It felt like the entire world stopped when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees finally met in the Fall Classic. Honestly, we’d been waiting for this matchup for what felt like forever. Forty-three years, to be exact. The last time these two behemoths squared off for all the marbles was 1981, and the 2024 edition did not disappoint.
If you were looking for a dodgers vs yankees world series 2024 schedule, you probably remember the chaos of those late October nights. It wasn’t just about the games; it was about the sheer gravity of seeing Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge on the same field with a trophy on the line.
The series kicked off on Friday, October 25, at Dodger Stadium. Most people expected a slugfest, but nobody—and I mean nobody—predicted how Game 1 would end.
The Night Freddie Freeman Became a Legend
The schedule was set for a classic 2-3-2 format. Los Angeles held home-field advantage because they finished the regular season with a slightly better record than New York.
Game 1 (October 25): Dodgers 6, Yankees 3 (10 innings)
The energy in LA was electric. The game was a tense, back-and-forth affair that bled into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, with the bases loaded and two outs, Freddie Freeman stepped up. He was playing on a severely sprained ankle that made him look like he was walking on glass. Then, he did it. The first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. It was a "where were you" moment.
Basically, that swing shifted the entire momentum of the series before the Yankees even knew what hit them.
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Game 2 (October 26): Dodgers 4, Yankees 2
Saturday night saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto take the mound. He was brilliant. He held the Yankees to just one hit over six-plus innings. The Dodgers’ bats stayed hot with home runs from Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández, and—surprise, surprise—Freddie Freeman again.
There was a massive scare, though. Shohei Ohtani partially dislocated his shoulder while sliding into second base. For a few hours, the baseball world held its breath.
Moving the Party to the Bronx
After a travel day on Sunday, the series shifted to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees were down 0-2 and desperate. If you were following the dodgers vs yankees world series 2024 schedule, you knew Monday was make-or-break for the Pinstripes.
Game 3 (October 28): Dodgers 4, Yankees 2
Walker Buehler reminded everyone why he’s a big-game pitcher. He tossed five shutout innings. Freeman homered again in the first inning, setting a record by homering in six consecutive World Series games (dating back to his time with the Braves). The Yankees looked flat. The crowd was silenced.
Game 4 (October 29): Yankees 11, Dodgers 4
New York finally showed signs of life on Tuesday. Anthony Volpe hit a massive grand slam that blew the game open. It was the only night the Yankees really looked like the "Bronx Bombers." It prevented the sweep and gave New York fans a glimmer of hope that a historic comeback was possible.
The Meltdown in Game 5
Wednesday night, October 30, is a date Yankees fans would probably like to scrub from their collective memory. It started perfectly for them. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Jack Flaherty. Gerrit Cole was cruising.
Then, the fifth inning happened.
It was a comedy of errors. Aaron Judge dropped a routine fly ball. Anthony Volpe had a throwing error. Gerrit Cole failed to cover first base on a ground ball. The Dodgers scored five unearned runs in a single inning to tie it.
Game 5 (October 30): Dodgers 7, Yankees 6
The Dodgers eventually took the lead in the eighth on sacrifice flies by Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts. Walker Buehler, pitching on short rest as a reliever, came in to shut the door in the ninth.
The Dodgers celebrated on the Yankees' mound.
2024 World Series Results at a Glance
- Game 1: Dodgers win 6-3 (LA)
- Game 2: Dodgers win 4-2 (LA)
- Game 3: Dodgers win 4-2 (NY)
- Game 4: Yankees win 11-4 (NY)
- Game 5: Dodgers win 7-6 (NY)
Why This Series Felt Different
The viewership numbers were insane. We’re talking about an average of 15.8 million viewers in the U.S. alone. In Japan, thanks to the "Ohtani effect," Game 2 drew over 15 million viewers—more than most primetime shows get in America.
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People think the Dodgers just "bought" a championship, but look at the details. Freeman was playing through an injury that would have sidelined most people for a month. Max Muncy and Will Smith struggled for long stretches, yet the bottom of the order kept producing.
The Yankees, on the other hand, were their own worst enemy. You can't give a team like the Dodgers three extra outs in an inning and expect to win. It’s just not how October baseball works.
Actionable Takeaways for Baseball Fans
If you're looking back at the 2024 Fall Classic to prepare for future seasons, here’s what actually mattered:
- Defense wins championships: The Yankees' collapse in Game 5 proved that even a 5-run lead isn't safe if you can't field the ball.
- The 2-3-2 format matters: Having the first two games at home allowed the Dodgers to build a lead that the Yankees couldn't overcome emotionally.
- Watch the injury reports: Ohtani’s shoulder and Freeman’s ankle were the biggest storylines. Freeman winning MVP despite his physical state shows how much "grit" still matters in a data-driven era.
To see how the rosters have shifted since this historic meeting, check out the latest MLB transactions and 2026 spring training schedules. The rivalry is far from over, and with both teams staying aggressive in free agency, a rematch is never out of the question.