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Who has home field advantage in the 2024 World Series?

Vaseline October 21, 2024

Like the World Series 2024 closer, the issue of home field advantage becomes a major topic of discussion. With two strong teams ready to battle for the championship, it’s worth exploring how playing at home could impact the series. Keep reading to find out who has the home field advantage, why, and more:

Who has home field advantage?

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have home field advantage with a record of 98-64 (.605). The New York Yankees have a record of 94-68 (.580).

After the Yankees clinched the ALCS, home field advantage in the World Series depended on the outcome of the NLCS. While the Yankees would have had home field against the Metsthe Dodgers ultimately earned the top overall seed among the 12 playoff teams.

As a result, Games 1-2 of the World Series will be held at Dodger Stadium before the series moves to New York.

World Series 2024: Yankees vs. Dodgers Preview | MLB on FOX

How is home advantage determined?

The team with the better regular season winning percentage will secure home field advantage regardless of whether they won their division or earned a Wild Card spot. This means they will host Games 1-2 and, if necessary, Games 6-7.

In the event that two teams have identical winning percentages, the tiebreaker is the head-to-head record, which can be determined because each team now faces each other at least once during the season.

2024 World Series Schedule

Here is the schedule for the 120th Fall Classic, with start times yet to be announced. Every match is broadcast on FOX.

Friday October 25: Yankees at Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET
Saturday October 26: Yankees at Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET
Monday October 28: Yankees Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET
Tuesday October 29: Yankees Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET
Wednesday October 30: Yankees Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET*
Friday November 1: Yankees at Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET*
Saturday November 2: Yankees at Dodgers – 8:08 PM ET*

*If necessary

Does home advantage matter?

Home court is not as big an advantage as it is made out to be.

Teams with home field advantage in the World Series during the Wild Card era (since 1995) have won the championship 19 out of 28 times (67.9% success rate), the World Series 2020 (played on a neutral ground). However, when it comes to winner-take-all Game 7s, the impact of home court is less pronounced. Historically, home teams are 19-21 in these crucial World Series matchups and 64-66 in all winner-take-all postseason games, including wins over the Dodgers and Guards in their Division Series Game 5s this year.

In the World Series 2023the road team performed impressively, 4-1, with the Rangers securing their first title by winning three straight games in Arizona. In 2022, the Astros had home advantage against the Phillies but ultimately lost Game 1 at home before capturing the title. The year before was the Brave triumphed over the Astros despite having no home court, winning both Game 1 and the crucial Game 6 in enemy territory. Adding to the mix, the World Series 2019 saw the Nationals beat the Astros in a seven-game series in which the home team failed to win a single game.

How was home field advantage determined historically?

The current system for determining World Series home field advantage, based on overall winning percentage, was implemented in 2017. Notably, in the 21st century, there have been four different sets of home field advantage rules.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes to the 2020 MLB season, including adjustments for the World Series. For the first time ever, the 116th World Series will be between the Dodgers and Rays took place at a neutral site – Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas – as part of MLB’s efforts to reduce exposure to the virus. This was the first autumn classic to be played in one stadium since 1944, when the… Tanning And Cardinals took part at their shared venue, Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.