Dodgers-Yankees WS unfolds

MANILA, Philippines —  The most eagerly anticipated World Series showdown in decades gets under way here Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees in what promises to be a baseball blockbuster for the ages.

The star-studded collision between two of the sport’s most iconic franchises is the 12th World Series involving the historical rivals and comes some 43 years after their last Fall Classic showdown in 1981.

All eyes will be on the Dodgers’ Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, the record-breaking phenomenon regarded as the best all-round player since the legendary Babe Ruth.

Ohtani is part of an array of talent who will take the field at Dodger Stadium for Game One of the best-of-seven series.

As well as Ohtani, the Dodgers boast former MVPs such as Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, while the Yankees have home run king Aaron Judge and a big-hitting line-up that includes Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto.

“Dodgers-Yankees, two pillar franchises in the sport, with a lot of history, going back a long, long time,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday.

“It’s certainly special.”