Honestly, looking back at the mlb world series 2024 schedule, it felt like we were waiting for a collision that was decades in the making. The Dodgers. The Yankees. It’s the kind of matchup that makes even casual fans stop scrolling and actually turn on a TV. We hadn't seen these two titans face off in the Fall Classic since 1981, and the anticipation was, frankly, a little suffocating.
People kept talking about the star power. You had Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge on the same field. It was the first time in history that two players with 50-homer seasons met in the World Series. But as the schedule played out from late October into the chilly nights of the Bronx, it wasn't just about the long ball. It was about grit, some truly bizarre defensive meltdowns, and a guy named Freddie Freeman who decided to play like a literal superhero despite having a bum ankle.
Breaking Down the mlb world series 2024 schedule
The whole thing kicked off on October 25. If you were looking for a slow burn, you didn't get it. Most fans were glued to FOX at 8:08 p.m. ET because every single game was slotted for that primetime window. No day baseball here—this was strictly a "lights-on" affair.
Game 1 (Friday, Oct. 25): This was the night at Dodger Stadium that nobody will ever forget. The Yankees were up 3-2 in the 10th inning. Bases loaded. Freddie Freeman steps up and launches the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. Just like that, the Dodgers took the lead 1-0. It felt like the series ended right then, honestly.
Game 2 (Saturday, Oct. 26): Back in LA. The Dodgers kept the momentum, winning 4-2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dealing, and the Yankees’ bats looked cold. The only real scare for LA was Ohtani partially dislocating his shoulder on a slide, which had everyone in a panic for about 24 hours.
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Game 3 (Monday, Oct. 28): The scene shifted to Yankee Stadium. New York was desperate for a win to stay alive, but Walker Buehler turned in a gem. The Dodgers won 4-2 again. Suddenly, it was 3-0, and the "sweep" word started flying around way too early.
Game 4 (Tuesday, Oct. 29): The Yankees finally woke up. Anthony Volpe hit a massive grand slam that basically saved their pride. They blew the doors off with an 11-4 win. For a second, people started wondering if a 3-0 comeback was actually possible.
Game 5 (Wednesday, Oct. 30): The finale. It was supposed to be a blowout for the Yankees, who jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Then the 5th inning happened. A dropped fly ball by Aaron Judge, a missed cover at first by Gerrit Cole—it was a defensive disaster. The Dodgers clawed back, won 7-6, and hoisted the trophy in the Bronx.
Why the Timing Mattered
The mlb world series 2024 schedule was designed to be a sprint, not a marathon. With travel days tucked between Games 2 and 3, and again between Games 5 and 6 (which obviously wasn't needed), the intensity never really dipped.
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Because the Dodgers had the better regular-season record (98 wins to the Yankees' 94), they got the "2-3-2" home-field advantage. That meant starting at Chavez Ravine. If the series had gone to a Game 6 or 7, they would have headed back to California. But the Dodgers decided they liked the look of a celebration on New York soil instead.
The Stats That Defined the Series
If you want to talk about dominance, you have to talk about Freddie Freeman. He didn't just win the Willie Mays World Series MVP; he lived in the record books for a week.
- 12 RBIs: He tied the all-time record for a single World Series.
- 4 Home Runs: He homered in each of the first four games.
- 6 Consecutive Games: If you count his previous World Series with the Braves, he homered in six straight Fall Classic games.
The Yankees, on the other hand, struggled where it mattered most. Aaron Judge had a rough start to the series, and while Giancarlo Stanton kept them afloat with some monster homers, the team’s defensive lapses in Game 5 were the real story. You just can't give a team like the Dodgers six outs in one inning and expect to survive.
The Broadcast and The Hype
FOX handled the English broadcast for the 27th time, while ESPN Radio took care of the audio side. It’s funny because even though the schedule was set in stone, there was a weird clause where the whole thing could have moved up if the LCS rounds ended early. Thankfully, it stayed on the late October track. There’s something about World Series baseball on Halloween eve that just feels right.
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What This Means for 2025 and Beyond
If you're looking at the mlb world series 2024 schedule as a blueprint, it shows that MLB is leaning hard into the "premium" feel. No more afternoon games to appease the purists. They want the big stars under the big lights at 8 p.m. sharp.
For the Dodgers, this was their eighth title. It proved that their "all-in" strategy—spending nearly a billion dollars in the offseason on Ohtani and Yamamoto—actually works. It’s not just about buying talent; it’s about having a roster deep enough to survive injuries to guys like Tyler Glasnow or a hobbled Ohtani.
What to do next:
If you're already missing the action, start by looking at the 2025 Spring Training dates. Most teams report in mid-February. Also, keep an eye on the luxury tax threshold news; after the 2024 season, several big-market teams are looking to recalibrate their spending to match what the Dodgers just pulled off. Check the official MLB app for the preliminary 2025 regular season schedule to see when the next Dodgers-Yankees rematch is slated.