World Series Game 2: Can the New York Yankees recover from last-minute Game 1 loss to Los Angeles Dodgers?

CNN
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After just one game, this World Series has already produced another classic in the long, storied rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It seemed impossible that this series could live up to the frenzied anticipation that had dominated the lead-up or become another memorable chapter in the 83-year-old rivalry that these two teams share in the World Series alone.

But with one swing of the bat Friday, Freddie Freeman made sure Game 1 did, hitting the first walk-off grand slam in a World Series with his Dodgers trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning her last appearance. He jogged around the bases as Dodger Stadium erupted in delirium, celebrating that their team had somehow earned a 6-3 victory in Game 1.

Now, just a day later, the Yankees must bounce back from their last-minute loss for Game 2 on Saturday night when they face the Dodgers again at the LA team's home stadium.

For the Dodgers, Game 2 is a golden opportunity to stamp their authority on the series while brimming with confidence before traveling to New York for at least the next two games.

“A 1-0 result is a great start,” Freeman said after the game.

The Dodgers are now three wins away from a World Series triumph, and historically, teams that won Game 1 have won the Series 121 of 191 times (65%).

Since 1995, it has been 23 of 29 games (79%), and in the current 2-3-2 format, teams that won Game 1 at home have won 68 of 101 games (67%).

But the Yankees remain positive heading into Game 2.

“We played really well against this team the whole game,” Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo said after their loss, according to MLB.com. “At the end of the day, we’re the two best teams out here, so we’re going to come here and go here with our heads held high and with confidence and compete again.”

Both teams are loaded with star talent and the Yankees can rely on players like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton to do the impossible, just like Freeman did for the Dodgers.

The way the Yankees use their pen will also be under scrutiny in Game 2 after manager Aaron Boone decided to have Nestor Cortes pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning. Cortes hadn't pitched since Sept. 18 after suffering a left elbow flexor strain, but was brought in to challenge the Dodgers' left-handed pairing of Ohtani and Freeman.

“If I wasn't ready enough and healthy enough, I wouldn't have done it. And they wouldn’t have let me,” Cortes said after the game, according to MLB.com. “So I think we’re in a good place. I will get another opportunity. We have to win four games in this series. We had it right at our fingertips, but we’ll come back strong tomorrow.”

Carlos Rodón will start on the mound for the Yankees in Game 2 and will be hoping to stifle the Dodgers' offense, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be hoping to repeat his dominant pitching performance from June against the Yankees.

Instructions and complete program

Each of the series' best-of-seven games will be broadcast on Fox in the US, with each contest starting at 8:08 p.m. ET.

The schedule is as follows:

Game 2: Saturday, October 26 – New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers from Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 3: Monday, October 28 – Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees from Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 4: Tuesday, October 29 – Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees from Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 5*: Wednesday, October 30 – Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees from Yankee Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 6*: Friday, November 1 – New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers from Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

Game 7*: Saturday, November 2 – New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers from Dodger Stadium, 8:08 p.m. ET

*if required