For the New York Yankees, the real opening day is World Series Game 1. A little bubbly for a playoff berth, the AL East, the Division Series and their 41st pennant were just warmups.

For the first time since 1981, the New York Yankees will be playing their longtime rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the World Series; the Dodgers punched their ticket to the Fall Classic on Sunday with a dominant 10-5 victory over the New York Mets to win the NLCS in six games.

The Yankees had a bye for the American League Wild Card series before hosting the Royals for Game 1 of the ALDS. The Bronx Bombers won the series opener but then fell flat offensively in Game 2. The Yankees won the next two games at Kauffman Stadium to advance to the ALCS.