While fans love an underdog story, it’s the heavyweights that truly drive baseball’s biggest moments—and the numbers back it up. Last season’s World Series saw the sixth-seed Arizona Diamondbacks face off against the fifth-seed Texas Rangers, a refreshing storyline that brought hope to other small-market teams. But this year, we’re witnessing a completely different type of matchup, with baseball’s two top-seeded juggernauts, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, taking center stage.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!And so far, fans have been loving it.
After Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of Game 1, the internet erupted. Even casual fans who rarely watch baseball were suddenly Googling what exactly a “grand slam” is.
The numbers tell the story: 15.2 million viewers tuned in for Game 1, marking a 62% increase from last year and making it the most-watched Game 1 since 2017, another year featuring the Dodgers. The trend isn’t confined to the World Series, either. The NLCS between the Dodgers and Mets also saw significant increases in viewership, with Game 3 spiking by 44% from last year.
Must-see ???? on FS1#NLCS Game 3 on FS1 checks in as most-watched telecast on the network since 2021, up 44% from last year’s NLCS Game 3. ⚾️
Postseason-to-date: The 2024 MLB Postseason on FOX and FS1 is averaging 4,701,000 viewers, up 40% vs. last season through LCS Game 3 and… pic.twitter.com/aCNtzZbm1L
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) October 17, 2024
For Diamondbacks fans, it may be tough to watch their rivals on the biggest stage. But, if anything, this postseason has shown that big-market teams still capture the nation’s attention, making MLB’s dream matchups a win for the growth of the game.
