The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers will renew their storied rivalry this weekend at Dodger Stadium in their only regular-season series of 2025, running Friday through Sunday. Following last year’s thrilling World Series, which the Dodgers won in five games, the matchup is generating significant buzz among fans and broadcasters, fueled by the star power of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.
Both teams feature MVP frontrunners, with Judge and Ohtani off to strong starts and favored to claim the 2025 Most Valuable Player awards. The series, a highlight of a season already marked by a surge in MLB attendance and drama surrounding stars like the Mets’ Juan Soto and Pirates’ Paul Skenes, will be nationally televised. Apple TV+ will stream Friday’s opener, Fox will broadcast Saturday’s game, and ESPN will air the finale on Sunday Night Baseball.
The Dodgers, perennial leaders in MLB attendance with an average of 50,231 fans per game, are seeing ticket resale prices for the series start at nearly $100, double the get-in prices for their upcoming home series against the Mets. Last year’s World Series, the most-watched since 2017, continues to drive interest in this matchup.
Aaron Judge returns to Dodger Stadium, where a 2023 collision with the outfield wall injured his toe, derailing a promising season. Now primarily a right fielder after playing center last year, Judge anchors a red-hot Yankees team that has won 16 of its last 20 games, boasting the American League’s second-best record after a roster overhaul following Soto’s departure.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers, tied for the National League’s third-best record, have struggled with a 13-12 May and over $102 million in payroll sidelined by injuries—more than the total payrolls of six MLB teams. Ohtani, while excelling at the plate, is also working toward a return to starting pitching post-All-Star break.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.