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Yankees: 3 reasons 2021 could finally bring NYY-Dodgers World Series

By Adam Weinrib |
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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“When are the Yankees and Dodgers going to play in the World Series?!” is officially the new, “The Yankees and Cubs are gonna dominate the World Series the next few years, y’all.”

Thus far, in their respective climbs toward dynastic levels, the Yanks of 2016-2020 have greatly outshone the Cubbies overall, though Chicago did capture that elusive World Series championship before taking coordinated steps back in each year that followed.

The Dodgers? Well, they’re certainly ahead of the roller coaster Yankees, making the Fall Classic three times and winning once — the only time they faced a non-tainted opponent, too.

Entering 2021, which will be a full 162-game season, the same two teams are ostensibly the favorites in both leagues as in 2020.

Last time, the Dodgers held up their end of the bargain, but the Rays heard a summer’s worth of talk about how they were “uniquely built” for a 60-game season and decided to agree with the chatter, usurping the Yanks en route to October.

They responded by trading their ace this offseason, then letting their most reliable postseason arm walk to the Atlanta Braves.

Bronx Bombers fans are hoping Tampa Bay’s “create-a-player” lucky streak finally runs out this year, but the departure of key arms from an AL East rival isn’t the only reason New York’s World Series hopes are alive this year.

The Dodgers remain the champions until anyone approaches dethroning them, so we’re pretty confident in stating they’ll come out of the NL this year once again. We see no reason why not.

Here are three reasons why the Yankees might be waiting for them on the other side.

3 reasons the Yankees-Dodgers World Series is within reach

Mar 1, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) is congratulated by catcher Gary Sanchez (24) after he pitched the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) is congratulated by catcher Gary Sanchez (24) after he pitched the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Yankees Finally Have (Electric) Pitching Depth

Are you a believer in Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake yet? What about the strategy of tossing nine viable rotation options at the wall?

OK, fine. It’s spring training. You don’t have to believe if you don’t want to.

But previous Yankees teams were ace-less. When Gerrit Cole arrived in 2020, they were still without a high-ceiling second banana in the rotation once Luis Severino went down. Masahiro Tanaka? Yeah, we love him, but only in certain October spurts was he ever a No. 1. JA Happ? Log off.

This time around, the Yankees enter 2021 with Severino rehabbing in the wings, and Jameson Taillon and Corey Kluber directly behind Cole, both of whom seem ready for Opening Day in mid-March. Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German, Deivi Garcia and even Michael King have also looked above-average thus far, and the numbers back it up.

That’s a lot of names! Add in the injured Clarke Schmidt, and you’ve got an overflowing staff for once.

No team has more pitching depth than the Dodgers, who see all this Yankees bragging and raise them three Cy Young winners, Walker Buehler, and five or six more kids who can spin it (Dustin May, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin…).

It’s easy to pencil the LAD into the Fall Classic on the strength of this overload of arms alone. But the Yankees have (gulps) a high-upside pile of pitchers that just keeps coming at you, too. This is the best depth they’ve boasted in the course of this modern run, and it could make the difference.

Feb 25, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) at bat during a simulated game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) at bat during a simulated game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Angry Yankees Offense Has Leveled Up

Giancarlo Stanton seems furiously ready to prove his critics wrong in a full season in 2021, he typed in a sentence he immediately knew would be used against him someday.

The sentiment holds true, though, despite my self-conscious fears.

The Stanton we saw in the 2020 postseason could easily exist again in 2021, and the early returns indicate that his fearsome bat and new stretching routine have him ready to back up the talk that he’s “better” now than his 2017 MVP form.

Streaky? Sure. But the streaks are worth the strikeouts when Stanton’s right.

Factor in an in-shape Gleyber Torres and a full season of Clint Frazier, backed by potentially a deeper and more experienced bench (Jay Bruce, anyone?), and this Yankees offense should be far better than anything we saw in 2020.

You don’t have to believe it, if you’re an injury skeptic (and they will happen, don’t think they won’t), but this offensive unit is a juggernaut that outranks any other in the American League by leaps and bounds. The inexperienced Blue Jays are likely second. You’ve seen the Blue Jays. They’re great! But they’re not “Second-Best AL Offense” great.

Last year’s Yankees — a good, not great offense paced by Tyler Wade, Jordy Mercer and Thairo Estrada on many occasions — still led the American League in runs. Without Stanton. Without Aaron Judge. Without anything that resembled Torres and Gary Sanchez.

If even two of these four issues are fixed, they’re a steamroller.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros reacts to Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays yelling during the sixth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 16, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros reacts to Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays yelling during the sixth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 16, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Yankees’ Path to the World Series Ain’t What it Used to Be

Will the New York Yankees win the American League? I mean…odds are, no! Strong teams have entered the Dance before and been felled by newcomers. The 116-win Seattle Mariners lost before the finish line.

All of this comes with a “stuff happens” caveat.

But in early March, their path to the World Series is certainly easier than it’s been since 2017.

The Yankees have gotten better, and everyone around them has gotten worse at preventing offense.

Tampa Bay? As we stated confidently, they chose to cut ties with Blake Snell and let Charlie Morton go to Atlanta. Toronto? They decided a full season with Robbie Ray was enough of a solution to their pitching glut; top prospect Nate Pearson is currently battling a groin issue.

Boston? We can’t rule out a miraculous 2013-esque run (you literally never can!), but the offense doesn’t match the pitching staff.

Who else is there outside the confines of the American League East? The Houston Astros lost Springer on offense, and said goodbye to young standout Framber Valdez and No. 1 pitching prospect Forrest Whitley with severe injuries. The Minnesota Twins remain the Minnesota Twins until proven otherwise. The White Sox have plenty of upstart mojo, but we’ll have to see them win a playoff series first. The Oakland A’s sold off half their team.

Will the Yankees defeat all of these teams to meet the Dodgers in the World Series? Once again, it’s more likely they’ll get tripped up along the way. Such is life.

This is clearly the best opportunity they’ve had in the past five years, though, with a filled-up pitching staff, rejuvenated offense, and no 2017-19 Astros or 2018 Red Sox in their way.

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