2018 World Series
The 2018 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 2018 season. The 114th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox and the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers in five games to win their fourth World Series title in 15 years dating back to 2004, and their ninth in franchise history. This was the second World Series matchup between the two franchises, after the Red Sox defeated the Brooklyn Robins (later known as the Dodgers) in five games in 1916. The series was sponsored by the Internet television service YouTube TV and officially known as the 2018 World Series presented by YouTube TV.[2]
For other uses, see 2018 World Series (disambiguation).2018 World Series
October 23–28
Fenway Park (Boston)
Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)
Steve Pearce (Boston)
Ted Barrett (crew chief), Fieldin Culbreth (Games 3–5), Kerwin Danley, Chad Fairchild, Jeff Nelson, Jim Reynolds, Tim Timmons (Games 1–2)[1]
Fox (United States – English)
Fox Deportes (United States – Spanish)
MLB International (International - English)
Joe Buck, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci (Fox)
Rolando Nichols, Carlos Álvarez and Edgar Gonzalez (Fox Deportes)
Matt Vasgersian and Buck Martinez (MLB International)
Dan Shulman (Games 1–4), Jon Sciambi (Game 5), Chris Singleton and Buster Olney (ESPN)
Eduardo Ortega and Orlando Hernández (ESPN Deportes)
Joe Castiglione, Tim Neverett and Lou Merloni (WEEI)
Uri Berenguer (WCCM)
Charley Steiner and Rick Monday (KLAC)
Jaime Jarrín and Jorge Jarrín (KTNQ)
Richard Choi and Chong Ho Yim (KMPC)
Boston Red Sox over Houston Astros (4–1)
Los Angeles Dodgers over Milwaukee Brewers (4–3)
The Series was televised in the United States on Fox. Steve Pearce won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, while Alex Cora became the fifth first-season manager[3] and first manager from Puerto Rico[4] to win the World Series. The Series was notable for its third game which lasted 18 innings, a World Series record.
The 2018 World Series was the first since 2000 to feature two teams which had also reached the postseason in the prior year. Additionally, the Red Sox became the first team to win two World Series exactly one century apart, as they had defeated the Chicago Cubs in 1918, while the Dodgers were the first team since the 2011 Texas Rangers, and the first NL team since the 1992 Atlanta Braves, to lose consecutive World Series.
Broadcasting[edit]
Television[edit]
The World Series was televised nationally by Fox for the 19th straight year. Joe Buck was the play-by-play announcer, with John Smoltz as the color commentator. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci were the field reporters.[127] Fox Deportes offered a Spanish-language feed, with Rolando Nichols providing play-by-play and Carlos Álvarez and Edgar Gonzalez doing color commentary.[128]
Outside of the United States, MLB International carried the series with play-by-play by Matt Vasgersian and color commentary by Buck Martinez.[128]
Aftermath[edit]
Miscellaneous[edit]
During the 2018–2019 off-season, the Dodgers signed former Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly to a three-year deal.[150] Kelly was marvelous in the World Series against the Dodgers, having struck out ten batters and not allowing a run in five games pitched. Kelly, an Angels fan who disliked the Dodgers growing up in Corona,[151] became a fan favorite with Dodger fans throughout his tenure with the team.[152][153]
Four months after the 2018 World Series, the Patriots won Super Bowl LIII, meaning the greater Boston area celebrated multiple championships for the 2018 MLB and NFL seasons. Greater Boston accomplished feat 14 years previously when the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years, while the Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years. Like the ‘18 Red Sox, the Patriots beat a Los Angeles team (the Rams) in the Championship Game.
As of 2024, this is the most recent World Series to have had no games played in Texas. The Houston Astros would win AL pennants in 2019, 2021 and 2022, while the Texas Rangers, who won the AL pennant in 2023, also hosted the 2020 World Series due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boston Red Sox[edit]
The 2018 World Series would be the peak for the 2016–2018 Red Sox, who were the first Red Sox teams in franchise history to win the American League East for three straight seasons.[154] President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski was fired on September 9, 2019, just 10 months after winning the 2018 World Series. On the field, Boston's top three starters in 2018 — Chris Sale, David Price, and Nathan Eovaldi — all missed significant time due to injury in 2019. Overall, the Red Sox would finish 19 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees in 2019. After the season, the team replaced Dombrowski with Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom.
Three significant events happened to the Red Sox before the start of the 2020 season that shaped the course of the team's future: