YANKEES ML: WORLD SERIES GM 1
(MLB) Yankees (NYY) vs. Dodgers (LAD),
Money Line: 117.00 Yankees (NYY) (Away)
Result: Loss
I'm backing New York at plus odds in game one of the World Series!

Gerrit Cole has held LA relatively in check, as the Dodgers' current lineup has a career .226 BA/.287 OBP/.378 SLG/.665 OPS slash line against him in 164 combined ABs. He has racked up 55 Ks against them, fanning Shohei Ohtani seven times in 20 ABs. The Newport Beach native will be amped up to be pitching in his old backyard, and I believe he will give the Yankees a competitive edge on the mound.

Jack Flaherty does not have impressive stats against NY, as the Yankees have a career .304 BA/.426 OBP/.518 SLG/.944 OPS slash line against him in 56 combined ABs. Anthony Rizzo has taken him yard three times and Juan Soto has walked six times. Flaherty has been mediocre in the postseason, allowing four runs with two homers against San Diego and eight runs in three frames against the Mets in his most recent start.

This Yankees lineup is scary now that Giancarlo Stanton has caught fire. I predict that the visitors will get out to an early lead, putting LA manager Dave Roberts in a tough spot. In game one, he's likely to limit his bullpen use, which would make an early deficit tough to overcome if Flaherty struggles and Cole has a quality start.