Money can be a significant factor in sports, and as the World Series approaches, the high-spending Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are set to face off starting Friday at Dodger Stadium. This season, the Yankees have the second-highest payroll at $311 million, while the Dodgers follow closely with $266 million, according to Major League Baseball’s recent statistics.

Both franchises boast impressive histories in baseball, with the Yankees recently capturing their 41st American League pennant and the Dodgers clinching their 25th National League championship. New York is on the hunt for their 28th World Series title and their first since 2009, while the Dodgers aim for their eighth championship, adding to their recent success with two titles in the last five years.

As the series kicks off, fans can anticipate a showdown between two of the league’s top hitters: Shohei Ohtani from the Dodgers and Aaron Judge from the Yankees. Ohtani made history by becoming the first player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a single season, reaching this milestone on September 19 with one of his three homers during a game against the Marlins. He has maintained a strong performance during the playoffs, holding a batting average of .286 with three homers and 10 RBIs.

Meanwhile, Judge also had a remarkable regular season, leading all of Major League Baseball with 58 home runs and finishing with a .322 average and 144 RBIs. However, he has struggled somewhat in the postseason, batting .161 with two home runs and six RBIs thus far.

While the duel between Ohtani and Judge is certainly captivating, both teams feature other players who have made significant contributions during this postseason. Giancarlo Stanton has been a standout for the Yankees, hitting .294 with five homers and 11 RBIs, earning him the AL Championship Series MVP title. Although he has dealt with injuries and inconsistency since joining New York in 2018, a strong performance in the World Series could solidify his legacy within the franchise.

On the Dodgers’ side, Tommy Edman has emerged as an essential component of their lineup after being acquired from the Cardinals just before the trade deadline. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 193 pounds, Edman has made a considerable impact this postseason, batting .341 and hitting a critical two-run homer in the NLCS-clinching game against the Mets on Sunday, which earned him the NLCS MVP title.

For fans hoping to see the series live, attending the games will require a substantial financial investment. Resale market prices for tickets have soared, with the lowest currently hovering around $1,200-$1,300, as reported by Stubhub. Recent sales metrics indicate that demand has exceeded last year’s figures and is four times higher compared to the pace of the previous World Series. Notably, ticket sales for the games in New York have increased by 40% in comparison to those in Los Angeles.

The 2023 postseason will see the continuation of several recent rule changes implemented in Major League Baseball, such as the pitch clock and restrictions on extreme infield shifts, in addition to limitations on how many times a pitcher may step off the rubber. The introduction of the pitch clock has been particularly applauded, as it has managed to reduce game times by approximately 30 minutes. However, one notable rule not applicable in the postseason is the “ghost runner” rule, which places a runner on second base to start extra innings; this will not be in effect for the playoffs.

BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Dodgers as the favorites to win the World Series with odds of -130, while the Yankees currently sit as the underdogs at +110. Fans can catch all seven games of the series broadcast live on Fox, as well as on streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, and YouTube TV.

The schedule for the World Series is as follows:
Game 1: New York at Los Angeles, Friday, 8:08 p.m. EDT
Game 2: New York at Los Angeles, Saturday, 8:08 p.m. EDT
Game 3: Los Angeles at New York, Oct. 28, 8:08 p.m. EDT
Game 4: Los Angeles at New York, Oct. 29, 8:08 p.m. EDT
Game 5: Los Angeles at New York, Oct. 30, 8:08 p.m. EDT (if necessary)
Game 6: New York at Los Angeles, Nov. 1, 8:08 p.m. EDT (if necessary)
Game 7: New York at Los Angeles, Nov. 2, 8:08 p.m. EDT (if necessary)