The Dodgers lost one of their great players earlier this week when Fernando Valenzuela passed away at the age of 63.

The Cy Young winner and Rookie of the Year in 1981 helped that team win a World Series title, coincidentally against the Yankees.

To honor Valenzuela, the team will wear a black uniform patch starting tonight and through the remainder of next season.

The Yankees’ return to the World Series marks their first trip to the Fall Classic since 2009.

The 15-year absence was the longest in their franchise history, which took place between 1981 and 1996.

This year, the Fall Classic serves up an epic showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees – a World Series game that fans and experts have dreamed of and feared in equal measure for decades.

The two teams with the best records in baseballtwo legendary franchises, both rich in history and controversywill take the field to win the 2024 World Series title. But in the court of public opinion, the entire country is divided.

A recent survey conducted by BetOnline.ag gave us an insight into fan loyalty.

Using location-based Twitter/X data and hashtags like #RepBX, #GoYankees, #DodgersNation and #GoDodgers, BetOnline tracked more than 160,000 tweets since last Sunday night, when the World Series game was officially set. The results reveal a divided nation: A majority of fans in 29 states support the Yankees, while 21 states side with the Dodgers.

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The last two Yankees captains, Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter, talk on the field at Dodger Stadium before Game 1.

The World Series features the home run kings of both leagues, something that hasn’t happened since 1956, when Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider for the Yankees and Dodgers.

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani each hit more than 50 home runs this season, and we’ve never had a World Series with two hitters who hit that many.

Both are also expected to win MVP, and this is also the second time since 1988 that the (presumed) MVP winners will face each other in the series. The last time this happened was in 2012.

Yankees star Juan Soto has two reasons to celebrate today: his team is playing in Game 1 of the World Series and it’s his birthday.

The slugger, who won a ring with the Washington Nationals in 2019, turns 26 today.

Aaron Judge paid lofty compliments to fellow MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani.

At a Yankees practice in the Bronx, Judge called Ohtani “the best player in the game” and an “ambassador of this sport.”

With four days off before Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers selected Jack Flaherty as their starting pitcher.

No surprises with the batting lineup announced by the Yankees for Game 1. Giancarlo Stanton, fresh off his ALCS MVP award, is cleaning up behind Aaron Judge.

Gerrit Cole will make his third career World Series start, having pitched twice for the Astros in 2019, with one win and one loss.

With a delayed start to the season on June 19 due to nerve irritation in his throwing elbow, he was limited to 17 regular season starts. This postseason, he is 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA over three starts, with his best performance coming in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Royals, where he pitched seven innings, allowing only one point.

There are a number of injuries to note on both teams heading into the World Series.

MLB says that on the Yankees side, first baseman Anthony Rizzo is playing with two fractured fingers on his right hand, as the fractures will not heal until the offseason. Pitcher Nestor Cortés, recovering from left elbow flexor strainhas faced hitters in practice and is considered in play for the World Series roster. Infielder DJ LeMahieu is still hitting and fielding in case he needs to after dealing with a right hip impingement.

As for the Dodgers, first baseman Freddie Freeman played through a sprained right ankle and missed three games, but he should return for first game. Pitcher Alex Vesia missed the NLCS with a right side injury but could be available for the World Series.

This will be the 12th time the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have met in the World Series, the most of any two teams in Major League Baseball. Although it was once a frequent match, this is a match that has not been seen in over 40 years.

The partnership dates back to the 1940s, when both franchises were based in New York. It has happened 11 times since then, with the Yankees winning eight of the titles.

The teams last competed in the 1981 Fall Classic, with the Dodgers winning six games.

Games 1 and 2 of the World Series will take place at Dodger Stadium, thanks to a better regular season by the Dodgers than the Yankees.

Here’s how the rest of the World Series schedule will play out:

Game 1: Dodger Stadium, Friday, October 25, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 2: Dodger Stadium, Saturday, October 26, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 3: Yankee Stadium, Monday, October 28, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 4: Yankee Stadium, Tuesday, October 29, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 5: Yankee Stadium (if necessary), Wednesday, October 30, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 6: Dodger Stadium (if necessary), Friday, November 1, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 7: Dodger Stadium (if necessary), Saturday, November 2, 8:08 p.m. ET

The first game of this year’s World Series will be played Friday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles at 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT. Any games in progress will also start at this time, and will be televised on FOX.

Those without cable can stream World Series games on platforms that offer FOX, such as Hulu with Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV and YouTube TV, as well as on FoxSports.com.

All games are also available on MLB.TValthough you will need authentication with a participating pay TV provider to watch.

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Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who became a baseball player first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases this season, is one of the best players to watch in the 2024 World Series.

This will be Ohtani’s first World Series appearance, despite a strong track record that already includes two MVP wins (with a third likely on the way).

Considered by many to be one of baseball’s greatest achievements, the ball he threw for his 50th home run sold at an auction Wednesday for more than $4.3 million.