World Series Breaks Records

The 2018 World Series was played between the American League champion Boston Red Sox and the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox entered the postseason as the top seed in the league after finishing with a 108–54 record. They won the American League East division title for the third consecutive season and were the first team to clinch a playoff berth.

The 2018 Red Sox were led by All-Stars Mookie Betts, Craig Kimbrel, J. D. Martinez, Mitch Moreland, and Chris Sale. Betts, the 2018 American League MVP (most valuable player), led the MLB in batting average and slugging percentage, where Martinez led in RBIs (runs batted in).

Sale only threw 158 innings due to a shoulder injury late in the season, but still finished with a 2.11 earned run average and 237 strikeouts. Kimbrel saved 42 games and struck out 96 batters.

The Dodgers had a 16–26 (.381) start to the season and lost nine in an eleven game stretch in August. They made the playoffs for the sixth straight year by winning the division in game 163 over the Rockies. At the July trade deadline, the team acquired All-Star shortstop, Manny Machado, from the Orioles to replace injured shortstop, Corey Seager. They also received former All-Star second baseman, Brian Dozier, from the Twins and in August, former World Series MVP David Freese from the Pirates.

For the second year in a row, the Dodgers broke their franchise record for most team home runs in a season. With a 92–71 (.564) record, the team entered the playoffs as the second seed. The Red Sox beat the Dodgers in five games to win their fourth World Series title in 15 years and their ninth in franchise history.

Steve Pearce won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, while Alex Cora became the fifth first-season manager, and first manager from Puerto Rico, to win the World Series. The Series was recognized for its third game that went for 18 innings, a World Series record. On October 28, Los Angeles became the first city to host an MLB (Game 5 of the World Series), NFL (Rams), NHL (Kings), MLS (Galaxy) and NBA (Clippers) game all on the same day.