers all-time postseason starts list. “The trust thing or whatever, we kind of developed through the years to let me have the ball, this year it’s kind of a pretty good example of that just because of the way the regular season went. But, yeah, it’s a cool stat and a cool thing. But to me that’s about our team.”

Buehler also became the first pitcher in MLB history to throw 90 or more pitches in a a scoreless postseason start that only lasted four innings or less. 

“Today was a good day for me and for our team. And sometimes I think they feel bigger than they are. Like, if we come out and play like shit tomorrow, we won’t care about how we played today,” said Buehler. “This is definitely a big momentum win for us. But if we don’t do something with it, then it doesn’t really matter a whole lot.”

His counterpart, Mets’ right-hander Luis Severino, had a similar fate. After dancing with danger himself, he got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the third, and exited the game with two outs in the 5th. 

What followed was a battle of the bullpens. The Dodgers had plenty of relievers available at their disposal after a blowout in Game 1, and didn’t use any of their high-leverage arms during a bullpen game on Monday. After an off day on Tuesday, the arms in the pen were fresh and invigorated like a breeze coming off the Hudson river.

Michael Kopech, Ryan Brasier, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius combined to throw five shutout innings of relief, putting the Dodgers just two wins away from advancing to their fourth World Series in eight years. 

“We just keep things simple,” said Treinen of the bullpen’s success. “The organization puts us in lanes to be successful. We’ve all kind of thrived on stepping up to the big stage. Obviously, we’re facing some of the best hitters in baseball. The deeper you get, the hotter the team is and the better talent. There’s no special formula. We just do more of what we trust ourselves to do.”

Muncy added a home run late in the game, putting him into a three-way tie with Corey Seager and Justin Turner for the most home runs in Dodgers playoff history. 

MAD MAX TO THE UPPER TANK 😮😳 pic.twitter.com/XgiasOex8W

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2024

“It’s definitely a blessing,” said Muncy of being atop that list with his former teammates. “I can’t be thankful enough that I’ve had the opportunity to play enough games in the postseason to be able to accrue those numbers. For me, it’s just a blessing to be on a team and organization that gets to the postseason each and every year.”

Muncy’s historic homer will make the play bill, but when the story of Game is retold many years from now, his name will not appear on the marquee. Instead it will be the heroics of Hernández and Ohtani that will be remembered. One of a veteran utility player who earns his paycheck in October, and the global superstar whose just opening his October account. 

Game 4 of the best-of-seven NLCS is scheduled for Thursday, October 17th with first pitch scheduled for 5:08 PM PT. 

Look no further than the wild snake that appeared in the dugout of the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. 

The snake got us thinking, what other strange animals have found their way onto baseball diamonds and dugouts over the years?

Major League Baseball has seen its fair share of some truly wild visitors – not opposing teams, but animals that have wandered into dugouts, sprinted across the outfield, and even changed the course of a game. 

Whether it’s a cat interrupting play, bugs and geese invading a playoff game, or birds resting on the grass, these animal encounters have become part of baseball folklore.

So on Tuesday, during the Dodgers workout at Citi Field in New York, we asked some of the players what were the strangest animals they’ve seen on the field or in the dugout during their careers. Their answers may surprise you. 

Dodgers’ Game 1 starter Jack Flaherty was on the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals roster as a rookie, and has fond memories of the infamous “Rally Cat,” that made its way onto the field at Busch Stadium. 

As the confused feline sprinted across the diamond, chaos ensued. A Cardinals groundskeeper, Lucas Hackmann, heroically captured the cat but not without paying the price, enduring scratches and bites while the crowd roared in support of the scrappy animal.

The real magic, though, came after the cat’s brief cameo. Right after play resumed, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina launched a grand slam, sending the stadium into a frenzy and giving the Cardinals the win. 

That cat wasn’t just any stray – it was quickly dubbed “Rally Cat,” a symbol of good luck. Overnight, the cat became a beloved figure in St. Louis. Though briefly lost in a nearby park after a woman attempted to claim it, the Rally Cat was found, cementing its place in Cardinals’ history.

Dodgers’ All-Star starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow recalled a possum he once encountered while sitting in the dugout with the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Glasnow was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Rays this offseason, and maybe it was a possum to be named later that was included in the deal because a possum showed up on the warning track at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 7 of this year. 

Just a casual opossum on the field at Dodger Stadium.

"Must've jumped on the charter from Oakland" pic.twitter.com/8ZUO1h7llA

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 7, 2024

The possum should come as no surprise to Dodgers fans as several wildlife animals have appeared on the field or in the dugout over the years. Earlier this season, a family of raccoons made the visiting dugout their home and had to be trapped and released, and who can forget the famous goose that landed on the field at Dodger Stadium during the 2022 National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. 

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman both smiled when reminded of the incident, but also remember losing that game, and eventually the series to San Diego. Thankfully, they got revenge for that loss last Friday when they defeated the Padres in 5 games to advance to the NLCS. 

Dodgers’ shortstop Tommy Edman was acquired at the trade deadline this year from the St. Louis Cardinals. Although he was not on the team in 2011, he remembers watching the Cardinals’ “Rally Squirrel” against the Philadelphia Phillies, and has seen other squirrels on the field at Busch Stadium over the years. 

But animals aren’t always lucky for everyone involved. Take the swarm of bugs that descended on Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS in Cleveland. Ironically, where the Yankees are headed again this week for Games 3-5 of the American League Championship Series. 

Back in 2007, a sudden infestation of midges rattled the young pitcher, leading to a wild pitch that allowed Cleveland to score the game-tying run. While Chamberlain struggled, Cleveland’s pitcher Fausto Carmona stayed cool and composed, leading his team to a win. 

Even the New York Times couldn’t resist highlighting the real star of the game, running the headline: “In Game 2 Infestation, Bugs Claim Spotlight.”

Dodgers’ players who have played part of their collegiate, minor, or major league careers in Florida told NBC LA that all sorts of strange animals can be seen on the field and in the dugouts during games. 

Iguanas and turtles were most common, but Dodgers’ center fielder Kevin Keirmaier, who played most of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Rays, said he once saw an eight-to-nine foot alligator in the dugout during a game. 

Brent Honeywell, who was the one who spotted the snake in the dugout on Monday, also saw an even bigger alligator in the dugout during a minor league game in 2015. 

So the visiting team today must have brought a secret weapon…Ten foot gator just chilling in the dugout #FSLonly pic.twitter.com/aAgTzYUij3

— Maxx Tissenbaum (@8_Maxx) July 24, 2015

Believe it or not an alligator might not have been the strangest animal ever seen in the dugout. Pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers earlier this season, once saw a cheetah in the dugout during a game at Target Field in Minnesota back in 2015. Albeit the Cheetah was not wild, but part part of a National Wildlife Day pregame celebration. 

#thingsyoudontnormallyseeinthedugout 🐆🐆🐆 pic.twitter.com/dCyml6f8Np

— Drew Pomeranz (@DrewPomeranz) June 25, 2015

Whether it’s a jungle cat, birds, or reptiles, animals will always seemingly find their way onto the field of baseball stadiums. Over the years, pigeons, crows, geese, ducks, baby birds, seagulls, bees, cats, dogs, squirrels, raccoons, possums, insects, snakes, iguanas, alligators, rats, mice, and other critters have all been spotted on the diamond or the dugout over the years. 

“A snake is still the stranges things I’ve seen,” said Glasnow when asked which animal takes the prize for the strangest one ever seen in a dugout. “I’ve never seen that before.”

There's a snake in my dugout! 🐍 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/9Qcko2lSAu

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

From cats and squirrels to birds and bugs, it’s clear that Major League Baseball fields are as much of a playground for animals as they are for athletes. 

These creatures, whether intentional or not, leave a mark on the game, creating unforgettable moments that fans talk about for years. 

For the players and teams, these unexpected visitors bring a little extra unpredictability to a game that’s already full of surprises. And for the fans, well, it’s all part of the magic of baseball. After all, you never know what’s going to happen when a rally animal decides it’s their time to shine.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers threw a bullpen game with their season on the line in Game 4 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. 

Pundits, analysts, and experts alike all said it would be the end of the 2024 Dodgers. Instead, eight different relievers combined for a shutout, extending their season and their scoreless inning streak. 

Jack Flaherty and the bullpen threw another shutout in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday to tie the MLB record of 33 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason. So another bullpen game in Game 2 with the same relievers lined up should reproduce the same results, right?

Wrong. 

Francisco Lindor snapped the scoreless streak with a leadoff homer in the first, and Mark Vientos broke the game open with a grand slam in the second, and the New York Mets defeated the Dodgers 7-3 in Game 2 to even the best-of-seven NLCS at one game apiece. 

“Everything is great when it works well and guys are throwing up zeros, but you’re still facing really good ball clubs,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts of the bullpen game in Game 4 of the NLDS compared to Game 2 of the NLCS. “And there is a margin that you have to guard against and kind of really appreciate the cost of the next games, and not forgetting that this isn’t a winner-take-all game. It’s not a three-game series.”

Ironically, everyone in the extended baseball multiverse spent the last 24 hours praising the Dodgers pitching staff and wondering when or if they would allow another run. 

Flaherty said the pitchers were “feeding off each other,” after Game 1. On Monday they got eaten alive by the “OMG” Mets’ hitters. 

Lindor, likely the runner-up for MVP in the National League to Dodgers’ designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, hit the Mets sixth leadoff homer of the season, and first in the playoffs since Curtis Granderson in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series, when he crushed a cutter from opener Ryan Brasier sending the ball soaring into the New York bullpen for a 1-0 lead. 

LEADOFF LINDOR LASER 💥 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/nDvDghuYti

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

Los Angeles went to right-hander Landon Knack for length, but instead of keeping the game close, he opened the flood gates, surrendering five runs in the second inning, including a back-breaking grand slam on the ninth pitch he threw to Vientos. 

MARK VIENTOS GRAND SLAM

THE @METS ARE RAKING IN LA 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DIQYRNusVa

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

“I really didn’t have a feel for things. I just wasn’t sharp today,” said Knack of what happened in the second inning. “I wasn’t able to execute pitches the way I normally do. I wasn’t able to put guys away. I kept leaving things middle.”

From that moment on, nothing happened on Monday afternoon that echoed anything that preceded it. The Dodgers scorching hot offense, that had produced 19 runs over their last three games, went dormant. The dominant pitching staff was ineffective and subordinate. 

Ohtani, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Game 1 was hitless with two strikeouts in Game 2. 

“I thought he didn’t look comfortable versus Manaea,” said Dave Roberts of what he saw from Ohtani at the plate today. “The heater is away. You can see he was just kind of trying to keep the ball away from Shohei.”

Sean Manaea, who entered the game with nearly an 8.00 ERA against the Dodgers in his career, silenced the most-lethal lineup in the Majors for the better part of five innings.

“He’s a really good pitcher,” said Mookie Betts of Manaea on Monday. “He’s been pitching really well lately and has a lot of confidence. He threw the ball well again today. We lost. It sucks. I don’t think anyone here was expecting them to roll over. We have to turn the page and prepare for Game 3 now.”

Manaea, who changed his arm angle in the offseason, delivering his best season since 2019 with the Oakland Athletics, allowed three runs (two earned), on two hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.

Sean Manaea revamped his delivery to throw from a lower arm angle.

It seems to be working 👀 pic.twitter.com/TR49LsfJYu

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

Maybe it was the early start time that did the Dodgers in. The Mets, who are still on Eastern Standard Time are accustomed to afternoon starts. Los Angeles hasn’t had one since the final game of the regular season on September 29th. 

The Dodgers have spent the past decade monopolizing the Majors with a businesslike attitude. Stoic and forceful, less emotion, and more determination than their counterparts, they looked lackadaisical and lost in Game 2, like the drowsy sleeper who keeps hitting snooze on their alarm clock. 

It took five innings for the Dodgers to finally awaken from their slumber. Max Muncy put the boys in blue on the board with a solo shot in the fifth inning, his 12th career postseason homer, tied for second on the Dodgers all-time list.

Max Muncy puts the @Dodgers on the board with a solo shot #NLCS pic.twitter.com/bTVXB5B81P

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

Los Angeles cut the lead in half thanks to a pair of walks and some bad defense by the Mets.

Tommy Edman drove in two runs when a ball bounced off the glove of first baseman Pete Alonso, but the rally ended when Enrique Hernández hit into a double-play with the bases loaded two batters later.

The @Mets get a HUGE double play to get out of the jam! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/gRxJvnxMru

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

Hernández had another opportunity to tie the game with runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth, but he popped out to shallow right field to end the inning.

The Dodgers were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in Game 2 and left a total of ten runners on base in the loss.

“We’re never out of the fight,” said Dodgers’ catcher Will Smith of the missed opportunities.. “We were one big swing away from tying the game or taking the lead. As long as we keep giving ourselves opportunities like that we’re going to be okay.”

The Dodgers better sound the alarm when they head to Citi Field on Wednesday for Game 3, or they will be in danger of falling behind in this series. That’s not something they want to do against the team that had the most ninth inning comebacks in baseball this season. 

Before Game 1 of the series, Muncy said his team needed to keep the fire and intensity that allowed them to win back-to-back elimination games to advance past the powerful Padres. But instead of fire and intensity, it was lethargy and fragility on display in Game 2. 

The Mets had much better at-bats than the Dodgers, saw more pitches, showed more fight, and overall looked like the better team on the diamond. Oh, what a difference a day makes. 

Momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher, and the Dodgers didn’t have one. 

Their starting rotation is in shambles, injured beyond recognition, with only one pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, still standing from the Opening Day rotation, and even he missed nearly three months of the season with a rotator cuff injury. 

Now the Dodgers will turn to the inconsistent, but battle-tested Walker Buehler in Game 3. Coming off his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler was 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 16 games this season. He allowed six runs in the second inning against San Diego in Game 3 of the NLDS. Manager Dave Roberts believes in him and is banking on his past history of big game performances. 

“I like Walker on the road,” said Roberts. “I talked to Walker yesterday, and he’s obviously never lacked for confidence, but he’s in a good place physically, and he certainly lives for the big moments. What better way to change the bad taste that you had in the regular season for him to have a dominant postseason, and he’s on a heater right now.”

Whether it’s a heater or a luke-warmer, however it looks, the Dodgers need Buehler to deliver a gem in Game 3. If so, they’re back on-line with Yamamoto going in Game 4 and Flaherty on regular rest in Game 5. 

It’s funny how fast things can change in a playoff series. 24 hours ago, the Dodgers looked unbeatable, now they’ve lost home-field advantage and their pitching staff has been quelled. But tomorrow is another day, and another opportunity to flip the script. The rest of this series is still unwritten.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven NLCS between the Mets and Dodgers is scheduled for 5:08 PM PT on Wednesday, October 16th at Citi Field in Queens, NY. The game will air live on FS1.

During the fifth inning of Game 2 on Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, as pitcher Brent Honeywell stood on the top step of the dugout, he spotted something out of place. Something slithering.

It wasn’t the New York Mets causing the commotion this time — it was a snake.

There's a snake in my dugout! 🐍 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/9Qcko2lSAu

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2024

In what could only be described as a surreal moment, Honeywell pointed out the reptilian intruder as it casually made its way across the steps. It wasn’t the Arizona Diamondbacks making an early trip to L.A., nor was it some prop from a Hollywood set—this was a real, live snake. And while it wasn’t big enough to be a true danger, it was definitely a showstopper.

“I’ve seen all kinds of stuff in the dugout before,” joked Honeywell. “But when I walked off, I saw it was just a snake there. I don’t think Danny [Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehman] saw it. It was right next to him. I was hoping it was a rally snake, and we pushed some runs across after that.”

FOX Sports’ play-by-play announcer Joe Davis couldn’t resist a quip, calling it “the latest Hollywood hit: ‘Snake in the Dugout,’” as the cameras zoomed in on the Dodgers’ newest — and most bizarre — visitor.

A quick-thinking Dodgers grounds crew member swooped in, bundling the snake in a towel and carrying it off the field, putting an end to the unusual interruption. But for the Dodgers, this was far more than just a strange coincidence. It was the kind of wild moment that postseason baseball is known for, the type of thing that turns into legend. We’ve seen rally squirrels, rally geese, and now, perhaps, the rally snake?

For Honeywell, though, this wasn’t his first encounter with a reptile in baseball. Back in 2015, as a Rays prospect, he found himself face-to-face with a 10-foot alligator in a dugout. So maybe, just maybe, he has a knack for attracting the unexpected.

A snake is nothing for Brent Honeywell. He once spotted a 10-foot gator in the dugout (true story)https://t.co/UoRJHY1W6j https://t.co/P9FDCXwxAh pic.twitter.com/HfXlhbd0Il

— Benjamin Hill (@bensbiz) October 14, 2024

“Just something to get the boys moving a little different than everybody else,” said Honeywell of seeing the snake.

Perhaps there’s something to be said about the Dodgers needing a little wild energy in their dugout. After all, the postseason thrives on chaos, on moments that seem too ridiculous to be scripted. In 2011, the Cardinals rallied behind a squirrel scampering across home plate, and in 2022, the Padres found inspiration in a goose that landed in the outfield during their own playoff run against the Dodgers. Maybe this snake will be the Dodgers’ answer.

As for the game, the snake didn’t seem to shake the Dodgers much, but its sudden appearance definitely added a little spice to what was already a tense, high-stakes series.

The Dodgers were trailing in the game, 6-0, when Honeywell saw the snake, and were able to scratch three runs across to make it close, they ultimately lost the game 7-3, to level their best-of-seven series with the Mets at a game apiece.

It’s moments like this that remind us why October baseball is unlike any other.

A snake in the dugout? Just another chapter in the unpredictable, unscripted drama of the MLB playoffs.

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The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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How They Got Here

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers are no strangers to this stage. They’ve been a juggernaut all season, with a roster headlined by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández.

After dispatching the San Diego Padres in a nail-biting NLDS, the Dodgers leaned heavily on their bullpen, which delivered 24 consecutive scoreless innings to secure their spot in the NLCS. Their lineup is a force to be reckoned with, but it’s their ability to grind through adversity that makes them particularly dangerous heading into this series.

New York Mets: Don’t let the No. 6 seed fool you—the Mets have been the hottest team in baseball for months.

Their pitching has been nearly flawless, with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and José Quintana shutting down opposing lineups.

In the NLDS, the Mets took down the Phillies with timely hitting and a dominant rotation. Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have led the charge offensively, and now, they’ll need to continue that surge against the Dodgers’ formidable arms.

Key Matchup: Mets Pitching vs. Shohei Ohtani

At the heart of this series is the chess match between the Mets’ pitching staff and Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani, the two-way phenom, has the ability to turn a game on its head with one swing.

The Mets’ pitching, anchored by Manaea and Quintana, has been stellar, but Ohtani presents a unique challenge. His performance will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this series.

The Mets must find a way to neutralize Ohtani, as the Padres briefly did in the NLDS after his Game 1 heroics. If New York can keep Ohtani in check, they’ll significantly improve their chances of making it to the World Series.

Top Players to Watch

Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani: Ohtani’s impact on both sides of the ball makes him the Dodgers’ most valuable weapon. Whether it’s with his bat or on the mound, Ohtani has the ability to change the trajectory of a game. New York will be laser-focused on limiting his production, but that’s easier said than done.

Mookie Betts: Betts, the Dodgers’ spark plug, has returned to form at just the right time. His ability to set the tone at the top of the lineup and make game-changing plays in the outfield gives the Dodgers a significant edge. Betts is known for rising to the occasion in big moments, and this series should be no different.

Teoscar Hernández: One of the Dodgers’ most clutch performers this postseason, Hernández has delivered key hits when it’s mattered most. His power, combined with his ability to come through in high-pressure situations, makes him a threat in every at-bat, especially against the Mets’ two left-handed starting ptichers.

New York Mets

Pete Alonso: Alonso, the Mets’ power-hitting first baseman, has been a force at the plate all season. His ability to drive in runs and change the game with one swing will be crucial against the Dodgers’ deep pitching staff. If Alonso gets hot, the Mets’ offense will be hard to stop.

Francisco Lindor: The Mets’ captain has led by example, both offensively and defensively. Lindor’s range at shortstop and his clutch hitting have been instrumental in New York’s postseason success. His leadership will be vital in navigating the pressure of the NLCS.

Sean Manaea: The unsung hero of the Mets’ postseason run, Manaea has been lights-out on the mound. He shut down the Phillies in the NLDS, and New York will need him to deliver another big performance against the Dodgers’ dangerous lineup.

Schedule:

Enter Yoshinobu Yamamoto from stage left, the Los Angeles Dodgers newest import who signed one of the richest contracts in baseball history in the offseason without even throwing a single big league pitch. The Dodgers invested $325 million in his electric right arm. They did it for games in October when the lights are the brightest and the moments are the biggest. 

However, after a disastrous start in Game 1, that saw Yamamoto allow five runs in just three innings, many questioned if he should be trusted with the baseball in the most important game of the Dodgers season. 

Equipped with the focus and intensity of a steady flame on a melting candle, and with every nerve in his body strained like a harp-string, Yamamoto delivered the pitching performance of a lifetime, and one that the Dodgers so desperately needed. 

Yamamoto threw five shutout innings, and Kiké and Teoscar Hernández both homered as the Dodgers defeated the rival San Diego Padres, 2-0, in a dramatic Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Friday night. 

“He was outstanding tonight,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts of Yamamoto. “I knew he wasn’t going to run from this spot. I’m looking forward to riding him through the World Series.”

With the victory, the Dodgers advance to the National League Championship series against the New York Mets. 

“The job’s not done and you will see the focus, the fire going forward, with the expectation to win eight more games,” said Roberts looking ahead to the NLCS. “We’re ready to play and we’re ready to win four games against the Mets. I’m not thinking about anything else but our 26 guys and beating the Mets. That’s it.”

Maybe it was fate that the biggest moments found Yamamoto, or destiny that it was the Hernándezes that delivered, two players who have proven that they are built for October baseball: performing at their best when the pressure is at its peak.

“This guy right here [Teoscar] likes the big moment, too,” said Kiké Hernández sitting next to a champagne-soaked Teoscar after the victory. “I’m glad we’re both on the team. I’m glad we both have the same last name. I’m glad the accent goes over both A’s. I told him before Game 4, it’s never been done in the history of the game: two Hernándezes going deep in the same game in the playoffs. But it happened tonight.”

Regardless of whether or not it was divine intervention, a twist of fate, or simply the magic of baseball, each and every moment of the decisive Game 5 was the kind of stuff you dream about as kids playing in the backyard. Dodgers vs. Padres, a budding rivalry between to division foes filled with respect, hatred, and uncoiled emotions.

“These types of games are the ones we’ve been dreaming about since we were little kids,” said Kiké Hernández of Game 5 between the Padres and Dodgers. “We didn’t come here to win the NL West; we came to win the World Series. We were not worried about anything else other than winning tonight.”

But before the Dodgers could come spilling out of the dugout, stumbling on the dirt as they smiled, screamed and hugged each other, there first had to be a beginning to this dream. And trust me, it was a start as much mired in drama and suspense as the finish was.

Hernandez helped the Dodgers fire the first shot when he jumped all over a first-pitch fastball from Yu Darvish with two outs in the second inning. It gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, and in the series, the team that led after four innings ended up winning the game.

“I was looking for that pitch and that pitch only,” said Hernández of his assault on Darvish’s first-pitch fastball. “And he gave it to me, and I didn’t miss it.”

Kiké Hernández clubs his 14th career #Postseason homer! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/ZJQsNYiJ6S

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

Yamamoto was aware of that statistic as well, so he set the tone early with a 1-2-3 first inning. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto strikes out Fernando Tatis Jr. to get the @Dodgers crowd BUMPING 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TTlTcwfqNu

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

“He set the tone,” said Roberts of Yamamoto’s first inning. “I think that Yoshi’s had a lot of success in his professional career. I said it before; he’s pitched in big ball games. And I believed in him. I knew he was going to rise to the occasion.”

The pitching matchup in Game 5 between Yamamoto and Darvish was the first between two Japanese-born starting pitchers in MLB postseason history, so it was only fitting that they each dazzled in what turned out to be a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel between the two countrymen. 

“Yoshi [Yoshinobu], Darvish, these guys that are from out of the country, they’re pitching on a bigger scale,” said Roberts who was born in Japan himself to a Japanese mother. “They are pitching for their country. When you pitch for the WBC, for the country of Japan, those are the highest stakes that you can have. They both have done that and pitched well in those moments. I have to give Yu a lot of credit for what he did tonight.”

Yamamoto fired five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

“I think in Japan, like a lot of fans were looking forward to today’s match-up because this is the first time that two Japanese pitchers are facing off on the same game on the postseason,” said Yamamoto, through a translator, of the matchup and his performance. “I was just trying to be aggressive and then get initiative. I think my mechanics were locked in today.” 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is through five innings of shutout ball! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/JvLAbHQJ2G

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

Darvish delivered 6.2 innings, with one walk and four strikeouts, but he allowed two solo home runs that proved to be the difference in the game. 

“I would take that start from Yu every time,” said San Diego’s manager Mike Shildt. “I thought Yu was magnificent again. Had them off balance. Couple of swings got him. Other than that, he was really good.”

Yu Darvish takes round 1 against Shohei Ohtani. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/mbzuun8YEI

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

The second of those swings, which provided the Dodgers with a much-needed insurance run, came off the bat of Teoscar Hernandez in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“I try not to run away from the big moments,” said Teoscar Hernández of his 7th inning homer. “I learned how to control my mind, my emotions in those big situations, and I try not to do too much and just do the things that I know how to do, which is just try to get a good pitch and put it in play. I know if I hit the ball, it’s going to have a big chance that it’s going to go in a positive way.”

TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ
SEE
YOU
LATER 😤 #NLDS pic.twitter.com/BQbrAnlUJ9

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

“I was just trying to get on base, he was pitching really good, he was dotting a lot of pitches on the corners, I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit,” Hernandez told FOX during the game. “This is why I signed here. I’ve never seen the stadium as loud as this.” 

The MVP of Game 4; the Dodgers bullpen, did the rest, sending the 53,183 blue-towel waving fans into a frenzy with four shutout innings to secure the victory. 

102 MPH GAS 🔥

Michael Kopech is throwing flames! pic.twitter.com/GuY1YuurCK

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024

After allowing six runs in a sloppy second inning in Game 3 of the series, the Dodgers pitching staff combined for 24 scoreless innings against San Diego. 

“I think stunning is appropriate,” said Shildt of his offense getting shut out for 24 consecutive innings. “You’ve got to tip you hat, and while we’re doing it, congratulations to the Dodgers.”

Roberts said the bullpen was the MVP of the series.

“You can have whatever plan or script, but it comes down to the players,” said Roberts of his pitching staff over the last three games of the series. “From Yoshi [Yoshinobu] today to the bullpen, if you’re talking about a series MVP, it’s out bullpen, clearly.”

Whether it was the bullpen, the Hernándezes, or the team as a whole, the Dodgers redemption arc was completed against the Padres in Game 5.

Los Angeles swept San Diego in the 2020 NLDS, but the Padres bested the Boys in Blue in four games in 2022.

On Wednesday, it was the Dodgers who saved their best for the end of the third act of the trilogy, getting revenge on the Padres for their shocking defeat just two years prior.

“It’s redemption. I wanted to beat those guys. We all wanted to beat those guys really bad,” said Roberts who improved to 6-2 in winner-take-all elimination games as Dodgers’ manager. “We’re going to celebrate tonight.”

Thanks to Roberts’ excellent leadership over the course of the series, seemingly pushing all the right buttons in their comeback, the Dodgers celebrated on their own field, clinching a postseason series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since the 2013 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves.

Now, it’s on to the “OMG” Mets, who are on a magical run of their own over the last couple weeks.

Game 1 of the best-of-seven NLCS is scheduled for Sunday, October 13th at 5:15PM PT on FOX.

However, as the Dodgers prepare for yet another elimination game with their season on the line, one question remains on every fan’s mind: Will Freddie Freeman be ready to go?

Freeman, the Dodgers’ All-Star first baseman, has been battling a high-ankle sprain, an injury that was sustained during the team’s final home game of the regular season against this same San Diego squad on Thursday, September 26th. 

The initial recovery time for the injury was 4-6 weeks, but Freeman started Game 1 of the NLDS just nine days later. 

Nonetheless, the injury has plagued Freeman throughout the series with San Diego. Listed as day-to-day, Freeman exited Game 2 in the sixth inning, and though he started in Game 3, he was a last-minute scratch ahead of Game 4 on Wednesday night. 

Despite his absence, the Dodgers pulled off a commanding 8-0 victory at Petco Park, setting the stage for a decisive Game 5 back in Los Angeles.

Freeman’s status is still uncertain as the Dodgers prepare for what could be their season-defining game. 

Freddie Freeman is on the field going through his routine ahead of Game 5 of the NLDS. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/QqPtyxp3HR

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 10, 2024

However, after a late scratch in Game 4, Dodger fans and baseball pundits alike are cautiously optimistic.

“He just had overall body soreness,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, addressing Freeman’s Game 4 scratch. “The ankle, the side. And we had a good conversation. I just don’t feel good about putting a player in there when he’s not at his best because of the name on the back of his jersey.”

Freeman echoed Roberts’ sentiment after the game, acknowledging his limitations: “Like I said, I was day to day. Just happy to get a Game 5. Had a full day’s rest today. Didn’t even try to run on it. Tomorrow, we’ll get to the field, do treatment, and see how it goes.”

During a team workout on Thursday evening at Dodger Stadium, Freeman was spotted jogging on the field, fielding grounders, and doing lateral movement drills—positive signs for his potential return. 

Freddie Freeman moving laterally testing out his sprained right ankle, while Mookie Betts takes grounders next to him. #Dodgers workout pic.twitter.com/NgwpyeBGYQ

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 10, 2024

The Dodgers have relied on Freeman all season, his steady bat and leadership anchoring a lineup that’s powered them to a first-place finish in the NL West, and the best record in baseball during the 2024 campaign. Losing him for such a critical game would be a major blow, especially given his history of clutch postseason performances.

“Freddie is the type of guy who will do anything to help this team win,” said Max Muncy, who filled in at first base in Game 4. “Whether it’s grinding through pain or making the tough call to sit, he’s always thinking about what’s best for the team.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher for Game 5. The Dodgers, with all their postseason experience and star power, face a Padres team looking to pull off an upset and punch their ticket to the National League Championship Series. 

Freeman’s presence in the lineup could be the X-factor. But even without him, the Dodgers have proven they can rise to the occasion. In his absence during Game 4, it was players like Muncy, Kiké Hernandez, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Tommy Edman, who stepped up, and the team’s deep lineup continues to thrive.

Manager Dave Roberts is confident Freeman will be ready to take the field for Friday’s showdown. “I think Freddie is going to be in there,” Roberts said during Thursday’s workout. “With two days off, he didn’t try to get ready yesterday. He’s feeling better today with treatment. So I just feel like tomorrow he’ll be in there.”

Still, the final decision may come down to game-time. Freeman’s ankle has been unpredictable, and while his competitive spirit is undeniable, Roberts and the Dodgers’ medical staff will need to weigh the risks of pushing him too far.

As Dodger Stadium prepares for a sea of blue under the Friday night lights, one thing is certain: Freddie Freeman’s presence or absence will be a game-changer.

First pitch of the do-or-die Game 5 is at 5:08 PM PT on FOX.

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The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Little did he know that adjective would also be apropos to describe the pivotal Game 3 of the series at Petco Park on Tuesday evening. 

Teoscar Hernandez hit a grand slam, but the Dodgers comeback fell short in a wild 6-5 loss to the Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The Dodgers now trail the best-of-five series two games to one.

Ironically, Game 3 began in an almost identical way as Game 2, when Mookie Betts hit another deep fly ball to left field that saw Jurickson Profar leap into the stands to rob him of a home run. 

The start of Game 2 vs. Game 3 for Mookie Betts pic.twitter.com/H3w2LE6JGr

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2024

Betts, believing he had been robbed again, began trotting back to the dugout after rounding first base. However, the ball had bounced off of Profar’s glove and into the seats for a solo homer that gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, and snapped Betts 0-for-22 postseason streak at the plate. 

MOOKIE WOULD NOT BE DENIED THIS TIME! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/BpM2Ylug3S

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

“Last game he robbed it and acted like he didn’t catch it, and so I thought it was the same thing, but I was fortunate it actually went over,” said Betts of the home run. “We lost, so there is no personal goals out there right now.”

Things turned from wild to weird when everything went sideways for the Dodgers in the bottom of the second inning. 

Manny Machado led off with a single up the middle. Jackson Merrill hit a groundball innocently to first base that Freddie Freeman threw to second to start the double play. 

However, Machado ran inside the base path, blocking the throw second and the ball went into left field. 

“I thought me made a last second move inside the line,” said Dodgers’ shortstop Miguel Rojas. “I’m pretty clear that the rules say that you have to establish a lane and he was running on the dirt until the last second when he ran towards the grass aggressively. I felt he obstructed and that we would have gotten the out and probably the double play, but the umpire wasn’t looking at the runner, he was looking at second base and he said he didn’t see what was going on.”

One play later, a routine double-play ball was hit to short, but Rojas opted to run to the bag instead of toss it to second. When the dust settled, all runners were safe and the game was tied at 1-1. 

“I made a bad decision there for the play and my health,” said Rojas who left the game the following That play happens to me a bunch of times in my career and 99 percent of the time I get the runner. Today was probably the only time I didn’t get the runner at second base. I felt that was the best way to get two outs there. I didn’t know the whole thing was going to happen after, but getting one out there was probably the best decision.”

Everybody is safe!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/QxT8vJQ1sh

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

Former Dodger, David Peralta followed with a two-run double and the Padres took a 3-1 lead. 

David Peralta! @Padres lead! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/jqH3YH7Wj0

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

Three batters and more bad defense later, Tatis Jr. blasted a two-run shot off the scoreboard in left field and faster than a cheetah on it’s lunch break San Diego had staked a 6-1 lead. 

“I just blacked out, started screaming at my dugout, just the energy through the roof, especially that type of inning that we built after two outs,” said Tatis Jr. of his two-run blast and the six runs San Diego scored in the second inning.

NANDO! PANDEMONIUM!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/mEWBVBqMrc

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

“There was a bunch of mayhem and then I made a bad 0-2 pitch and give up the homer to Tatis,” said Dodgers’ starter Walker Buehler of the six-run second inning. “You can’t give up six runs in an inning in the playoffs and expect to win. At the end of the day I put us in a really bad spot, and even though we fought back, the spot was too big.”

That might have been all she wrote for the Boys in Blue in past postseasons, after all they didn’t put up more than a gentle whimper after falling behind all three games in last season’s NLDS sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

But that team did not have Shohei Ohtani or Teoscar Hernandez on it. 

The Dodgers new sluggers put up plenty of fight in the top half of the following inning. 

After a leadoff single by Rojas, Ohtani followed with a single to center, and Betts made it three straight to load the bases for Hernandez, who played the role of hero for Los Angeles. 

TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ GRAND SLAM!

WHAT IS GOING ON????? #NLDS pic.twitter.com/urE1xfJIQD

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2024

“

Hernandez’s homer silenced the stunned crowd and turned a five-run lead into a one-run barn-burner with one swing. Suddenly, the Dodgers had new life, and a reinvigorated Walker Buehler went back out to the mound and dominated. 

“Obviously that was a really good hit by Teo, and it really brought us back into the game and I was very impressed by him in that moment,” said Ohtani through a translator of the Dodgers four-run response in the top-half of the third. “We made a lot of mistakes on our part that cost us some runs, but we were able to fight back. The key tomorrow is to make sure the momentum is on our side.”

Buehler and the Dodgers’ bullpen did their best to keep the game a one-run lead, but the Padres’ bullpen was even better, keeping the score where it was, squashing all hopes of another Los Angeles comeback. 

The Dodgers went a combined 1-for-21 after the grand slam, and are now 1-52 when trailing by five runs or more.

For the third straight postseason, the Dodgers find themselves in familiar territory: facing elimination in a hostile environment, with their backs against the wall and their season on the brink. 

We can write all the cliches we want, but the calculus is simple: win or your season is over.

“We have to win or go home. That’s the only thing to think about,” said Rojas.”

Game 4 of the best-of-five NLDS series is Wednesday night at Petco Park with first pitch scheduled for 6:08PM PT. 

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After a split in the first two games, the odds have swung in favor of San Diego, who now hold a slight edge in advancing to the next round. According to the latest lines, the Padres are sitting at -130 to win the series, while the Dodgers have drifted to +110. A staggering shift from the opening line that had Los Angeles as a -135 favorite.

Even more surprising is the shift in World Series odds. The New York Yankees, long seen as contenders but never the favorites compared to the billion-dollar Dodgers, have overtaken the field, now standing at 3/1 to hoist the trophy. 

As for the Dodgers, they’re now clumped in a three-way tie with the Phillies and Padres at 9/2 odds, a far cry from their previous dominance in the betting market.

With so much unpredictability in this year’s postseason, the field is wide open, with any team remaining in the playoffs a possibility of winning the World Series title. 

Whether it’s the “OMG Mets,” who were 11 games below .500 earlier in the season, or the “Comeback Cats,” from Detroit, each and every team still remaining has a chance to win it all, despite their playoff seeding or regular season performance. 

The underdog Dodgers turn to their former “big game” pitcher in Walker Buehler for Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday night at Petco Park. After a less-than-stellar pitching performance from starters Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty in Games 1 and 2 of the series, respectively, Buehler will need to turn back the clock to his previous dominant form during the 2018, 19, and 20 playoffs. 

On the Padres’ side, the odds shift reflects their ability to match the Dodgers punch for punch. San Diego’s deep lineup, anchored by stars like Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and rookie Jackson Merrill, have proven they can go toe-to-toe with Los Angeles. 

Their pitching staff, led by Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, and Michael King, has done enough to neutralize the Dodgers’ potent offense. If the Padres continue to capitalize on their opportunities, Los Angeles could be staring at another early exit to their rivals from the south, and third NLDS exit in as many years. 

As for the broader World Series picture, the Yankees now find themselves atop the list with 3/1 odds. It’s a remarkable rise for a team that has dealt with its share of adversity throughout the season. 

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For Dodgers fans, seeing Los Angeles tied with both the Phillies and Padres at 9/2 odds feels like unfamiliar territory. The Dodgers have been the class of baseball for much of the past decade, but now they’ll have to claw their way back if they want to reclaim their spot as the favorite.

If there’s one thing we know about the postseason, it’s that momentum can shift in a heartbeat. For the Dodgers, it’s not time to panic—but it is time to wake up. Game 3 looms large. With emotions from both teams–and their fans– spilling out on to the field during Game 2, the Dodgers will need to temper those emotions and rediscover the magic that has made them perennial contenders. The road to the World Series is bumpier than expected, but there’s still plenty of baseball left to be played.

If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, please call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700 to speak to a counselor. Help is also available via an online peer support forum at www.gamtalk.org, and additional resources can be found at NCPG website.

In a statement emailed to season ticket holders and posted on social media ahead of Game 3 at Petco Park, Padres team president Erik Greupner reminded fans about the team’s zero-tolerance policy for bad behavior. The best-of-five series turned contentious Sunday night when tempers flared on the field and in the stands at Dodger Stadium.

Game 2 was delayed for 12 minutes after rowdy fans tossed baseballs in the direction of San Diego left fielder Jurickson Profar, and then threw trash onto the outfield. Profar had robbed Mookie Betts of a home run in the first inning, reaching into the stands behind the low left-field wall.

As Betts rounded the bases and fans cheered, Profar stared at the crowd in the left-field stands and hopped up and down several times before finally taking the ball from his glove and throwing the ball to the infield.

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Additionally, Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty and Padres third baseman Manny Machado directed expletives at each other a handful of times, including after Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch and after he struck out Machado.

Another storyline from Sunday developed when Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said it was “bothersome” and “unsettling” that a ball Machado threw toward the Dodgers dugout seemed intended for him during the game. Roberts said he didn’t notice Machado’s throw in real time but later saw a video of the toss.

“It was unsettling. … And the ball was directed at me with something behind it,” Roberts said.

Roberts said the ball didn’t hit him because of netting.

After all that, the series shifts to San Diego for Game 3 Tuesday and Game 4 Wednesday. Game 5, if necessary, would be back in LA.

In his statement to fans, Greupner credited fans with creating the best home-field advantage in baseball while reiterating that any fan who throws items onto the field or makes offensive, foul or abusive comments to anyone will be ejected.

Stay classy, San Diego. pic.twitter.com/GPzjlQaLFS

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 8, 2024

“Our game is at its best when our players and fans give everything they have for their team and city while showing respect and sportsmanship towards players and fans of the opposing team,” Greupner wrote. “There is never an excuse for abusive speech or behavior towards others at Petco Park.

“As we continue our push for a World Series Championship, our team needs you more than ever,” Greupner added. “Please continue to cheer for the Padres with all you have while showing class and good sportsmanship to those around you.”

The team also posted a comment from manager Mike Shildt, who borrowed a classic phrase from the movie “Anchorman.”

“We’re back to San Diego with a very, very loud raucous, aggressive, hungry crowd that’s going to be super excited and going to be getting after it,” Shildt said. “But I know also that we’ll stay classy, San Diego.”

The Padres drew a club-record 3,314,593 fans to the downtown ballpark, with 56 sellouts in 80 games. They gave up one home game to play a two-game opening series in Seoul, South Korea, against the Dodgers.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Freeman left Game 2 after five innings on Sunday night, when Los Angeles lost 10-2 at Dodger Stadium to even the series at 1.

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Freeman had discomfort in his sprained right ankle. He was replaced at first base by Max Muncy, and Kiké Hernández entered at third.

Freeman struck out and flied out in his two at-bats. In Game 1 on Saturday, he had two hits and a strikeout.

Roberts said Freeman was “still sore” on Monday, when the Dodgers held an off-day workout at Petco Park. “He’s getting treatment. Don’t know anything else. Outside of that I think he’s very grateful for a mental break today.”

“The thought is he’s going to play tomorrow. If he can’t, then he won’t,” Roberts said. “But again, if he’s able to play and post, he’ll be in there.”

The 35-year-old Freeman, an eight-time All-Star, said it’s the first time he’s sprained an ankle. He said he was told the injury typically results in four to six weeks on the injured list.

The slugger wields a powerful bat as the No. 3 hitter behind leadoff batter Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts while playing valuable defense at first.

Freeman missed 15 games during the regular season because of injuries and his young son’s medical crisis.

What to know about Dodgers-Padres Game 3

Time: 6:08 p.m. PT

Probable pitchers: Dodgers Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 64 strikeouts); Padres Michael King (13-9, 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 201 strikeouts)

San Diego has a 93-69 record overall and a 45-36 record at home. The Padres have gone 44-13 in games when they hit at least two home runs.

Los Angeles is 98-64 overall and 46-35 in road games. The Dodgers have a 78-21 record in games when they record eight or more hits.

Tuesday’s game is the 16th meeting between these teams this season. The Padres have a 9-6 advantage in the season series.

Game 3 injury report

Padres: Mason McCoy: 10-Day IL (back), Jhony Brito: 60-Day IL (elbow), Stephen Kolek: 60-Day IL (forearm), Ha-Seong Kim: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Patino: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Dodgers: Brent Honeywell Jr.: 15-Day IL (fingernail), Brusdar Graterol: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Glasnow: 60-Day IL (elbow), Clayton Kershaw: 15-Day IL (toe), River Ryan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Dustin May: 60-Day IL (elbow/esophagus), Connor Brogdon: 60-Day IL (foot), Emmet Sheehan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Tony Gonsolin: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Players to watch

Jurickson Profar has 29 doubles and 24 home runs while hitting .280 for the Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. is 13-for-37 with three doubles and five home runs over the last 10 games.

Shohei Ohtani has a .310 batting average to lead the Dodgers, and has 38 doubles, seven triples and 54 home runs. Teoscar Hernandez is 12-for-38 with three home runs and nine RBI over the last 10 games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the San Padres Sunday night for game two of the National League Divisional Series. 

The Dodgers suffered a crippling 10-2 defeat, but fans say more than a game was lost that night. Already suffering from a rough image, fans say they can do better. 

“It’s so stupid… no one knows how to behave themselves” said Dodgers fan Crystal Yanez.

“You shouldn’t be throwing stuff on the field, that’s my main point” said attendee Chris Oliver. “But at the same time, the players, you got to act accordingly, too.”

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Padres take bold steps to keep Dodgers fans out of Petco Park for NLDS showdown

Dodger fans also said padres players were taunting them all night. 

It started when Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar nabbed a near Dodger’s home run in the first inning. 

Later in the 7th inning Profar tossed a ball to the crowd as a fun souvenir. Dodgers fans threw it back alongside other baseballs, empty water bottles and trash.

Umpires stopped the game for several minutes to calm fans before restarting play. 

In a postgame interview Profar said the situation felt “dangerous,” and that he had a similar experience with San Francisco Giants fans.

The Padres are limiting ticket sales to Dodgers fans for game three and four at Petco Park. 

Online tickets directly from the Padres organization can only be purchased by residents of San Diego, Baja California and Imperial, southern Orange, southern Riverside, La Paz, Mohave, Yuma and Clark counties. They say they want to hold a home-field advantage, and a stadium filled with dodger blue won’t give them that.

Over the last six years, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have turned into bitter rivals. Ever since Manny Machado switched uniforms from blue to brown after the 2018 season, betting the entirety of his $300 million contract that his Padres would win the World Series before the Dodgers. 

Words have been exchanged, benches have cleared, and emotions have boiled over after both teams took turns defeating the other in a playoff series over the last five seasons. 

So with Game 1 of their playoff trilogy now in the rearview, the Padres knew they had to recapture their identity for Game 2. 

If Yu Darvish could pitch against the Dodgers as he has his entire career, if San Diego slugged as they have in the second half of the season, and played defense they way they have all year, then they would even the National League Division Series at one game apiece. 

And that’s exactly what happened over the course of nine innings and 27 outs in Game 2 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. 

The Padres hit a total of six homers, blowing out the Dodgers 10-2, because Darvish pitched like the five-time All-Star he is, carving up the Dodgers lineup like a chef serving Thanksgiving dinner.

Darvish dumbfounded Dodgers hitters, allowing just one run on three hits in seven strong innings with three strikeouts. 

The Padres immediately gave Darvish a lead to protect after Fernando Tatis Jr. took Dodgers’ starter Jack Flaherty deep for a solo shot into the Dodgers bullpen in the first inning.

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets the scoring started RIGHT AWAY! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/hjlvkWg696

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

“That’s just our mindset,” said Tatis Jr. of the Padres wanting to throw the first punch and put runs on the board early. “How we are coming out of the gate with our foot on the pedal since the beginning. That’s one thing that we have been doing since the entire year. So we’re definitely not changing that and we’re just adding more pressure. And that’s what we’re capable of as a group. And we’re going to keep with that mentality.”

Former Dodger, David Peralta extended the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the second.

David Peralta extends the @Padres lead with a 2-run blast! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/irc3VdZOvi

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the second inning, but they wilted when Tommy Edman hit a line drive to Luis Arraez at first base that turned into an easy inning-ending double play. 

The Padres defense dazzled, taking away runs instead of giving away runs the way they did in Game 1 on Saturday night. 

Jurickson Profar set the tone in the first inning, robbing former MVP Mookie Betts from a game-tying home run. 

JURICKSON PROFAR ROBS MOOKIE!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/bvByqwsAKB

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

Profar’s web gem was just one of many on the night for San Diego, as they flashed the leather all night long, perplexing the Dodgers hitters and squashing rallies before they began.

Nando tracks it down in right field! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/w1FwII5X9B

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

It's Jackson Merrill's turn to get in on the fun!

All three @Padres outfielders have shown out tonight! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/xHmxD52Gvu

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

The Padres got back to the brand of baseball that got them here, and made them many MLB analysts pick to win the World Series this season. More importantly, it helped them head back down the 5-freeway with a series split in hand. 

That didn’t stop the bad blood between the two teams from boiling over onto the field throughout the game. The hatred and vitriol between the two teams, and their fan bases was on full display during the game.

First it was Profar who jawed with fans after his home run robbery in the first inning. Then it was Tatis Jr. who got into it with many of the 54,119 fans in attendance. Later, it was Flaherty and Machado exchanging expletives after he struck out for the first out in the sixth inning. 

“They didn’t like the pitch to Tatis,” said Flaherty of what he believed prompted the exchange between him and Machado. “I was fired up after getting Manny out in a big spot in the playoffs. Then he did some s*** between innings, he threw the ball at our dugout, and then me and him were going at it. The umpires immediately went over to talk to him. Our dugout was fired up, because there ain’t no reason for that.”

Finally, it was fans throwing baseballs onto the field during the bottom of the seventh inning that prompted Dodger Stadium security to encompass the outfield, leading to a lengthy delay. 

“We’re in a hostile environment,” said Padres’ manager Mike Shildt of the commotion in the seventh inning. “What I got out of it was a bunch of dudes that showed up in front of a big, hostile crowd with stuff being thrown at them and said, “We’re going to talk with our play; we’re not going to back down; we’re going to elevate our game; we’re going to be together; and we’re going to take care of business.”

Los Angeles only was able to muster up a few more opportunities before the Padres broke the game open with six total home runs in the blowout victory. The six homers allowed by the Dodgers were the most the team has ever allowed in a playoff game in franchise history.

Tatis Jr. hit two, with Peralta, rookie Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts, and catcher Kyle Higashioka all hitting one.

Max Muncy hit a home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

“We were sh** tonight,” said Muncy of the loss. “You just have to flush it and move on. Like I said, we were sh** tonight, but that’s not us as a group. We’ve been really good all year. We’ve come back from bad games before.”

The Dodgers now look to avoid deja vu from their 2022 NLDS series loss to San Diego. In that series, the Dodgers won the first game, then proceeded to lose the next three, including back-to-back games at Petco Park. 

The Dodgers have lost four consecutive Game 2’s of a playoff series and seven of eight overall.

The series now shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday night at 6:08 PM PT. 

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Fans got involved in Game 2 Sunday, throwing objects onto the field during a 7th-inning at-bat from the Dodgers.

Officials delayed the game after a baseball was thrown in the direction of Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar from the pavilion sections at Dodger Stadium.

Things are getting heated at Dodger Stadium. pic.twitter.com/hfIWFoouiG

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2024

Profar, who had taunted Dodgers fans after stealing a homerun from Mookie Betts in the 1st inning, was visibly upset as his teammates attempted to calm him down.

JURICKSON PROFAR ROBS MOOKIE!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/bvByqwsAKB

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

Yu Darvish was given time to warm up after the delay of the game and was able to finish the 7th inning without allowing any runs.

Multiple security personnel were placed on the outfield after the incident.

“Nope,” he said matter of factly in English without the use of a translator. 

Turns out he was right. 

In his first ever playoff game, Ohtani performed the same as he has in the nearly 900 games preceding it: like the superstar he is. 

Ohtani rocketed a three-run homer in just his second playoff swing, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from two different multi-run deficits to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-5 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday Night at Dodger Stadium. 

Much like a library book you find in the back of your closet, Ohtani’s first taste of the postseason was long overdue. 

After the Dodgers trailed 3-0 in the second inning, Ohtani’s game tying-shot off San Diego starter Dylan Cease sent the blue towel-waving sellout crowd of 53,028 into a feveried frenzy. The Dodgers single-season home run leader, and one and only member of the 50-50 club watched the ball fly as he chucked his bat towards the Padres dugout and let out a guttural scream of exultation as he trotted around the bases.

SHOHEI OHTANI TIES THE GAME!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/EkcONeweie

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024

“I could really feel the intensity of the stadium before the game began, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Ohtani of the atmosphere surrounding his first playoff game. “I was very pleased to be able to tie the game in that situation and to be able to hit against a really good pitcher.”

Ohtani’s blast set a tone and a precedent unseen in the last two postseasons; that not only can the Dodgers take a punch, they can get knocked down, and get up off the mat and fight back. 

That didn’t happen in the Dodgers last two NLDS exits, but then again, those teams didn’t have Shohei Ohtani on them. 

Ohtani’s energy and enthusiasm was contagious, and turned out to be the jolt the Dodgers needed after old friend Manny Machado hit a towering two-run home run into the left field pavilion just a few batters into the game. 

MANNY MACHADO KNOWS #POSTSEASON! pic.twitter.com/3Q7OFuP2ul

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024

The two-run homer came off of Ohtani’s countryman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers rookie starting pitcher that ironically was also making his postseason debut. However, it didn’t go as good as Ohtani’s.

Just like he did in his MLB debut against the same team, Yamamoto allowed five runs on five hits in Game 1 on Saturday.

After Ohtani’s three-run blast tied the game, Yamamoto gave the lead right back in the top half of the third after surrendering a two-run double to Xander Bogaerts that gave the Padres a 5-3 lead.

With a mentality as hard as bronze, the Dodgers fought back and  rallied in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Tommy Edman reached base on a bunt single, Miguel Rojas followed with a single to left-center, and Ohtani hit a broken-bat bloop single to center that loaded the bases. Edman scored on a wild pitch, and two more runs scored on an RBI single by Teoscar Hernandez. 

“This is what I dreamed about,” said Hernandez to Fox Sports during the game. “This atmosphere and facing one of the best teams in the National League. I’m enjoying it and we’re going to keep pushing until the final out.”

The @Dodgers lead! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/XeOACxyxj2

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024

The Dodgers added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning and reliever Blake Treinen struck out Donovan Solano on an 84MPH slider with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth to secure the lead.

Blake Treinen has the @Dodgers three outs away from a Game 1 victory! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/8mqzraYEyw

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024

The Padres put runners on first and second for Machado in the top of the ninth, but the All-Star third baseman struck out to end the game.

The loss was the first for the Padres this postseason after sweeping the Atlanta Braves in two games in the best-of-three Wild Card series at Petco Park earlier this week.

This is the third meeting between the two division rivals in the NLDS in the last five years.

The Dodgers swept the first playoff meeting between the two teams on a neutral field in Texas during the 2020 COVID-shortened season.

After losing the first game of the series in 2022, San Diego won three straight to stun the 111-win Dodgers and eliminate them just four game into the NLDS.

Saturday’s matchup marked another exciting and dramatic chapter in the playoff trilogy.

Game 2 of the best-of-five division series is Sunday night at 5:08PM at Dodger Stadium.

With the National League Division Series (NLDS) set to showcase these two NL West heavyweights, the Padres are pulling out all the stops to ensure that Petco Park remains a fortress of San Diego pride.

In an attempt to keep the sea of Dodger blue from infiltrating their home turf, the Padres have implemented strict ticket restrictions for Games 3 and 4, a move that has caught the attention of both fanbases.

The Padres have restrictions placed on who can purchase NLDS tickets 👀 pic.twitter.com/lmhbRA2qrL

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 3, 2024

The Padres’ recent success, including their Wild Card Series sweep of the Atlanta Braves, has electrified the city of San Diego. Now, as they prepare for their NLDS matchup against their longtime division rivals, the team is taking proactive measures to keep the energy local.

Starting with Game 3 on October 8 and potentially Game 4 on October 9, ticket purchases for Petco Park are restricted to residents of San Diego County, southern Orange County, western Arizona, Las Vegas, and Baja California.

If you’re a Dodgers fan from Los Angeles County, don’t even think about buying a ticket—your order will be canceled.

The Padres have drawn a hard line, ensuring that the crowd at Petco is packed with Padres faithful, hoping to prevent a repeat of previous playoff series where Dodger fans showed up in force, transforming the stadium into what felt like an away game for San Diego.

This tactic isn’t new. Teams across sports have tried similar strategies, from the Philadelphia 76ers blocking Knicks fans in the 2024 NBA playoffs to the Florida Panthers keeping Maple Leafs supporters at bay during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s a calculated move, one designed to give the Padres every advantage in what is shaping up to be an epic postseason battle.

The Dodgers and Padres have one of the fiercest rivalries in baseball, and this series will only fuel the fire. On one side, you have the Dodgers—a team that’s been a perennial powerhouse, winning the NL West year after year.

On the other side, the Padres, a team brimming with talent, have been waiting for their moment to dethrone their northern rivals. Now, with the NLDS set, this matchup feels more personal than ever.

Is it fair to restrict ticket sales based on geography? To Padres fans, it’s a no-brainer.

For years, Dodgers fans have flooded Petco Park whenever the two teams faced off, turning what should have been a home-field advantage into an awkward mix of cheers and jeers. By implementing these restrictions, the Padres are doubling down on their commitment to make Petco Park an intimidating place for opponents to play, especially in October.

However, not everyone is thrilled. Dodgers fans, known for traveling well, see this as an unfair move, one that prevents them from supporting their team during one of the biggest series of the year. Some have even called it a desperate attempt by the Padres to level the playing field, knowing that Los Angeles supporters can easily overrun their home ballpark.

From a business perspective, though, it’s a savvy move by the Padres organization. Selling out the stadium with local fans creates an electric atmosphere, one that can make a real difference in a high-stakes playoff game. It’s a strategy that has worked for other teams in the past, including in the 2022 NLDS matchup between the two teams, a series that saw San Diego shock the mighty Dodgers in four games.

As the series unfolds, the atmosphere at Petco Park will be a crucial factor. The Padres want their fans to be loud, passionate, and, most importantly, present. And if it means a few unhappy Dodgers fans can’t snag tickets, so be it.

This is playoff baseball, after all. Every advantage counts.

Kershaw is done for the season after his big toe injury worsened, manager Dave Roberts said. Kelly also won’t be available until the World Series should the Dodgers make it that far.

Shohei Ohtani Oct 5

Shohei Ohtani feeling the excitement, not nerves ahead of MLB postseason debut

Oct 4

Padres ace Joe Musgrove out for playoffs, will undergo Tommy John surgery

Edgardo Henriquez, a 22-year-old right-hander whose fastball averaged 98.7 mph when he pitched his first three big league games during the final week of the regular season, was included on the Dodgers’ NLDS roster.

Right-hander Michael Grove was included but outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was omitted.

Clayton Kershaw on his season being over because of a bone spur in his left big toe and his future with the #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/bdGnu2FXm0

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 5, 2024

A 36-year-old left-hander, Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 10-time All-Star. He returned July 25 from shoulder surgery but has been sidelined since Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe.

“We’re closing the door,” Roberts said. “Clayton has done everything he can to keep this thing moving forward and giving himself a chance to participate in the postseason. But where he’s at right now, physically, the foot, the toe just is not cooperating. It’s actually getting worse. Yeah, this is it for Clayton for 2024.”

Kelly, a 36-year-old right-hander, didn’t pitch between Aug. 30 and Sept. 18 because of right shoulder inflammation but returned to make four late-season appearances.

“Joe Kelly, his last pitch in a simulated game, throwing a change-up, he felt something in his shoulder, so that kind of put him out of the conversation,” Roberts said.

Roberts also said reliever Brent Honeywell would not be available until Game 5 of the NLDS, if the series goes the distance.

San Diego added right-handers Martín Pérez and Alek Jacob, who were skipped from the Wild Card Series roster against Atlanta. The Padres dropped infielder Nick Ahmed and right-hander Joe Musgrove, who needs Tommy John surgery.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Dodgers posted a statement a day after reports circulated about the health of one of the team’s most beloved players. Since 2003, Valenzuela has worked for the Dodgers organization as a Spanish-language broadcaster.

Los Angeles Dodgers Oct 1

Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela reportedly hospitalized

Shohei Ohtani Sep 27

Teen says Shohei Ohtani 50-50 home run ball was ‘wrangled' from him in scrum

“Fernando Valenzuela has stepped away from the Dodgers broadcast booth for the remainder of this year to focus on his health,” the Dodgers said. “He and his family truly appreciate the love and support of fans as he aims to return for the 2025 season, and the have asked for privacy during this time.”

Details regarding the 63-year-old health condition were not included in the statement. He left the broadcast booth during the series between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Sept. 24. 

pic.twitter.com/x0B0nQzFx1

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 2, 2024

Valenzuela is among the Dodgers’ all-time franchise leaders in several categories, ranking fourth in complete games (107), fifth in strikeouts (1,759) and sixth in wins (141). He’s the only player in major league history to the win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same season, doing so in the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series campaign.

Valenzuela’s 17-year big league career ended in 1997 following stints in Anaheim, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego and St. Louis. He retired as the all-time leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born major leaguers.

But his influence is not solely measured by statistics. He won his first eight games in the 1981 season, pitching a shutout in five. That success led to the “Fernandomania” craze and continued in the postseason, when Valenzuela and the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series. Valenzuela was also on the Dodger team that won the World Series in 1988 over the Oakland As.

The Navajoa, Mexico, native is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. His No. 34 has also been retired by the Mexican Baseball League.

Last year, the City of LA issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 11 as “Fernando Valenzuela Day.” The six-time All-Star’s No. 34 jersey was retired by the team that same year.

After leaving the Dodgers following the 1990 season, the left-hander with the high leg kick pitched for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

The National League West champion Dodgers open postseason play Saturday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. They will host either the Braves or Padres, who lead that series 1-0.

Valenzuela, 63, left the broadcast booth during the series between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Sept. 24. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that he was not expected to return to broadcast playoff games for the team, which are scheduled to start on Saturday.

NBCLA reached out to the Dodgers, who declined to comment on the report.

Los Angeles Dodgers Aug 11, 2023

‘Fernandomania' lives again at Dodger Stadium with retirement of Valenzuela's jersey

Dodgers Aug 11, 2023

Happy Fernando Valenzuela Day! LA names day after legendary Dodgers pitcher

Although he appeared in a few games in 1980, Valenzuela burst onto the national scene in 1981 when he won his first eight games, five by shutout, and became the only player to win the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award in the same season. He drew thousands of Mexican-American fans to Dodgers Stadium and stadiums throughout the country, sparking a craze know as Fernandomania.

The Dodgers won the World Series over the New York Yankees in six games, and Valenzuela was also on the Dodgers team that won the World Series in 1988 over the Oakland As.

He finished his career with a 173-153 record and a 3.54 ERA. He pitched in 453 games and made 424 starts.

His No. 34 is one of 12 retired by the Dodgers. He was celebrated during a three-day “Fernandomania” weekend in August 2023. He was also inducted into the Dodgers Ring of Honor, the 14th member of the group.

Ohtani finished the regular season leading the NL in homers (54) and RBIs (130). His .310 average trailed San Diego’s Luis Arráez (.314) in the batting race.

The charter member of the 50-50 club, Ohtani swiped his 59th base during the eighth-inning rally.

FIFTY-NINE stolen bases for Shohei Ohtani!

He's been successful in 36 consecutive attempts. pic.twitter.com/J6yPkiDVyr

— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2024

The last NL Triple Crown winner was St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joe Medwick in 1937. In the AL, Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012.

Chris Taylor tied the game in the eighth with his first homer since July 7.

CTied up! pic.twitter.com/Ph0B34EEYz

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2024

Soon after Austin Barnes swiped third as part of a double steal with Ohtani, Rockies reliever Seth Halvorsen appeared to get his cleat caught in the dirt in his delivery and stopped. He was called for a balk to bring home Barnes.

Balk on home, Barnesy. pic.twitter.com/krrnZVT8Bs

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2024

Evan Phillips (5-1) earned the win and Edgardo Henriquez closed out the ninth for his first career save, among 14 Dodgers with saves this season.

The Dodgers wound up a major league-best 98-64, breaking a string of four straight full seasons with 100 or more wins (they went 43-17 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season). The NL West champions open the Division Series on Saturday and have home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Sam Hilliard launched a 476-foot shot into the right field third deck to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the second, the fourth-longest in the major leagues this season.

THIRD DECK, 476 FEET!

An absolute BLAST off the bat of Sam Hilliard 🤯 pic.twitter.com/X8GRsWlS0X

— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2024

Starter Ryan Feltner scattered two hits over six strong innings in a no-decision. Reliever Victor Vodnik (5-4) took the loss.

It was an emotion-filled afternoon for Blackmon, who went 1 or 2 in his 14th and final season — all with the Rockies. He was lifted for a pinch-runner after his single in the third.

Blackmon was honored in a pregame ceremony and trotted out to center field all alone to soak in the applause. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in triples and second behind Hall of Famer Todd Helton in games played and runs scored.

Colorado (61-101) has back-to-back 100-loss seasons. The team went 59-103 last season. The Rockies saw 2,540,195 fans attend games at Coors Field this season. Last year, the attendance at the hitter friendly ballpark was 2,607,935.

Before the game, Rockies manager Bud Black sidestepped the topic of his expiring contract.

“I’m not talking about me. You know that,” Black playfully said. “Thank you for not asking.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: 1B Freddie Freeman continues to receive treatment on his sore right ankle. “I saw video of him walking. He’s ginger when he’s walking,” manager Dave Roberts said. Roberts is optimistic of a return for Freeman and SS Miguel Rojas (torn adductor) to start the playoffs.

UP NEXT:

Dodgers: A few days off before the NLDS begins Saturday.

Rockies: Open spring training at Arizona on Feb. 21.

Ohtani went 2 for 5 and closed within four points of Arraez, who got a night off from San Diego and is hitting .314 going into the regular season’s final day.

Ohtani leads the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs. The last NL Triple Crown winner was Joe Medwick of the 1937 St. Louis Cardinals. The last to achieve the feat in the major leagues was Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in 2012.

In addition, Ohtani stole his 58th base of a season in which he became the first 50-50 player.

Teoscar Hernández and Kike Hernández each hit three-run homers for Los Angeles, which has scored at least 11 runs in consecutive games for the first time since July 21-22 last year at Texas. Teoscar Hernández has 99 RBIs.

Teoscar Hernández sets a new career high with his 33rd home run of the season! 💪 pic.twitter.com/YZ9Rtg55Te

— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2024

Yoshinobu Yamamato (7-2) allowed two runs and four hits over five innings while striking out six, earning his first win since beating the Rockies on June 1. Yamamoto was making his fourth start after missing three months with a strained rotator cuff.

The Dodgers (97-64) clinched the majors’ best record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason when Philadelphia lost at Washington earlier Saturday.

Ohtani singled in the first, grounded out in the second, walked and scored in the fifth and singled in the fifth. He flied out in the seventh and grounded out in the ninth.

Kike Hernández, who finished with three hits, hit a 430-foot homer to center in the second inning off of Antonio Senzatela (0-1) for a 4-1 lead. Teoscar Hernández’s career-high 33rd homer in the fifth made it 8-2.

Ezequiel Tovar hit his team-leading 26th home for Colorado (61-100), which reached the century mark in losses for the second straight season.

Charlie Blackmon, who will retire Sunday after 14 years in the majors, all with the Rockies, was 1 for 4 and scored a run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said 1B Freddie Freeman felt “much better.” Freeman sprained his right ankle in the seventh inning of the NL West Division clincher against San Diego on Thursday night.

Rockies: OF Brenton Doyle was out of the lineup due to right knee tendinitis.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (2-5, 3.74) starts against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (3-10, 4.66) in Sunday’s regular-season finale.

Sure, superstars and former MVPs like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman will be expected to carry the bulk of the load, but as we’ve seen time and time again, it’s the unsung heroes that tip the scales.

Ohtani, the runaway favorite for National League MVP this season, and the one and only member of the prestigious 50-50 club in baseball history, will need to perform at his best in his first taste of the postseason in his seven-year career.

Behind him, Betts and Freeman will have to step up and shake off their paltry performances from last year. The dynamic duo at the top of the Dodgers lineup were a combined 1-for-21 in the 2023 NLDS, a three-game sweep by the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks

On the starting pitching front, the Dodgers will need someone to take the mound and pitch like an ace. Despite the staff depleted by injuries, someone will have to take the ball in the playoffs, and they will need to do a better job than three-time Cy Young Award winner and former NL MVP Clayton Kershaw did in Game 1 of the NLDS last season.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers to make a deep run in 2024, they’ll need more than just their marquee names to perform. Without further ado, here are three players that can be potential x-factors for the Boys in Blue this October:

Tommy Edman: The Swiss Army Knife

Tommy Edman’s journey to the Dodgers has been nothing short of intriguing. Acquired in a midseason trade, the versatile center fielder and shortstop has quickly made his presence felt both offensively and defensively. His .780 OPS since joining the club in August is respectable, but it’s his versatility that makes him so valuable.

Edman’s ability to switch-hit allows manager Dave Roberts to shuffle the lineup based on matchups, and his defensive prowess—whether patrolling center field or filling in at shortstop—makes him indispensable. He’s a Gold Glove-caliber defender and a threat on the basepaths, going 6-for-6 in stolen bases for the Dodgers.

But the real reason Edman could be the Dodgers’ postseason x-factor? He thrives in moments where flexibility is key. Whether it’s coming up with a clutch hit, a critical defensive stop, or swiping a base in a tight game, Edman has the tools to make a game-changing impact. If Edman’s name comes up in October, don’t be surprised—it’s his kind of postseason that legends are made of.

Gavin Lux: The Redemption Story

Gavin Lux’s path has been anything but smooth. After missing last year’s postseason due to a torn ACL, Lux spent the first half of 2024 struggling at the plate, hitting just .213 with minimal power.

However, the second half has seen a resurgence. Since the All-Star break, Lux has batted an impressive .294 with 7 home runs and 25 RBIs, showing flashes of the player many believed he could become.

Lux’s postseason experience, while inconsistent, could serve him well this year. He’s been part of playoff teams before, but this version of Lux—the one who’s battled back from injury and midseason struggles—has something to prove. His left-handed bat deepens the Dodgers’ lineup and, if he can carry his second-half surge into October, Lux could provide the spark they desperately need in the back half of the lineup.

The Dodgers will need the best version of Lux if they want to win it all, and if he plays like he did in July and August, he may just be the difference-maker in the middle of their lineup. This postseason could be Lux’s chance at redemption.

Walker Buehler: The Big-Game Wild Card

Walker Buehler being listed as an X-factor for the Dodgers almost feels wrong, considering his history of postseason heroics.

However, his journey back to the mound after a second Tommy John surgery has been anything but routine. Buehler’s 2024 season has been a struggle, posting a 5.63 ERA and a 1-6 record in 15 games. He wasn’t supposed to be a key part of the Dodgers’ playoff rotation, but injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, and potentially Clayton Kershaw have forced the Dodgers to reconsider.

Now, Buehler is thrust into the spotlight, expected to be the team’s third starter in the playoffs.

While his regular-season numbers don’t inspire confidence, his reputation as a big-game pitcher can’t be ignored. Buehler lives for October, and if there’s anyone who can rise above a difficult season and deliver on the biggest stage, it’s him.

If Buehler can find his groove when it matters most, the Dodgers’ rotation could transform from a question mark into a strength. His ability to flip the script in the postseason might just be the key to their success.

Tommy Edman’s versatility, Gavin Lux’s redemption arc, and Walker Buehler’s potential to reclaim his big-game form could be the pieces that push the Dodgers over the edge this October. While the spotlight will undoubtedly shine on the stars, it’s these three who might just determine how far the Dodgers go this postseason.

The Dodgers designated hitter finished 4 of 5, which also included a pair of singles and a double, and drove in four runs. He now has 24 hits over his last 34 at-bats.

Ohtani is making a serious charge at a Triple Crown, leading the NL in homers (54) and RBIs (130). He raised his average to .309 to trail only Luis Arráez (.312 entering Friday) in the batting title race.

With his swipe of second base in the second inning, Ohtani passed Ichiro Suzuki for the most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player. Ohtani was wearing spikes featuring a picture of his dog, Decoy.

FIFTY-SEVEN STOLEN BASES!

Shohei Ohtani sets the single-season record by a Japanese-born player, surpassing Ichiro's 56. pic.twitter.com/W6vLy56Oh8

— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2024

Ohtani’s three-run blast in the sixth inning landed in the second deck at Coors Field. It was a no-doubter at the crack of the bat, with the sellout crowd instantly erupting, an early show before the fireworks display that awaited after the game.

GUESS WHO…

SHOHEI HAS NO. 54. pic.twitter.com/IqEieFa1jV

— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2024

His 408 total bases this season are second-most in franchise history. Babe Herman set the record of 416 in 1930.

Teoscar Hernández got things started for Los Angeles with a two-run homer in the first.

A moonshot from Teoscar! pic.twitter.com/3j6p2qYOwc

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 28, 2024

Andy Pages also homered for the Dodgers, who arrived in town fresh off clinching their third straight division title Thursday. The Dodgers moved two games up on the Philadelphia Phillies for the top seed in the NL.

¿Par de juegos consecutivos con cuadrangular? Andy sigue con el bate encendido. pic.twitter.com/4xZ9LWZmm5

— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) September 28, 2024

Ben Casparius (2-0) picked up the win for Los Angeles, going 4 1/3 innings, in a game where the Dodgers started reliever Ryan Brasier.

Cal Quantrill (8-11) struggled against the Dodgers’ potent lineup, allowing six runs and two homers over 3 1/3 innings.

The Rockies have now dropped 99 games this season. At 61-99, they need to win their final two games to avoid back-to-back 100-loss seasons.

It was a fortunate coincidence the second-base bag needed to be replaced as Charlie Blackmon stepped up to the plate in the first inning. The switch allowed his walk-up song “Your Love” by The Outfield to play a little bit longer. The designated hitter/outfielder known for his bushy beard announced Monday he’s retiring after 14 seasons — all with the Rockies.

The organization will honor him before Sunday’s season finale. Blackmon had a single and two walks Friday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: 1B Freddie Freeman didn’t make the trip to Colorado so he could rest a sore ankle. Freeman was on crutches and in a walking boot after leaving Thursday’s game. The Dodgers also left SS Miguel Rojas at home due to a torn adductor.

UP NEXT

The Dodgers will send righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.96 ERA) to the mound Saturday night. The Rockies counter with righty Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 3.38).

Will Smith hit the game-tying home run, Shohei Ohtani singled in the go-ahead run, and Mookie Betts delivered a two-run single as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to come from behind to beat the San Diego Padres 7-2 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.

The victory clinched the 2024 National League West division title for the Dodgers, their 11th title in the last 12 years, and 23rd division crown overall.

After losing five straight to San Diego entering the series this season, the Dodgers took the final two games of the series to win the division crown.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” manager Dave Roberts said. “They fought and fought and fought and overcame adversity.”

The Dodgers couldn’t muster much offense off Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove through six scoreless innings.

However, San Diego sent Musgrove back out to the mound for the bottom of the seventh and that’s when the Dodgers finally got to him.

Max Muncy led off the inning with a walk, and Smith followed with a home run to straightaway center that tied the game at 2-2.

Will Smith ties it up with one swing, his 20th HR of the year 💪 pic.twitter.com/3YE4YcNHk6

— MLB (@MLB) September 27, 2024

“It got everyone going,” said Smith of his game-tying homer.

Musgrove is 0-7 in his career against the Dodgers and will have to wait until next season to end that drought.

“Musgrove threw a heck of a ballgame,” Roberts said. “You got to tip your hat right there.”

Kiké Hernandez hit a pinch-hit single and Andy pages reached on a catcher’s interference call, setting the stage for more Shohei heroics.

Ohtani scored the go-ahead run on a single to right field that gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

The @Dodgers are on top thanks to who else?

Shohei Ohtani! 😤 pic.twitter.com/Ltnbco6I5a

— MLB (@MLB) September 27, 2024

“I’m really happy,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “Today I came to the stadium really wanting to clinch.”

Betts broke the game open with a two-run single that gave the Dodgers a five-run inning and allowed the postgame champagne celebrations to continue as scheduled.

Mookie plates 2️⃣ more!

The @Dodgers can clinch the NL West with a win tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/7B3g5OjRK0

— MLB (@MLB) September 27, 2024

Andy Pages belted a two-run home run for some extra insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Walker Buehler pitched brilliantly, allowing just one run with five hits in five innings. Despite a rocky season, following his second Tommy John procedure, Buehler will be needed in the postseason for the Dodgers and appears to be hitting his stride at the right time.

One cause of concern for the Dodgers, was first baseman Freddie Freeman left the game with a right ankle injury trying to hustle down the first-base line in the seventh inning.

With the NL West division now sealed, and a first-round bye guaranteed. The Dodgers will look to sew up the best record in the NL and the number one overall seed as they head to Colorado for the final series of the regular season.

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The Dodgers increased their lead over the second-place Padres to three games with four to play and reduced their magic number to two. Los Angeles needs a win in Thursday’s series finale to earn its 11th division title in 12 years. The Dodgers have already clinched a postseason berth.

The Padres’ five-game winning streak ended a night after they celebrated making the postseason with a game-ending triple play on their biggest rival’s field.

Ohtani’s two-strike, two-out single to center off Adrián Morejón scored Will Smith, who drew a leadoff walk, and made it 4-3. Ohtani stole second, but Mookie Betts followed with a popup to end the inning. Betts popped up to every infield position.

Shohei Ohtani with another go-ahead hit!

In other news, grass is green. pic.twitter.com/tToHfaYY1M

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024

With two outs in the ninth, Michael Kopech walked Jake Cronenworth to put the tying run aboard. Brandon Lockridge ran for Cronenworth and stole second. Donovan Solano struck out swinging on a 101 mph fastball from Kopech to end the game and keep fans on their feet cheering. Kopech earned his 15th save.

Alex Vesia (5-4) got the win with one hitless inning of relief.

Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, retiring Fernando Tatis Jr. on a flyout and getting Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado on called third strikes.

A 448-foot shot from Tatis — longest by a Padres player this season — tied the game at 3-3 with two outs in the fifth. It was his seventh homer in his last 13 games.

114.4 MPH, 448 feet

Fernando Tatis Jr. got every stitch of this baseball 😯 pic.twitter.com/FptwEBFKFW

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024

The Dodgers scored the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the fourth. Gavin Lux had an RBI single and Ohtani’s double hit the Padres bullpen gate in right as the sellout crowd of 52,310 chanted “MVP! MVP!”

Shohei Ohtani rockets a 116.8 MPH double off the wall to give the @Dodgers the lead! pic.twitter.com/8KpCZqNe9F

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024

Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada (6-3) took the loss.

Xander Bogaerts had an RBI single and Cronenworth followed with an RBI groundout to second for a 2-1 lead in the second.

Teoscar Hernández’s two-strike, two-out RBI single scored Ohtani, who walked and took second on Padres starter Dylan Cease’s wild pitch in the first.

Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty gave up three runs and four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.

Cease allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: SS Miguel Rojas left the game with left groin tightness.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Joe Musgrove (6-5, 3.95 ERA) has thrown six scoreless innings in three of his four outings this month.

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.63) is still looking for his second win in his final start of the regular season.

Jake Cronenworth hit an early two-run homer for the streaking Padres, assured at least a National League wild card with five games left in the regular season. They moved within two games of Los Angeles, with two games remaining in their critical series at Dodger Stadium.

After the Dodgers scored once in the ninth inning, they had runners at first and second when Miguel Rojas hit a sharp grounder to Machado at third base. He stepped on the bag and went around the horn for a triple play that ended it.

GAME-ENDING TRIPLE PLAY TO CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH pic.twitter.com/w2VmNQKWHw

— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2024

San Diego’s celebration was delayed when the Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, but the ruling was upheld following a replay review.

The second-place Padres have won four in a row and nine of 10. San Diego owns the tiebreaker against Los Angeles with an 8-3 record in head-to-head matchups.

The Dodgers’ magic number remained four to clinch the division title.

San Diego’s four runs came with two outs in front of 50,369 fans who created a playoff atmosphere for the opener of the huge three-game series. They chanted “MVP! MVP!” at Shohei Ohtani while mercilessly booing Fernando Tatis Jr. and Machado, a former Dodger.

Cronenworth had no RBIs in September until producing three against the Padres’ biggest rivals, including his 12th career homer against the Dodgers. He had been without an extra-base hit in his previous 50 at-bats.

Jake Cronenworth puts the @Padres in front! pic.twitter.com/3N0oN6RRja

— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2024

Padres starter Michael King (13-9) allowed one unearned run and three hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked two.

San Diego extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth on Xander Bogaerts’ RBI single and Cronenworth’s RBI double.

The Dodgers got on the board in the first on Bogaerts’ throwing error at shortstop that scored Ohtani, who led off with a ground-rule double on the first pitch he saw. It was his 95th extra-base hit of the season, a franchise record.

Mookie Betts was safe at first when Bogaerts’ throw on a routine grounder went into the Padres’ dugout, allowing Betts to take second.

Rookie starter Landon Knack (3-5) gave up four runs and five hits in four innings for Los Angeles. He struck out four and walked one.

The right-hander unraveled in the fourth, when he needed 39 pitches after throwing just 38 through the first three innings. Knack had a balk and a wild pitch, and the Padres stole a base in the inning.

The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the second when Betts struck out swinging.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Transferred RHP Gavin Stone (right shoulder) to the 60-day IL. … LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) threw a bullpen and is on track to return in the next couple of days. … LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) won’t face hitters this week.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Dylan Cease (14-11, 3.42 ERA) makes his final start before the postseason.

Dodgers: RHP Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.10) is limiting opposing hitters to a .233 average.

Ohtani had four hits and added two stolen bases, giving him 53 home runs and 55 steals on the season.

SHOHEI OHTANI HOME RUN TO TIE IT IN THE 9TH!

NO. 53! pic.twitter.com/M1aqPFW8uv

— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024

Three pitches after Ohtani tied the game against Rockies right-hander Seth Halvorsen, Betts homered to left, his 19th.

Mookie Betts' first career @Dodgers #walkoff home run will be one to remember 💥 pic.twitter.com/bptgB4LHga

— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024

The Dodgers were three outs away from falling to two games ahead of the San Diego Padres with a key three-game series between the teams starting Tuesday.

Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is trying to solidify a spot in the Dodgers’ playoff rotation, struggled from the outset, giving up four runs on five hits over three innings with three walks.

Yamamoto, who recently returned from a three-month stint on the injured list, is the likely No. 2 starter in the upcoming playoffs for Los Angeles.

Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández also hit home runs for the Dodgers, while five Los Angeles pitchers combined for a season-high 17 strikeouts. Blake Treinen (7-3) struck out the side in the ninth inning.

Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela gave up one run over five innings in his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Brendan Rodgers and Nolan Jones each drove in two runs for the Rockies, who need three wins over their last six games to avoid a second consecutive 100-loss season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy was out of the starting lineup with soreness on his side after diving to make a play on defense Saturday and was replaced by Kiké Hernández.

UP NEXT

Rockies: After an off day Monday, RHP Ryan Feltner (3-10, 4.73 ERA) is in line to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday to open the final homestand of the season.

Dodgers: After an off day Monday, RHP Landon Knack (3-4, 3.39 ERA) is in line to face the San Diego Padres to open the final home series of the regular season.

The loss by the 92-win Dodgers assured that for the first time since 2014 no team in the major leagues will win 100 games, not including the 60-game, pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Dodgers’ division lead dropped to three games over second-place San Diego, which beat the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles managed just one hit after the fifth.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stole his 53rd base in the ninth.

Stolen base No. 53 for Shohei Ohtani! pic.twitter.com/Esfsviwcvz

— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024

The newly crowned 50-50 king remained at 52 homers. He singled, walked, scored and struck out on his final giveaway night of the season. The first 40,000 fans in the sellout crowd of 52,267 received an Ohtani T-shirt. Earlier, his two bobblehead promotions snarled traffic and created long lines.

The Dodgers loaded the bases against Seth Halvorsen with two outs in the ninth. Ohtani singled and Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman walked before Max Muncy went down swinging. Halvorsen earned his first save.

McMahon homered on the first pitch by Walker Buehler (1-6), giving the Rockies third baseman his fifth consecutive 20-homer season.

RyMac's 20th Jack 💪 pic.twitter.com/iP24COEOGx

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 22, 2024

Four of the Rockies’ six runs came on two-out, two-strike hits, including Charlie Blackmon’s two-run homer in the ninth off Daniel Hudson.

🫡 @Chuck_Nazty does it again! pic.twitter.com/berA9nVEU0

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 22, 2024

Fans booed Rockies reliever Luis Peralta (5-3) for hitting Ohtani on his right elbow with a pitch in the sixth. Ohtani isn’t pitching this season as he rehabilitates from the elbow surgery he had in September 2023.

Colorado led 3-0 on Michael Toglia’s fielder’s choice grounder to Buehler in the first. Buehler’s throw to the plate was too high, allowing Blackmon to score after he doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Ezequiel Tovar doubled down the left-field line for two runs with two outs in the second.

The Dodgers pulled to 3-2 on Mookie Betts’ two-run homer in the third that scored Ohtani, who walked. They tied it at 3 on Hunter Feduccia’s RBI single with two outs in the fourth.

That Mookie swing. 😍 pic.twitter.com/RLtrxfGmwL

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 22, 2024

Buehler gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out a season-high nine and walked one.

Rockies starter Cal Quantrill allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: CF Brenton Doyle (left knee tendinitis) was scratched for the second straight day.

Dodgers: LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) could return as soon as he’s eligible, which is Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 6.00 ERA) makes his second start Sunday since returning from a 16-month rehab after Tommy John surgery.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.63) makes his third start since coming off the injured list.

The win reduced the NL West-leading Dodgers’ magic number to four to clinch the division. Los Angeles is already assured of a postseason berth.

Ohtani’s 52nd homer and 52nd stolen base allowed him to break the previous mark of 13 games with at least one of each set by Rickey Henderson in 1986 with the New York Yankees.

“He’s lights out clearly,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he’s ramped up his focus.”

Teoscar Hernández hit a go-ahead homer — his 30th — leading off the sixth inning that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. He and Ohtani have homered in the same game 11 times.

SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

“It’s great being a teammate with Shohei, especially because of the things he’s been doing this year,” Hernández said.

The Dodgers tacked on two runs in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Tommy Edman scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly. Ohtani legged out an infield single to first base and then stole second. He was safe at third on a throwing error by center fielder Sam Hilliard and scored on Hernández’s infield single.

Ohtani had a go-ahead homer with two outs in the fifth after Andy Pages led off the inning with a solo shot. It was Ohtani’s 27th homer at Dodger Stadium, tying Cody Bellinger for the most at home in a single season.

SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

“To be able to cover that ball at the top of the zone, above the zone, go to the big part of the field, it’s pretty spectacular,” Roberts said.

Ohtani singled in the third and finished with his 11th three-hit performance of the season.

SHOHEI OHTANI
HOME RUN NO. 52
FOR THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kIfpUGO8iA

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024

He gave the crowd of 49,073 some thrills after the home fans had to watch long distance Thursday night when he became the first player in major league history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season at Miami.

The Rockies got home runs by Charlie Blackmon, Hilliard and Michael Toglia.

Alex Vesia (4-4) got the victory with one inning of relief. Michael Kopech pitched the ninth for his 14th save.

Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone for the fourth time this season.

Ryan Brasier pitched the first inning to open the bullpen game for the Dodgers.

Let it fly, Andy. pic.twitter.com/Ew7hfPpCgu

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 21, 2024

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Tyler Kinley went on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and hopes to face hitters next week. … RHP Anthony Banda (hand) will throw a bullpen this weekend.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill (8-10, 4.68 ERA) makes his second start Saturday since coming off the IL. He’s 1-5 in his career against LA.

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (1-5, 5.54) is looking for just his second win of the season. He got hit hard by the Rockies on June 18, giving up seven hits, seven runs and two homers.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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On a crisp September evening at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Ohtani blasted his 50th home run of the season, an absolute rocket into left field that sent the opposing crowd into an absolute frenzy.

In doing so, Ohtani officially became the first player in MLB history to join the exclusive, and unheard-of 50-50 club-50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT

50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES

HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

“I’m glad the team won,” said Ohtani to SportsNetLA after the game. “This was something I wanted to get over with as quickly as possible. It’s something I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”

To put the historic accomplishment in perspective, when Ohtani hit his 43^rd home run and recorded his 43^rd stolen base of the 2024 season, he became the only player in MLB history to accomplish these feats. Reaching 50-50 only extends his record, putting him in a class all his own.

As if that weren’t enough, Ohtani’s milestone home run also made him the Dodgers’ all-time single-season home run leader, surpassing the 49 Shawn Green hit in 2001.

HISTORY!

SHOHEI OHTANI IS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE 50/50 CLUB. pic.twitter.com/F1T5D4n6QD

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024

The opposing team’s crowd, fully aware of the magnitude of what they had just witnessed, erupted in chants of “MVP!” Ohtani came out of the dugout for a curtain call on the road in an opposing team’s stadium.

5-FOR-5
TWO HOME RUNS
SEVEN RUNS BATTED IN
TWO STOLEN BASES
FIRST CAREER 5-HIT GAME

WHAT A GAME FOR SHOHEI OHTANI TO INVENT THE 50-50 CLUB! pic.twitter.com/hHapLaKZE8

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

In true Ohtani fashion, he became the sole member of the 50-50 club, by recording one of the single greatest offensive games in MLB history. When all was said and done, Ohtani went 6-for-6 with three home runs, two doubles, two stolen bases, four runs scored, and 10 RBI, also a Dodgers record for a single game.

6-FOR-6
THREE HOME RUNS
10 RUNS BATTED IN

SHOHEI OHTANI HAVE MERCY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VMJp9OqgjZ

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

“To be honest with you, I’m the one who’s probably the most surprised by this performance,” said Ohtani to SportsNetLA. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad I performed well today.”

It’s a moment baseball fans will never forget. Not only did Ohtani break a franchise record, but he also established himself as arguably the greatest single-season offensive force the game has ever seen.

Stolen base No. 50! pic.twitter.com/bnTj7g8gwF

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024

More importantly, the 20-4 victory by the Dodgers clinched a playoff berth for Los Angeles, the first time in Ohtani’s career that he has ever reached the postseason. Ohtani’s 865 games played were the most among active players in baseball to never reach the playoffs.

“Although I switched uniforms, and came to a new team, my goal was always to reach the playoffs, and I’m glad we were able to make it today,” Ohtani told SportsNetLA after being told the Dodgers had clinched a postseason berth for the 12th consecutive season. “I’m glad both personally, and as a team.”

Shohei Ohtani’s season vs. MLB’s greatest of all-time

When you compare Ohtani’s historic 2024 campaign to some of the best single seasons in MLB history, the accomplishment becomes even more staggering.

Take Babe Ruth’s 1920 season for instance, where the Sultan of Swat hit 54 homers with a mind-boggling .847 slugging percentage. Ruth was revolutionizing the game, showing the world a new way to hit and dominate, but even he never touched the type of dual-threat numbers Ohtani has this year.

Honus Wagner’s 1908 season, which was remarkable for its time, saw the Pirates shortstop leading the league in nearly every offensive category. Wagner was dominant in the Dead Ball Era, but imagine if Wagner could not only lead in OBP and slugging but also swipe 50 bags while crushing 50 homers? It’s a feat unimaginable for any other player—except for Ohtani.

Barry Bonds’ 2001 season set a new bar for power, with his record 73 home runs and a jaw-dropping .863 slugging percentage. Yet even the most feared hitter in baseball history couldn’t put the kind of all-around season Ohtani has together.

Bonds wasn’t stealing bases like this, and he certainly wasn’t performing on the mound, the way Ohtani has the last six seasons, either.

Last season, saw the reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves also to the unthinkable: he hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases, becoming the only member in MLB history of the 40-70 club. That only is incredible, but his power numbers are still at least 10 shy of Ohtani’s, and the Dodgers’ superstar can still swipe more bags and hit more homers before the season ends in Denver on September 29^th.

“I’m happy, relieved, and very respectful to everyone who came before me and has played this sport of baseball,” Ohtani told reporters about his historic season and the legends that came before him.

In essence, Ohtani isn’t just setting new records; he’s doing things no one in the long and storied history of Major League Baseball has ever been able to. He’s blending the power of Ruth, the all-around brilliance of Wagner, and the dominance of Bonds, and the speed and power of Acuña into one, singularly unique package.

The greatest offensive season of all time?

Baseball has long been a sport defined by its records. For over a century, names like Ruth, Williams, Mays, and Aaron have echoed through the halls of Cooperstown as the standard-bearers of greatness.

But what Shohei Ohtani has accomplished this season puts him in a class of his own. The 50-50 mark alone is reason to call this the greatest offensive season in history, but when you consider the overall impact he’s had—leading the league in runs, and RBIs, and still managing to dominate on the basepaths—it’s almost unfathomable.

And this doesn’t even take into account his contributions on the mound in previous seasons. Despite appearing solely as the designed hitter for the Dodgers this season, Ohtani’s ability to dominate on both sides of the ball has not been seen in over a century, not since the days of Ruth in the early 1900s.

But even Ruth, with all his larger-than-life status, was never able to put together a season that combined elite power hitting, and speed, in the way Ohtani has. In fact, in addition to all of the records Ohtani has broken in his first season with the Dodgers, the most eye-popping one could be when he inevitably becomes the first designated hitter in MLB history to win the MVP Award. It would be a whopping third trophy for Ohtani, matching only Frank Robinson, as the only other MLB player to win MVPs in both the American and National League.

Ohtani has surpassed what we once thought was possible in a single MLB season. By breaking both a franchise record and setting a never-before-seen 50-50 mark, Ohtani has reshaped what greatness looks like in baseball. There are legendary seasons that stand the test of time—Ruth in 1920, Bonds in 2001, Acuña in 2023—but Ohtani’s 2024 campaign has set a new standard. He’s in a league of his own.

The road to 50/50.

Congratulations Shohei on being the only player in MLB history to join the 50/50 club! pic.twitter.com/KLD7Xj4tqf

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024

As Dodgers’ third baseman Max Muncy put it days before Ohtani’s historical feat, “He’s unbelievable. Every night, I feel like he does something we’ve never seen.”

And that’s really the essence of Shohei Ohtani—every single night, he’s rewriting the history books, giving us something we’ve never seen before, and perhaps will never see again. Ohtani has become not just the greatest player of his generation, but the greatest offensive force in baseball history.

In a world where the impossible seems to have been redefined, Ohtani is showing us all that the ceiling is even higher than we ever imagined. And if his historic 50-50 season is any indication, he’s only just getting started.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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