World Series Analysis since 2000
An epic World Series is approaching between the favorites, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Toronto Blue Jays, who, by the way, won more games and have the home-field advantage. The expectation is high, especially considering that the last five World Series did not exceed six games and none was considered a memorable classic. After a period of four series that went the distance in six years (2014-2019), the fans are expecting a close match.
The main story this year is the Dodgers’ quest to become the first team to repeat as champions in 25 years, fueled by their million-dollar rotation and Shohei Ohtani’s stellar performance in the National League Championship Series. On the other hand, the Blue Jays are relying on the hot hitting of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer to reach their first World Series since 1993.
In terms of World Series history, this is a promising matchup. Below, we analyze and rank all World Series since the year 2000 to assess where a hypothetical Dodgers vs. Blue Jays matchup would rank. This ranking is based on anticipation, the quality of the teams, and the power of their stars before the World Series. It is not a ranking of the quality of the World Series itself, although we will include a rating for each matchup.
World Series Classification (2000-Present)
- 26. 2003: Florida Marlins over New York Yankees, 4-2.
The Yankees were returning to the World Series for the sixth time in eight years, while the Marlins were rebuilding after their player sale after winning the title in 1997. Nobody wanted to see the Yankees in the World Series again, and the Marlins were a wildcard team with 91 wins. Most notably, both teams had ruined the World Series by eliminating the Cubs and Red Sox in Game 7 of the Championship Series.
World Series Rating: C. The Marlins won Game 4 in 12 innings, and Josh Beckett pitched a complete game with five hits in Game 6.
- 25. 2023: Texas Rangers over Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-1.
In a series between wild cards, the Rangers (seeded number 5) won 90 games and the Diamondbacks (seeded number 6) only 84, making it the World Series with the lowest combined win total in history. The Rangers were seeking their first title, and although they had interesting hitters like Corey Seager, Adolis García, and Corbin Carroll, the series was considered a weak matchup.
World Series Grade: D-. The series was defined in the first game with a home run by Seager and a home run by Garcia in the 11th inning. There were no lead changes after that, and three of the games were blowouts.
- 24. 2011: St. Louis Cardinals over Texas Rangers, 4-3.
The Cardinals caught fire in September and secured a wild card spot on the last day of the season. St. Louis had power with figures like Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman, and Matt Holliday, but had won a World Series recently (2006), while the Rangers had been there the previous year.
World Series Rating: A. The first two games were by one run, Game 3 Pujols hit three home runs and Game 6 was the David Freese Game. Game 7 was an anticlimactic 6-2 victory for the Cardinals.
- 23. 2014: San Francisco Giants over Kansas City Royals, 4-3.
The second series with the lowest combined win total in World Series history, with two wild card teams that won fewer than 90 games. The Royals were a good story, in the playoffs for the first time since 1985. The Giants, however, had just won the World Series in 2010 and 2012.
World Series Grade: B-. Although five of the games were blowouts, at least it went to seven. It will be remembered for Madison Bumgarner’s historic performance.
- 22. 2007: Boston Red Sox over Colorado Rockies, 4-0.
The Red Sox were only three years away from breaking the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, so although they were still a team full of stars with David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and rookie Dustin Pedroia, they were no longer that interesting. The Rockies were a fun story, winning 14 of their last 15 games.
World Series Rating: F. A failure. Two of the games were by one run, but it is considered one of the least memorable World Series of all time.
- 21. 2006: St. Louis Cardinals over Detroit Tigers, 4-1.
The Tigers were the story of the season, going from losing 119 games three years prior to leading the American League Central. The Cardinals won a weak National League Central with only 83 victories. Both teams hadn’t won a World Series in a couple of decades.
World Series Grade: F. The Cardinals won a game in the bottom of the eighth inning, but otherwise it was a blur, characterized by errors by the Tigers. David Eckstein won the MVP award without hitting a home run.
- 20. 2021: Atlanta Braves over Houston Astros, 4-2.
The Braves returned to the World Series for the first time since 1999. The Astros, for their part, returned to the World Series for the third time in five years.
World Series Grade: D. A strange World Series, with the Braves using bullpen games.
- 19. 2012: San Francisco Giants over Detroit Tigers, 4-0.
The Giants were returning after winning in 2010, while the Tigers were returning for the first time since 2006. This was also the last World Series with the MVP winners from that season.
World Series Grade: D-. A boring sweep.
- 18. 2013: Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals, 4-2.
This World Series featured the two best teams of the regular season, the last time this happened in a full season. It was also a classic matchup between the original 16 teams.
World Series Grade: C+. Ortiz was on fire, and the Cardinals intentionally walked him three times in Game 6.
- 17. 2020: Los Angeles Dodgers over Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2.
This series was played during the pandemic, at a neutral site and in a half-filled stadium. However, it was a great matchup between the teams with the best records in each league.
World Series Grade: C+. There were some fun games, including the end of Game 4 and the controversial decision by the Rays manager.
- 16. 2005: Chicago White Sox over Houston Astros, 4-0.
The White Sox were looking to break a World Series drought dating back to 1917, while the Astros, born in 1962, had never won. The White Sox were very good, but lacked stars.
World Series Rating: C. The four games were exciting.
- 15. 2008: Philadelphia Phillies over Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1.
The Phillies were returning to the World Series for the first time since 1993, and they hadn’t won since 1980. The Rays were perhaps the most improbable team in the World Series.
World Series Grade: D+. An uneventful World Series.
- 14. 2000: New York Yankees over New York Mets, 4-1.
A “Subway Series” was fun for New York, but less so for the rest of the country. The Yankees were looking for their third consecutive title.
World Series Grade: C+. It was a closely contested five-game series with all games decided by two runs or less.
- 13. 2022: Houston Astros over Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2.
The Astros, a dominant team with stars like Yordan Alvarez and Justin Verlander. The Phillies, for their part, arrived as a wildcard for their first playoff trip since 2011.
World Series Grade: C. The Phillies won Game 1 and took a 2-1 lead, but then their bats went cold.
- 12. 2015: Kansas City Royals over New York Mets, 4-1.
The Royals proved that their appearance in the 2014 World Series was no fluke, winning 95 games. The Mets won the National League East Division. It was a fun matchup of teams trying to avoid long title droughts.
World Series Grade: C+. The Royals won the first game in 14 innings and the fifth game in the eighth inning.
- 11. 2010: San Francisco Giants over Texas Rangers, 4-1.
A very entertaining matchup at the time. The Giants hadn’t won a World Series in San Francisco.
World Series Grade: D. The Giants won the first game and then threw shutouts in Games 2 and 4.
- 10. 2019: Washington Nationals over Houston Astros, 4-3.
The Astros had won 107 games. The Nationals were a wildcard team.
World Series Grade: B-. Went to seven games.
- 9. 2024: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
This year, we have Ohtani against Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who could be on his way to a historic postseason. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the National League Championship Series: “Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball,” referring to the criticism that says the Dodgers are ruining baseball with their high payroll. We also have the Dodgers’ rotation and their ability to strike out against the Blue Jays’ contact ability.
World Series Rating: To be determined.
- 8. 2002: Anaheim Angels over San Francisco Giants, 4-3.
The Angels, who joined the majors in 1961, were making their first World Series appearance, while the Giants, in the Bay Area since 1958, were trying to win their first title since moving from New York. Barry Bonds at the peak of his power, and the Angels had a loaded lineup, the Rally Monkey and the ThunderStix.
World Series Rating: A. The series featured four games decided by one run, including a wild 11-10 and the classic Game 6, when the Angels came back from 5-0 to win 6-5.
- 7. 2009: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2.
The Yankees missed the playoffs in 2008 for the first time since 1993, so they signed CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett. The Phillies, trying to defend their title, had traded for Cliff Lee and then signed Pedro Martínez in July.
World Series Rating: C. The crucial game was Game 4, when the Yankees scored three runs in the ninth inning to win 7-4.
- 6. 2001: Arizona Diamondbacks over New York Yankees, 4-3.
The Yankees were looking for a fourth consecutive title. The Diamondbacks, for their part, had the great duo of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.
World Series Rating: A+. Four games for a run, including three of the most memorable moments of the World Series.
- 5. 2018: Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1.
Two of the most historic baseball franchises had never met in a World Series. The Red Sox were a powerhouse with 108 wins. The Dodgers were not lacking in big names.
World Series Rating: C-. A disappointment.
Alofoke Deportes
- 4. 2017: Houston Astros over Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3.
This series had it all: dominant teams and superstars everywhere. We didn’t know at the time that both franchises were beginning 100-win dynasties.
World Series Grade: A-. The Astros won Game 7.
- 3. 2024: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
In addition to Ohtani and Judge, we have Juan Soto and Mookie Betts, Giancarlo Stanton and Freddie Freeman, Gerrit Cole and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Besides the history between the clubs, we have both clubs that need to rewrite their recent history: The Yankees, back in the World Series for the first time since 2009, and the Dodgers trying to add a more legitimate championship to the one they won in the COVID-shortened season.
World Series Grade: C+. The Judge-Ohtani matchup was a bust and the series went in five games.
- 2. 2004: Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0.
The Red Sox were coming off an unprecedented comeback against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox had their own ridiculous lineup with Ortiz, Ramirez, and Damon, in addition to a rotation with Schilling and Martinez. It seemed inevitable that Boston would win.
World Series Grade: D. After a sloppy Game 1, the Cardinals never led again.
- 1. 2016: Chicago Cubs over Cleveland, 4-3.
The Cubs hadn’t won since 1908. The Guardians, for their part, had the second-longest drought of the original 16 teams, without a title since 1948. This was enough to generate anticipation, but they were also two good teams.
World Series Rating: A. A World Series for the history.
