It's always a big event when the New York Yankees are hosting the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The Captain, Derek Jeter was at Yankee Stadium for Saturday's game, and he caught up with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts before the game:
Derek Jeter catches up with Dave Roberts during BP
Roberts played for a pair of Yankees' rivals during Jeter's career, playing outfield for the Dodgers from 2002 to mid-2004. He was then traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he played in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. He did not see action against the Cardinals in that year's World Series.
Dodgers fans showed out in a big way on Saturday, filling East 161st Street on their way into Yankee Stadium.
The electricity for this rivalry showdown is palpable, proving that the date on the calendar is irrelevant when two of baseball's most iconic brands collide. Though, it definitely helps that both ballclubs are among the top-five in terms of record and championship expectations.
Game 1 between Yankees, Dodgers lived up to expectations
They have not disappointed thus far, producing a captivating first entry on Friday night that saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto allow just two hits in seven shut-out innings. The Dodgers finally broke through in the 11th when Teoscar Hernandez smacked a two-run double into the outfield. They escaped with a 2-1 victory that had to have left a bitter taste in the Yankees mouth. The Bronx Bombers, despite not having Juan Soto for the game as he deals with forearm soreness, pitched well enough to earn the win but couldn't close things out.
Soto spoke out on the injury after Friday's loss.
“It was what I was looking for,” Soto said about his MRI results. “Just trying to see what was really going on with my elbow. We were thinking a little bit about how it was going to be like and thank God it came back that way.”
“It's a relief,” the Yankees' star continued. “It was a tough spot where my elbow was kind of right there, but now I feel good.”
When asked if he had an estimated return date, he said “We'll see for the next couple days how I feel. We're going to do day by day.”
This rivalry, which has historically been dominated by the Yankees, has produced some of the greatest moments in MLB history. The two franchises are certainly capable of doing the same again in 2024. Should they both continue to play as well as they have through the first third-plus of this season, there's a chance that baseball fans will be treated to yet another Yankees vs. Dodger World Series.
The two teams have met 11 times in World Series history – with the Yankees winning eight of those series – but haven't faced off since 1981. The Yankees also own the better record in regular season interleague play, 10-9 entering Saturday.
