Grand slams are fun, aren’t they? The momentum in this 2024 World Series has been dictated by a pair of them. Freddie Freeman’s walk-off in Game 1 set the tone for what would become a 3-0 series lead for the Dodgers, and Anthony Volpe’s Game 4 grand slam helped the Yankees avoid a sweep, but can New York keep riding that wave?
That’ll be the question the Yankees and Gerrit Cole have to answer on Wednesday in Game 5. The New York ace (1-0, 2.82 ERA, 22 1/3 IP, 16 K, 6 BB) was lights-out in Game 1, when he allowed just four hits and one run in six innings. Another stellar night from Cole could help the Yankees send the series back to Los Angeles and put the pressure on the Dodgers. Jack Flaherty (1-2, 6.10 ERA, 20 2/3 IP, 14 K, 8 BB) gets the ball for Los Angeles. He was also solid in Game 1, scattering five hits over 5 1/3 innings and allowing just two runs.
A Dodgers win in Game 5 would deliver an eighth World Series title for the franchise, while a Yankees win — which would come without the two fans who were banned after Game 4’s incident with Mookie Betts — would mean a Game 6 set for Friday in Los Angeles.
How to watch Dodgers vs. Yankees, World Series Game 5 (LAD leads 3-1)
Time: 8:08 p.m. ET
Location: Yankee Stadium | New York
TV Channel: Fox
Streaming: Fox Sports App, Fubo
Live7 updates
An appreciation of the Yankees bullpen
The biggest moment of this series so far was the Yankees bullpen gaffe that led to Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1. That grand slam represents four of the five runs the Yankees bullpen has allowed in the World Series so far.
The Yankees’ losses in Games 2 and 3 consisted of the Dodgers lineup pouncing on starters Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt, then the Yankees bullpen shutting them down and keeping their team in the game. With Gerrit Cole on the mound tonight, the Dodgers offense likely won’t be getting anything easy.
How did Jack Flaherty vs. Gerrit Cole go last time?
Flaherty and Cole were the starters in Game 1, and both pitchers looked the part of Game 1 starters. Cole allowed only one run and four hits in six innings of work while Flaherty allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. They weren’t quite Sandy Koufax or Whitey Ford, but that is basically what their teams wanted with two good bullpens behind them.
The question now is can either pitcher replicate that form five days later, in a much more hitter-friendly stadium. Both are fly ball pitchers and the short fences of Yankee Stadium have been generous over the past two games.
Should the Dodgers be worried after Game 4 loss?
Most Dodgers fans would be lying if they said the Game 4 loss didn’t make them a little nervous, but let’s remember the Dodgers have been punched in the mouth before in these playoffs.
In Game 3 of the NLDS, the Dodgers allowed a six-run inning that would eventually lead to them facing two must-win games. They responded by throwing 24 straight scoreless innings to close out the San Diego Padres.
In Game 5 of the NLCS, the Dodgers were on the verge of advancing when they opted for a bullpen game and ended up getting blown out (sound familiar?). They responded by with a 10-5 win in Game 6 to close out the New York Mets.
The Dodgers could still lose this series. They are still in the better position and have responded well to stumbles in the past.
Vegas likes the Yankees tonight
Updated Yankees-Dodgers Game 5 betting at #BetMGM@Yankees open -145, now -150 ▪️ 37% of bets, 57% of money on Yankees
Total open 8, now 8.5 ▪️ 65% of bets, 82% of money on Over@Dodgers open +1.5 (-165), now +1.5 (-160) ▪️ 26% of bets, 16% of money on Dodgers
The Yankees still have bigger goals in mind, but they can make history just by sending the World Series back to Los Angeles tonight.
24 teams have fallen behind 3-0 in the World Series. 21 of those teams lost in Game 4 and got swept. The other three lost in Game 5. No team has ever forced a Game 6, which the Yankees can do by winning a Gerrit Cole start tonight. This series can still get interesting.
Game 5 starting lineups
Jack Flaherty vs. Gerrit Cole will be tonight’s pitching matchup.
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