The World Series features a showdown between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, projected to require six or seven games. While experts largely favor the Dodgers, sportscaster Denis Casavant supports the Yankees, citing concerns about the Dodgers’ lack of starting pitcher depth. He suggests Juan Soto as a potential MVP due to his playoff performance, while others lean towards Mookie Betts. With both teams facing each other for the first time since 1981, anticipation is high for this thrilling matchup.
Baseball fans have much to look forward to as the World Series begins this Friday night, featuring a showdown between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Experts predict this championship series will extend to six or seven thrilling games.
While many analysts favor the Dodgers, sports commentator Denis Casavant from TVA Sports stands out for his support of the Yankees, a sentiment echoed by this author.
“There’s always a 50/50 chance we could be wrong,” Casavant humorously remarks, yet he confidently shares his prediction.
Casavant points out that the Dodgers face challenges due to a lack of depth in their starting pitching. He commends manager Dave Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior for their effective use of relievers throughout the playoffs, but warns that this strategy might falter against a formidable Yankees lineup.
Look for Juan Soto to Shine!
Diving deeper into his analysis, Casavant highlights that the Dodgers currently have only one left-handed reliever, Anthony Banda. This factor leads him to predict that left-handed hitter Juan Soto could emerge as the MVP of the series.
“Soto has already hit 10 home runs across 38 playoff games,” he points out. Additionally, Soto launched three home runs during the 2019 World Series when he played for the Washington Nationals. “He thrives under pressure. I believe he could truly excel, especially as he heads toward free agency and aims for a lucrative contract.”
Casavant’s compelling argument even swayed my initial MVP pick from Aaron Judge to Soto. If Denis believes it, there might just be some truth to it!
Mookie Betts as a Popular Choice
Among the experts predicting a Dodgers victory, Karl Gélinas, Sylvain Rondeau, and Jean-Nicolas Blanchet have selected Mookie Betts as their MVP. Rodger Brulotte weighed his options between two Hernandezes—Teoscar and Kiké—before ultimately choosing Kiké. Interestingly, none favored Shohei Ohtani in the MVP discussion.
“This is the matchup everyone has been waiting for,” Casavant concludes. It’s hard to believe it has been 43 years since the Yankees faced the Dodgers in the World Series back in 1981. Now, the spotlight is on marquee players like Judge and Ohtani. One thing is for sure: it promises to be an exhilarating spectacle!
On that note, Casavant seems likely to be correct in his assessment.
Experts’ Predictions
Jean-Nicolas Blanchet, Le Journal de Québec
Dodgers in 6
MVP: Mookie Betts
Rodger Brulotte, TVA Sports
Dodgers in 6
MVP: Kiké Hernandez
Denis Casavant, TVA Sports
Yankees in 6
MVP: Juan Soto
Karl Gélinas, TVA Sports
Dodgers in 7
MVP: Mookie Betts
Benoît Rioux, Le Journal de Montréal
Yankees in 7
MVP: Juan Soto
Sylvain Rondeau, TVA Sports and LCN matin columnist
Dodgers in 6
MVP: Mookie Betts