 |
| LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians on the 28th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| New York Yankees Aaron Judge runs off against the Los Angeles Angels on the 28th (Korea time) with a hit in the first inning. ImagesYonhap News |
|
It's the best big match of the Major League regular season this year.
The defending champion LA Dodgers and New York Yankees will play three consecutive interleague games at LA Dodger Stadium from the 31st (Korea time). This is the first return match in seven months since the World Series in October last year.
In the 2024 World Series, the Dodgers beat the Yankees 4-1 to win the title for the first time in 36 years since 1988 based on a 162-game season. For the Yankees, it is a stage of revenge that will pay back the humiliation of the runner-up.
The point of view is that this three consecutive games are a showdown between 'Star Corps'. This is because there are three MVPs in each of the two teams' lineup. The Dodgers will lead the lineup with last year's NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts (2018 AL), and Freddie Freeman (2020 NL) as the first, second and third batters.
The Yankees will face off against Cody Bellinger (2019 NL) and Paul Goldschmidt (2022 NL), including last year's AL MVP jersey. According to statistics company Elias Sports Bureau, it is the first time in Major League history that two teams with three MVPs will play. As many as six MVPs will play in one game.
Above all, interest is bound to be high in that Ohtani and Judge, the best superstars in existence, will compete with each other as defending MVP of both leagues.
 |
| LA Dodgers Freddie Freeman. AFP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| New York Yankees Cody Bellinger. ImagesYonhap News |
|
As of the 30th, Ohtani ranks first in both leagues with 20 home runs and 59 points. With a batting average of 0.292, OPS of 1.042, 11 steals, and 37 walks, he is showing as much pace as last year. In particular, he has been playing the best in both leagues in May. He has 13 home runs, 25 RBIs, 27 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.147 in 25 games. It ranks first in monthly home runs, runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. virtually confirmed NL 'Player of May'
Judge had a hotter first two months of the season than Ohtani. Until recently, he flew a batting average of .40. The two leagues are ranked first in batting average (0.391), hits (81), on-base percentage (0.488), slugging percentage (0.739), OPS (1.227), and bWAR (4.2).
Freeman and Bellinger also have a good batting sense. Freeman, who won last year's World Series MVP, is ranked first in NL in batting average (0.359) and OPS (1.044) this year. Bellinger, who won the Rookie of the Year (2017) and MVP in the Dodgers, recovered from his slump in April this season and recovered his condition with a batting average of 0.318, five homers, 16 RBIs and an OPS of 0.952 in May. Goldschmidt, who protects the Yankees' first base, is maintaining his peak hitting sense with a batting average of 0.347 and an OPS of 0.899.
 |
| LA Dodgers Mookie Betts. AP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| New York Yankees Paul Goldschmidt. AFP Yonhap News |
|
Although it is less weighty than the batters, it is worth seeing the starting showdown. In the first game, Dodgers Tony Gonsolin and Yankees Max Fried will clash. Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million FA contract last winter and wore a Yankees uniform, is emerging as the No. 1 candidate for the AL Cy Young Award with seven wins and a 1.29 ERA in 11 games.
In the second game, the Dodgers will start Landon Neck and the Yankees will start Will Warren. In Game 3, the Dodgers have not yet confirmed ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yankees, but left-hander Ryan Yarbrough is likely. Yamamoto has shown stable game management with 20 walks and 75 strikeouts, ranking first in the NL ERA (1.97).
In the three consecutive games held at Yankee Stadium last year, the Dodgers decorated it with a winning series of 2-1 games. However, Ohtani was not explosive at the time, with two hits, one RBI, and four runs in 13 at-bats in three games. It's tied up thoroughly. On the other hand, Judge hit seven hits and five RBIs in 11 times at bat, including three home runs. Individual and team performances were different.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
