Did some bad BABIP luck play a role? Yes, possibly, even though Judge’s .300 BABIP last year wasn’t awful by normal standards — just his own, given a .340 career mark.

The fact that the Dodgers handed him the ball for Game Two of the NLDS speaks volumes about the confidence they’ve developed in this kid.

Is it any wonder that the Los Angeles Dodgers have established themselves as the favourites to win the World Series this year?

With this in mind, we note that the Atlanta Braves are currently the favourite to win the 2024 World Series, but if this is going to happen, the team will need to supplement their amazing offense with a bit more starting pitching.

In fact, Valdez just kept improving until ostensibly showing some regression this year, when he endured his highest ERA since 2020. Still, his xFIP was lower than it was in 2021, he enjoyed his first 200-K season and showed improved command for the second straight year.

Once again, Red October is a thing. The Phillies wasted little time in dispatching Miami, and then took out arguably the best team in baseball (Atlanta) with minimal resistance.

In his final season, Cabrera saw less action, but hit a little better (675 OPS), and at the very least proved less bad than he’d been in 2022.