When the rival Los Angeles Dodgers visit the New York Yankees, it’s always a huge deal. Before the game on Saturday, Derek Jeter, the captain, spoke with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at Yankee Stadium:
During Jeter’s playing career, Roberts was an outfield player for the Dodgers from 2002 until mid-2004, for one of the Yankees’ opposing teams. After that, he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox, where he faced the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. In the World Series that year, he did not play against the Cardinals.
On Saturday, Dodgers supporters packed East 161st Street as they made their way into Yankee Stadium.
There is a tangible energy to this rivalry matchup, demonstrating that when two of baseball’s most recognizable brands meet, the date on the calendar doesn’t matter. However, the fact that both ballclubs rank in the top five in terms of record and anticipation for a championship helps a lot.
They haven’t let up yet, as evidenced by their impressive debut on Friday night, which saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch seven shut-out innings while giving up just two hits. Teoscar Hernandez blasted a two-run double into the outfield in the eleventh inning, which was the Dodgers’ big breakthrough. They prevailed 2-1 and had to have left the Yankees with a bad taste in their mouths. Juan Soto was absent from the game due to forearm pain, but the Bronx Bombers still managed to win despite Pitching well enough.
Soto discussed the injury following Friday’s defeat.
In reference to his MRI findings, Soto remarked, “It was what I was looking for.” I was merely attempting to determine the true cause of my elbow pain. We speculated a little about what it might be like, and thank God, it turned out that way.
The star of the Yankees said, “It’s a relief.” “Now that my elbow is kind of right there, it was a tough spot, but I feel good.”
He answered, “We’ll see for the next couple days how I feel,” in response to the question of when he planned to return. We shall go day by day.
The Yankees have always had the upper hand in this rivalry, which has resulted in some of the greatest moments in MLB history. There’s no doubt that the two franchises can accomplish the same in 2024. Baseball fans may be treated to yet another Yankees vs. Dodger World Series if both players perform as well as they have during the first three-quarters of this season.
The Yankees have won eight of the 11 World Series series in which the two teams have met. The teams have not played since 1981. At 10-9 as of this Saturday, the Yankees have the superior record in interleague play during the regular season.
