LOS ANGELES – Game 1 of the World Series will have a SoCal feel. Not just because it will be played at Dodger Stadium, but both starting pitchers have area ties.
Studio City Harvard-Westlake School alum Jack Flaherty will toe the rubber for the Dodgers and his counterpart for the Yankees will be Orange Lutheran High School alum Gerrit Cole.
Both were first-round picks coming out of high school. Flaherty was selected with the 34th pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 while Cole was taken 28th by the New York Yankees in 2008 before opting for UCLA and eventually becoming the number one overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty speaks during a news conference ahead of Game 1 of a baseball NL Championship Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) 
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty throws against the New York Mets during the first inning in Game 1 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) 
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws during the first inning in Game 4 of an American League Division baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) 
Gerrit Cole acknowledges fans after the New York Yankees clinched the American League East title after defeating the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Not to mention, a Bruin and Trojan will lead each team into the Fall Classic. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Yankees skipper Aaron Boone played against each other during their days at UCLA and USC, respectively.
Roberts also announced Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be the Game 2 starting pitcher. So, what does the rest of the series look like for Dodger pitching?
Roberts said either Game 3 or 4 will be a bullpen game and it’s assumed the other start will go to Walker Buehler. The Dodgers skipper also added Yamamoto will go in Game 6, if needed. This allows for Yamamoto to be available on his normal rest with there being two off days in between his starts (after Games 2 and 5) and Buehler to either start or be available for a potential Game 7, along with Flaherty on short rest to eat some innings, as well as the bullpen in an all-hands-on-deck scenario.
Seeing how Roberts manages the bullpen in Game 2 could give a clue into what his plans are for Game 3 — the beginning of potentially three straight games in New York. If we don’t see any of those high-leverage arms, similar to Game 2 of the NLCS, chances are Game 3 could be a bullpen affair.
Dodgers Possible World Series Pitching Rotation:
Game 1: Jack Flaherty
Game 2: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Game 3: Walker Buehler OR bullpen
Game 4: Walker Buehler OR bullpen
Game 5: (if necessary): Flaherty
Game 6: (if necessary): Yamamoto
Game 7: (if necessary): Buehler/bullpen – All-Hands-On-Deck
