World Series Exclusive: Long-time MLB vet Dave Gallagher gives his verdict ahead of Game 1

Long-time Major Leaguer Dave Gallagher had his thoughts about the upcoming World Series and then changed them when he looked a little closer.

Gallagher, who retired with a .271 batting average and a .331 on base percentage over his nine-year career with six different teams, is still a fan of the game. 

So a World Series between two of the marquis teams and the two biggest names in the game in the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has his attention.

“I’m looking forward to it,’’ Gallagher said from his home in Cape May, New Jersey. 

While he wasn’t asked, Gallagher went over both teams’ rosters, made some comparisons and came up with a prediction — one that surprised him.

“I compared the teams position by position and when I started I thought I was going to come out in favor of the Yankees,’’ Gallagher said. “But there were actually more in favor of the Dodgers.

“It was close. The biggest, for me, was DH and catcher. You have to go with Ohtani (at DH) over (Giancarlo) Stanton, even though Stanton has been really hot. You still have to go with Ohtani. And I think you have to go with (Dodgers catcher) Will Smith over (Yankees catcher) Austin Wells. I think they were the two biggest advantages in my opinion.’’

During the season Ohtani batted .310 with 54 home runs,130 RBI and a 1.036 OPS. In the playoffs he’s 12-for-42 with three more home runs. Stanton batted .233 during the regular season with 27 home runs and a .773 OPS. In the playoffs he is 10-for-33 with five home runs.

Smith batted .248 for the season with 20 home runs and a .760 OPS. He’s added two more home runs in the playoffs. Wells batted .229 with a .718 OPS for the season and is just 3-for-33 in the playoffs.

“I think the outfield leans toward the Yankees, because of (Juan) Soto and Judge,’’ Gallagher said. “Pitching obviously will be the key, and I think that’s pretty close, too.’’

There are two outlying factors that Gallagher thinks could determine the outcome as well. 

“If you look at the overall fundamentals of the game, the Yankees made some mistakes (in the playoffs) that really stick out, especially on the bases,’’ he said. “(Wells) getting picked off first. That can’t happen. Torres getting sent home (and out at the plate) with Judge coming up. You can’t make those mistakes in the World Series where every game means so much, every run, every out means so much. The Yankees have to be better fundamentally and let the boppers bop. You don’t want Judge to advance a runner, but you need some guys to do that.’’

And then there is the health issue with Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. 

“Is Freddie Freeman going to be healthy,’’ Gallagher said. “He’s big. If he can play he adds so much to the offense. But if he’s hobbled and every time he turns it hurts that’s going to be big, too.”

2024 WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE