Alden Gonzalez

Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Ranking the top World Series candidates most likely to dethrone the Dodgers 🤔

This Baseball Tonight podcast episode focuses on evaluating which MLB teams have the best chance of dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are pursuing a historic third consecutive championship. Host Buster Olney is joined by ESPN baseball writers Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo for a draft-style roundtable discussion. Despite significant injuries to stars like Kyle Tucker, Edwin Diaz, Tyler Glassnow, and Blake Snell, the Dodgers maintain baseball's best record and run differential, showcasing their remarkable organizational depth. The discussion centers on potential challengers through a three-round draft format. Gonzalez selects the Atlanta Braves first, citing their offensive firepower with Matt Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr., elite bullpen trio, and rotation anchored by Chris Sale, though they need Spencer Strider to return from injury. Castillo chooses the New York Yankees second, highlighting their ability to overcome injuries to Aaron Judge and others while getting MVP-caliber performances from Ben Rice and Cy Young favorite Kam Schlittler. The conversation also explores whether the Dodgers will pursue Tigers ace Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, with debate about whether adding him would be a strategic necessity or simply preventing a competitor from acquiring him.