Dean Kennedy 
Game 1 оf the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers іs here, and it’s time tо target a couple оf key plays. With Jack Flaherty оn the mound for L.A. and Aaron Judge leading the Yankees’ offense, there are some prime opportunities tо take advantage of. Keep an eye оn the early scoring and Judge’s ability tо make a big impact at the plate.
World Series Game 1
Yankees F5 Team Total Over 1.5 (-140)
Game 1 of the World Series—what better time to return to the prop that started it all for us: First Five Team Totals. Kicking off the series, we’re rolling with the New York Yankees over 1.5.
Jack Flaherty was just announced as the Game 1 starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 29-year-old right-hander has been all over the place this postseason, giving up 12 runs іn 15.1 innings across three starts. Flaherty’s rocking a 7.04 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP this postseason, and according to Batters-Box.com, he’s got a poor hitter matchup wOBA and ISO. Plus, he’s been giving up a lot of hard contact—exactly what the Yankees excel at. This season, Flaherty has allowed 2+ runs in 19 of his 31 starts, including the postseason.
The Yankees’ lineup is stacked, with three elite-rated hitters, and four of the five top-rated hitters in this matchup. They’ve got zero poorly rated hitters and only three that hit ground balls above the league average. On the road this season, the Yankees have averaged 2.64 runs in the first five innings.
With Flaherty’s struggles, the Yankees could explode for 5+ runs or be held quiet—but with how hot their bats have been, they should carry that momentum into Los Angeles for Game 1.
Aaron Judge Over 1.5 Total Bases (+108)
The highest-rated hitter on Batters-Box.com for Game 1 of the World Series is none other than the captain of the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge.
Judge will face Jack Flaherty for the first time, but Flaherty’s tendency to give up hard contact plays right into Judge’s hands. Against Flaherty’s arsenal, Judge’s numbers are predictably strong (it’s Aaron Judge, after all). He’s batting .250 or better, with an OPS of 1.011+ and a wRC+ of 195+ against all three of Flaherty’s primary pitches.
In games where Judge has an elite rating of .703 or higher this season, he’s recorded at least one hit 81% of the time and gone over 2+ bases in 50% of those games (sample size of 16). The Yankees will need their captain tо step up оn the biggest stage, and while his postseason numbers haven’t been flashy, with a .317 OBP and .704 OPS, he’s still delivered іn key moments this year.
Give me the future AL MVP to go over 1.5 bases—and sprinkle on a home run!
