Today is Game 1 of the 116th World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays. Hosted in Arlington, Texas, this World Series will also be the first World Series since 1944 to have every game be played at one location. Now let’s take a closer look at the two teams competing in the 2020 World Series.
(@Dodgers / Twitter) https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1318050707233267713
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season with their 8th straight divisional title and had the best record in the MLB going 43-17. Led by Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw and NLCS MVP Corey Seager. This Dodgers squad is seen as the favourites heading into the World Series. Which is now their third appearance in the last four years after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. The Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox in back to back years in 2017 and 2018. And were eliminated in the NLDS by the Washington Nationals in 2019. Who later went on to win the World Series that year. The Dodgers haven’t won the World Series since 1988.
(@RaysBaseball / Twitter) https://twitter.com/raysbaseball/status/1243896128036315136
The Tampa Bay Rays finished on top of the American League with a 40-20 record. This is the Rays second-ever World Series appearance since joining the MLB in 1998 after nearly blowing a 3-0 series lead in the ALCS against the Houston Astros. Their first appearance was in 2008 in which they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. As mentioned earlier, the Dodgers are the favourites to win the World Series, but the one thing the Rays have been able to do better than any other team this postseason is hit home runs. They lead the league with 25 home runs thanks in large part to rookie Randy Arozarena who won the ALCS MVP and has seven home runs so far this postseason. Those 25 home runs are also 7 more than the Dodgers 18. So if the Rays have any shot, it’s to keep up with the home runs and hope none of their hitters start going on cold streaks.
Game 1 starts tonight at 5:11 pm PST and if you feel confident saying who’s going to win, leave a comment below.