LOS ANGELES — If the Yankees somehow make it back to the World Series, they have to hope it’s not a rematch.

We don’t need the foresight from the Dodgers’ pre-World Series scouting report—especially the part forecasting a Yankees breakdown—to grasp why the Dodgers were so self-assured at that time. Simply glance at the scoreboard to see why.

Dodgers star Mookie Betts accidentally injured his toe on an unfriendly wall just before these two prominent teams clashed for the first time since last October’s unfortunate thrashing, sidelining him. Meanwhile, the Yankees metaphorically stubbed their toes after traveling the 45 miles to Los Angeles from Anaheim. Their streak of nine victories in 10 games prior to hitting LA seems a distant memory after the Dodgers handed them an even more severe beating than in that ill-fated 2024 World Series.

As for the Yankees, disheartening preceded disastrous here.