The 2024 World Series isn't just between the two best teams in the MLB it's also between the two best players on the planet in Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
Granted, these superstars won't actually be going head-to-head against each other (barring a surprise pitching appearance for Ohtani) but they'll both try to lead their teams to a title under the bright lights of the Fall Classic.
My MLB picks break down these MVP favorites and the starting pitchers they'll face in Game 1 as I bring you my favorite Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge prop picks for Friday, October 25.
Aaron Judge best bet: Rising Ks
My best bet
Aaron Judge Over 1.5 strikeouts (+145 at bet365)
My analysis
Aaron Judge put together another sensational season for the New York Yankees, posting a 1.159 OPS and clubbing 58 homers in 158 games. However, big swings also come with big misses and Judge was in the bottom 15th percentile in whiff rate (30.7%) while his 172 strikeouts were the 16th-highest number in the majors.
The Dodgers have decided to give the pill to Jack Flaherty in Game 1 despite the righty getting rocked for eight runs in his previous outing against the Mets. That said, Flaherty was much sharper in Game 1 of the NLCS and he finished the regular season with 194 punchouts in 162 innings while ranking in the top 10th percentile in strikeout rate and whiff rate.
Flaherty throws a four-seamer 44.3% of the time but he also heavily uses a slider (29%) and knuckle curve (21.8%). Judge crushes fastballs (.767 SLG) but struggles against sliders (.456 SLG) and has a sky-high 42.7% whiff rate against curves.
The Dodgers also have a strong bullpen with a slew of righties like Michael Kopech, Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, and Blake Treinen who combined for 10.4 K/9 during the regular season.
Judge has gone just 5-for-31 at the dish (.161 BA) with 13 strikeouts during the postseason and I'm betting on him to strike out a couple of times on Friday.
Shohei Ohtani best bet: Hell-Oh bases
My best bet
Shohei Ohtani Over 1.5 total bases (-120 at bet365)
My analysis
Shohei Ohtani hit .310/.390/.646 during the regular season and led the majors with 134 runs while ranking second with 130 RBIs. Ohtani was dominant with the platoon advantage, slugging .717 against righties, and he also saw his numbers tick up at home where he slugged .675. He'll have both the platoon advantage and the home-field advantage against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole on Friday.
Cole has pitched to a 3.31 ERA through three postseason starts but has been letting runners get on base with a 1.53 WHIP. He also pitched well during the last two months of the regular season but his velocity is down when compared to previous years and he hasn't been making batters miss like he used to. He sits in the bottom 30th percentile in ground ball rate and average exit velocity which is bad news against a fly-ball power-hitter like Ohtani who was second in the majors in adjusted exit velocity.
Cole relies on a four-seamer that he throws 45.6% of the time but he also likes to mix in a slider and knuckle curve. Ohtani mashes all three of those offerings, slugging .639 against fastballs, .826 versus sliders, and .745 against curves.
Ohtani is slashing .286/.434/.500 during the postseason and I'm expecting him to eclipse 1.5 total bases in Game 1.
