By: APA/Reuters

The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched a spot in the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series after the New York Yankees. The Californians led by Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani defeated the New York Mets 10:5 on Sunday evening (local time) and thus won the “best-of-seven” semifinal series 4:2. The Yankees had previously defeated the Cleveland Guardians with a 4-1 win. The final series begins on Friday.

“This is the place I have dreamed of my whole life. “Being able to play on this stage and win there is my next goal,” said Ohtani, the highest-paid MLB player. The Dodgers are in the World Series for the fourth time since 2017 and are considered the favorites by bookmakers. The team from LA was able to win one title in 2020, it was their seventh championship overall. The Yankees – record champions with 27 titles – last triumphed 15 years ago. The team hasn’t been in the World Series since.

The last time there was a final pairing between the two clubs from Los Angeles and New York was in 1981, when the team from the West Coast won. On Friday, the Dodgers have home advantage in the first of seven possible duels. The Texas Rangers won the title last year.