Yankees vs. Dodgers 2024 World Series Game 1 Top Player Prop Bets

After nearly a week off following victories in their respective League Championship Series, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are finally ready to begin the 2024 World Series.

It’s the 12th meeting in the Fall Classic between the former subway rivals – the first time they’ve collided since 1981 – and should make for plenty of action at sportsbooks like Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review) for the next 5-9 days.

In addition to the moneylines, totals and run lines being wagered, the collection of marquee players on the two rosters will elevate interest in player props. Here are a few such plays to consider in the Series opener.

All Rise for Sho-Time! Judge & Ohtani Headline Sluggers

There isn’t any argument regarding who the two biggest stars are in the World Series, and it’s no surprise that they are the two biggest home run hitters from the regular season. After all, chicks dig the long ball.

Just about everyone playing the MLB odds during this Series will also be digging the props posted for LA’s Shohei Ohtani and New York’s Aaron Judge. For Game 1, each of them is listed +200 to send a ball into the bleachers.

Home Run Kings Collide

Judge led all of baseball with 58 dingers in 2024, and has since added another couple – both in the ALCS against Cleveland. He’s batting just .161 this October and is a career .203 hitter in the playoffs as he prepares to face Los Angeles starting pitcher Jack Flaherty for the first time.

Ohtani wasn’t far behind Judge with 54 regular season homers, with the baseball that left the yard as No. 50 on his historic 50-50 season, recently selling for close to $4.5 million. He’s batting .286 across 11 games this postseason, his first playoff experience, and has clubbed 3 HR.

There is some history between Ohtani and New York’s Game 1 starter Gerrit Cole, though it has been a little more than two years since they last faced each other. In 21 plate appearances, Ohtani has 4 hits and a walk, with one of the hits a homer. Cole has struck Ohtani out seven times.

If I’m picking who between the sluggers goes deep in Game 1, my money’s on Ohtani because, well, I just don’t put anything past arguably the greatest talent to ever take the field.

MLB Pick: Ohtani HR (+200) at Bovada

Ohtani HR (+200)

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A Tip of the Cap to Teo

Ohtani and Judge aren’t the only sluggers in the World Series, and with 82 home runs slugged in 38 postseason games already, we should expect long balls from several other hitters in this Fall Classic.

One player I’m expecting to do well is Los Angeles outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, my pick for World Series MVP with a +1400 return at one of the sharp sportsbooks.

After signing a 1-year deal with the Dodgers last January, Hernandez enjoyed a fine season with 33 HR and 99 RBI. The 33 taters mark a career-high, and he’s added two more in the playoffs, both coming in the NLDS win over the San Diego Padres.

Hernandez vs. Cole

It has been a mixed bag when Hernandez faces Cole, and the Yankee hurler has gotten the better of it for the most part by holding the LA outfielder to a sub-.200 average in 26 at-bats. Hernandez has taken Cole yard one time.

Blame it on my crystal ball (or a gut feeling that turns out to be indigestion), but when it comes to Hernandez in this World Series, I’m expecting him to get off to a good start Friday night by going Over 1.5 in the Hits+Runs+RBI column.

MLB Pick: Teoscar Hernandez H+R+RBI Over 1.5 (+100) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

Teoscar Hernandez H+R+RBI Over 1.5 (+100)

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Hey! What About the Pitchers?

After building up a couple of Los Angeles hitters in Game 1, it’s time to tear down their starting pitcher for Friday night. Can you guess my pick for how to play the 8.5-run total?

Besieged by injuries on the mound, the Dodgers were desperate for starting pitching at the trade deadline. So, they went out and made a deal to bring Jack Flaherty over from Detroit. There’s no question he became the most reliable starting pitcher Dave Roberts had during the final two months of the regular season, and Flaherty did have that brilliant NLDS Game 1 start against the Mets.

However, Flaherty’s other two October assignments were disasters, both of them Los Angeles losses while the righthander surrendered 12 earned runs in a combined 8.1 innings against the Padres and Mets.

I’ll be surprised if Flaherty is on the mound when the fourth inning ends Friday, and I am counting on New York to put up an early crooked number.

MLB Pick: Flaherty Over 2.5 ER (-107) at Bovada

Flaherty Over 2.5 ER (-107)

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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.