MLB Announces Questionable Lineup of Umpires for 2024 World Series

Mark Carlson will be the crew chief throughout the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, while Carlos Torres and Andy Fletcher will call balls and strikes in Games 1 and 2.

Aug 31, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Umpires Carlos Torres, left, and Chard Fairchild wait for a replay review during the sixth inning of the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

With the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees about to take center stage at the World Series, fans are crossing their fingers that the Fall Classic doesn't become an ump show.

MLB announced the seven umpires that will be calling balls and strikes over the next seven games, should the series last that long. Mark Carlson has been designated as the crew chief, and he will be behind home plate in Game 3.

Carlos Torres and Andy Fletcher, making their first World Series appearances, will serve as home plate umpires in Games 1 and 2, respectively. Doug Eddings will call Game 4, followed by Mark Ripperger, Chad Fairchild and Todd Tichenor. Eddings, like Torres and Fletcher, will also be making his World Series debut.

Between those seven umpires, there is cause for concern regarding their ability to keep a consistent strike zone over the next few weeks.

Umpire Auditor had Ripperger ranked 20th out of 90 across the league this season, and he is the highest-rated of the bunch. Tichenor ranked 24th, while Torres ranked 32nd and Fairchild ranked 37th.

Carlson ranked just outside of the top half, coming in at No. 49. Eddings was in the bottom third as the No. 60 umpire, but he isn't the lowest-rated member of the World Series lineup – Fletcher came in at No. 73 in 2024.

World Series Umpires Announced:

Game 1: Carlos Torres (ranked 32nd of 90, 1st WS)
Game 2: Andy Fletcher (73rd, 1st WS)
Game 3: Mark Carlson (49th)
Game 4: Doug Eddings (60th)
Game 5: Mark Ripperger (18th, 1st WS)
Game 6: Chad Fairchild (37th)
Game 7: Todd Tichenor (24th)

— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) October 24, 2024

The questionable umpire choices aren't anything new this postseason, either. Umpire Auditor reported that only four of the 11 umpires in the ALCS and NLCS ranked inside the top half during the regular season, and those series featured a combined 116 missed calls.

Game 1 is scheduled to get underway at 8:08 p.m. ET.

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