Potential World Series Matchups

[batmagadanleadoff]

The Athletic ranks all 36 possible 2024 WS matchups. Here's a few:

36. Tigers/Braves

Emcee: Darrell Evans

This would be a 6-versus-5 matchup, and while there’s always some fun in bracket busting, with the Atlanta Braves so depleted and the Detroit Tigers just emerging from a long postseason slumber, it’s hard to generate a lot of buzz for this one.

17. Orioles/Mets

Emcee: Armando Benitez
Previous meeting: 1969 World Series (Mets, 4 games to 1)

It’s been a heart-wrenching year for the Mets, who have lost Jerry Grote, Buddy Harrelson, Ed Kranepool and Jim McAndrew from the miracle team that beat Baltimore in the 1969 World Series. What a scene it would be, cosmically, if the Mets ended up facing the Orioles again now. The Mets took two of three in August, ending both victories with home runs. Neither team has ever hit a walk-off homer in the World Series — and c’mon, Eutaw Street in Baltimore was made for that very purpose.

15. Astros/Mets

Emcee: Nolan Ryan
Previous meeting: 1986 NLCS (Mets, 4 games to 2)

The Astros lost two absolutely bonkers playoff series in their NL days in the ’80s: one in 1980 to the Phillies, and the other to the Mets six years later. They avenged the first loss in 2022, and this would be their chance at the other. Incidentally, you could build quite a rotation with alumni of both teams: Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott, Dwight Gooden, Sid Fernandez, Mike Hampton and Justin Verlander, who would have to make an impact on a Mets/Astros World Series, wouldn’t they? Anyway, lots of star power here, and a great chance for Houston to troll New York by having Hakeem Olajuwon throw out a ceremonial first pitch before Game 7.

7. Guardians/Mets

Emcee: Julio Franco

These teams lost the World Series in consecutive years in the 2010s, and both are long overdue to win it all. But this matchup, of course, would be framed around Francisco Lindor, whose transcendence has fully translated from Cleveland to New York since his trade in Jan. 2021. Andrés Giménez, who went the other way, has won two Gold Gloves at second base since the deal, and he’s under Cleveland control through 2030 at less than half the annual price. A sensible deal for both sides, it seems, with a World Series settling the score for good.

6. Yankees/Mets

Emcee: Darryl Strawberry
Previous meeting: 2000 World Series (Yankees, 4 games to 1)

Gotta admit: ever since Mike Piazza flied out to Bernie Williams to end Game 5 in 2000, I’ve been waiting for more Yankees/Mets World Series games. Their one matchup was spellbinding theater, each game a classic; it just ended too soon. This would be another chance for a seven-game thriller, and if much of America would reflexively groan at an all-New York rematch — well, too bad. Baseball still reigns as New York’s No. 1 sport, and a World Series clash once every couple dozen years isn’t asking too much.

2. Yankees/Padres

Emcee: Dave Winfield
Previous meeting: 1998 World Series (Yankees, 4 games to 0)

It’s not nostalgia for 1998, and it’s not the Juan Soto takes-on-his-old-team angle. It’s not even brown-and-gold versus the hallowed pinstripes (OK, maybe a little). The appeal of this series is simply the promise of exquisite baseball, with superstars in both lineups and rotations. The Padres’ hitters had the fewest strikeouts and the most hits in baseball. The Yankees’ hitters had the most homers and walks. Extremes are fun. This series would be, too.

1. Yankees/Dodgers

Emcee: Willie Randolph

In the 41 World Series from 1941 to 1981, the Yankees and Dodgers met 11 times. In the 41 World Series since, they haven’t met at all. Nobody under 50 has more than a hazy memory of these Tiffany brands sharing the field in October. But, oh, the history — Mickey Owen, Bill Bevens, Cookie Lavagetto, Billy Martin, Jackie Robinson, Sandy Amoros, Johnny Podres, Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax, Reggie Jackson, Brian Doyle, the tri-MVPs … if you know, you know, and if you don’t, you’ll be flooded with nostalgia for the golden days of this rivalry. You can say that you wouldn’t want a revival, that you’d rather see low-budget underdogs humble these swaggering spenders. But admit it: you’d watch. You’d love to see what Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge would do in their first World Series. The best players, the top seeds, Hollywood vs. Broadway. From the South Bay to the Valley, from the West Side to the East Side, these little town blues are melting away. You know you want to be part of it.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/580824 ... b-ranking/

[bmfc1]

I usually like Tyler Kepner but I didn’t agree with him because the best potential WS matchups from 1 to 6 are the Mets vs. anybody and the worst 5 WS matchups are the NYY vs. anybody other than the Mets.

[MFS62]

I usually like Tyler Kepner but I didn’t agree with him because the best potential WS matchups from 1 to 6 are the Mets vs. anybody and the worst 5 WS matchups are the NYY vs. anybody other than the Mets.

^ This.
Later

[metirish]

I would love nothing more than beating the MFY , not sure i could tolerate losing though

MLB would love nothing more than LA V NYY

[whippoorwill]

I want Mets/Guardians. Our house would have a party !!

[Edgy MD]

I would love nothing more than beating the MFY , not sure i could tolerate losing though

MLB would love nothing more than LA V NYY

They get an even further reach with the transcendent Ohtani factor.

Gambling scandal aside, Shoehei is pretty much a crossover artist at this point. It's about time we start seeing rap records and supporting roles in action movies.

If the Dodgers let him throw an inning or two during the post-season, it will be so big that satellites will fall from the sky.

[Benjamin Grimm]

If the Dodgers let him throw an inning or two during the post-season, it will be so big that satellites will fall from the sky.

Well, we certainly don't need that!