The 2038 NL and AL Champions defend their titles to set up a rematch in the World Series between the Royals and the Dodgers. This will only be the second meeting of the two ball clubs, with the Dodgers having won last years title 4-2. The Dodgers will be looking to go back-to-back for the first time and win their 9th World Series while the Royals are looking to prevent Stewart (and Witt Jr.) becoming 4-time World Series losers, having lost two years in a row in 2031 and 2032, as well as last year. The Dodgers would become the third repeat champions should they win, matching the 2024/2025 Orioles and 2034/2035 Padres, and giving them the chance to be the first three-time champs since the 1998-2000 Yankees.
The Dodgers took the regular season series 2-1, but the ballclubs finished with the same 99-63 record.
The Dodgers have amassed a star line up, underpinned by reigning World Series and NL MVP SS Vince Elkins. He joined RF Ben Glaze in over 100 RBIs, with Glaze hitting 38 HRs to Elkins 31. 2B Grady Emerson may have topped them both, with 32 HRs to go with 50 SBs and 96 RBIs.
On the pitching side, Josh Cook led the team with a 2.96 ERA while striking out 171 in 179 innings. Mike Spences 3.09 ERA helped him to a 14-5 record while in the bullpen, left-handed closer Joe Kohl was the standout, 40 saves in 67 appearances and a 2.47 ERA.
This is a monster of a team and the Royals will have to be at their very best to clinch Stewarts first, and the Royals third, World Series title.
Game 1 in Los Angeles: Curt Bogans vs. Mike Spence (2027 1st Round)
Los Angeles wins 11-6
Spence: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R
Bogans: 3 IP, 5 H, 6 R
Luis Molina (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
B.J. Heaton (L): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R
Los Angeles HRs: Jon Conrad (2nd Inning, 3R), Juan Sosa (3rd Inning, 2R), Vince Elkins (5th Inning), Butch Anderson (7th Inning), Ken Munden (8th Inning)
Kansas City HRs: Sincere Latin (2nd Inning, 2R), Chase Standberry (3rd Inning)
POTG: Butch Anderson (LAD): 3-3, HR, BB
1-0 Los Angeles
Game 2 in Los Angeles: Ethan Chafin vs. Zach Woodall (2034 4th Round)
Los Angeles win 5-3
Woodall: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R
Chafin: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R
Joe Kohl (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Eric Jones (L): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R
Los Angeles HRs: Jaheem McCaster (5th Inning)
Kansas City HRs: Sam Hart (4th Inning, 2R)
2-0 Los Angeles
Game 3 in Kansas City: Min-ho Kim vs. Josh Cook (2036 Trade DET)
Kansas City wins 6-2
Kim (W): 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R
Cook (L): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R
Banmei Kataoka (SV): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Kansas City HRs: Edgar Mir (8th Inning, 2R)
POTG: Edgar Mir (KC) 3-4, HR, BB
2-1 Los Angeles
Game 4 in Kansas City: Eddie Baquerizo vs. Ian Delehanty (2033 9th Round)
Los Angeles wins 7-5
Delehanty (W): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R
Baquerizo (L): 2.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R
Kohl (SV): 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R
Kansas City HRs: Latin (7th Inning, 3R)
POTG: Butch Anderson (LAD) 4-5, 3 RBI
3-1 Los Angeles
Game 5 in Kansas City: Bogans vs Spence
Los Angeles wins 2-1
Spence (W): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R
Bogans (L): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R
Jim Kelley (SV): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R
4-1 LOS ANGELES WIN
Series MVP: Butch Anderson (LAD)
The Royals lose their 4th World Series under Stewart as the Dodgers go back-to-back, beating the Royals 4-1 in even more comprehensive fashion than in 2038. The Royals just cant get over the hump and hit the offseason to lick their wounds with Stewart considering if he has what it takes to win the greatest prize in baseball.