Adnan Virk in 2019. Jan 5, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; ESPN analyst Adnan Virk during the College Football Playoff Championship Media Day at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The World Series starts Friday night, and there is plenty to look forward to.

After several years of unpredictability, the two best teams in Major League Baseball will compete for the championship. The Los Angeles Dodgers had the best record (98-64) and run differential (+179) in the National League. The New York Yankees had the best record (94-68) and run differential (+158) in the American League. This series features several of the sport’s biggest names, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.

With two large markets and ample star power, the TV ratings could be a bonanza, especially after last year’s low-wattage meeting between the Arizona Diamondbacks-Texas Rangers, which averaged just 9.028 million viewers. That was the lowest-rated World Series in history.

To help us understand more, we recently caught up with Adnan Virk, who will be part of MLB Network’s coverage. We spoke to Virk about the matchups, the storylines, and other topics.

Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Awful Announcing: What stands out to you about this series?

Adnan Virk:  “I think it’s a dream World Series. For years when people asked me to predict at the start of the playoffs, I said, it’s never going to be (the top seeds). It just doesn’t work that way in our sport. I’m excited we’re getting the two best teams, which has only happened three times since 2000. That’s great to see the regular season being rewarded. I like a good upset. But what is the point of playing 162 (regular-season games) if you’re always going to have upsets? I want to see the best teams go head to head.”

What else are you excited about?

“It’s two iconic franchises, the Dodgers and Yankees, who are meeting for the 12th time in the World Series. The Yankees have won eight of the previous 11. They haven’t met since ’81, but they’ve got such a star power. You’ve got Ohtani, (Mookie) Betts, (Freddie) Freeman, (Giancarlo) Stanton, Judge, (Juan) Soto. Five of six players are MVPs. And the one who’s not an MVP might be the best hitter of the ball in Juan Soto. This collection of star power is what I’m most excited about. It’s truly a dream scenario. You’ve got the two biggest markets, two iconic franchises, and that collection of stars. I honestly could not hope for better in a World Series.”

If the Yankees win, it will be because of what?

“I think their starting pitching is going to be better than L.A.’s. That’s a decided advantage. They’re able to chase LA starters early. That’s what the Yankees have to do because the Dodgers have an elite bullpen, but the numbers are clear-cut. The more you face a bullpen, the more advantage it is to the offense—specifically, the third time in a series the hitters face the relievers.

“(If the Yankees’) starting pitching is strong, if Gerrit Cole can pitch into the seventh, if Carlos Rodón can give them six innings, if Clarke Schmidt is very good, that lessens the load on the Yankee relievers who have been excellent.”

If the Dodgers win, it will be because of what?

“Offensively, they’re just a better team. They’re a juggernaut in terms of their depth and their lineup protection. If you look at the Yankees and the Dodgers, one through four, you can make a case they’re relatively equal. But after that, there’s a big drop-off. Jazz Chisholm has been woeful offensively, as has Austin Wells. So they get a couple of black holes there in the lineup. Los Angeles, they don’t have that issue. Their big four is also excellent even with a hobbled Freddie Freeman who missed games four and six of the NLCS. He’s only 1 for his last 16, but you’d have to hope with six days off before Game 1, he’ll be in better shape. That’s the hope, at least for LA. But who is their NLCS MVP? The unheralded Tommy Edman. Who stepped up with big hits? Max Muncy. Who’s their all-star catcher? Will Smith. So one through nine, LA has the better lineup.”

What have you heard about Freddie Freeman’s health?

“I think most people recognize right now, if this were the regular season, Freddie Freeman would get shut down. If you watch him, he can maybe make contact, but he can’t generate any power. Even on plays he’s making at first base, when he catches the ball, he’s wincing. Just that pain in your ankle when you’re making a catch and the runner’s bearing down on you, stepping on the bag. He’s not 100%, but I think six days off is massive for him. I think they’ll do whatever treatment they can. They’ve talked about taping it up, but he found it uncomfortable. It wasn’t working for him. My hope is Freddie will come out strong on Friday and Saturday. Now, can he hold up to the duration of the series? Maybe not.”

How well-timed is Juan Soto’s free agency?

“I remember talking to Jon Heyman, the New York Post columnist and colleague at MLB Network. Heyman forwarded me his article in the Post. This was before the postseason. He polled 14 front office insiders and experts and asked, ‘How much is Soto going to get?’ The lowest guess he got was 10 years for 450. (Soto) turned down 15 for 440 from the Nationals. So, the worst offer is 450. The highest was 12 years, 660.

“Now I asked him (on Wednesday) on MLB Tonight, those numbers have changed now, haven’t they after his home run, which catapulted the Yankees back to the World Series? He goes, ‘They have. I would add another $50 million to that total.’ So, we’re looking at at least $600 million. Jon goes, ‘I don’t believe he gets to ($700 million), but he’s about to turn 26. He’s a transcendent player. He might win his second World Series. We’re talking $600 million for Juan Soto, and it’s probably going to be either the Yankees or the Mets. Amazing.”

Which manager is under the most pressure, Aaron Boone or Dave Roberts?

“Full disclosure: I’m partial to Aaron Boone. I worked with him at ESPN for years. He’s a wonderful guy. I think he did an excellent job this season. He’s been there seven years now as the Yankees manager. Next year, the team has a one-year option, which they have yet to pick up. If they win the World Series, I would think the option is picked up, plus two more years. So, I think the pressure is on Dave Roberts because this is now their fourth World Series appearance in the last eight years. If the Dodgers lose this World Series, there’s going to be this narrative that LA is a great regular-season team. Yes, they won the World Series in 2020, but that was in that funky COVID-shortened 60-game season. They haven’t won a real true World Series since 1988. So, they run the risk of being like the ’90s Atlanta Braves. I’m a big fan, by the way, of both managers. They’ve done a great job, but I’m answering your question.”

What will be your role on MLB Network during the World Series?

“I’ll be in the studio doing MLB Tonight. It’s been a blast working with the analysts and being able to watch the games and dissect big plays. It was cool to be in Texas and Arizona. But it’s also cool to be in the studio because we’ve got such great talent there. We’re able to pick apart plays and see the vital moments that are happening. I’ve been lucky. I’ve been working with Mike Lowell, World Series MVP. Carlos Peña, who has over a .900 OPS in the postseason, played in the World Series. Jake Peavy, my friend, the World Series champion, Cy Young award winner. I have such a blast working with those guys.”

How did your new gig with Amazon’s Prime Monday Night Hockey come about?

“Yeah, it’s been great. Amina Hussein, who reached out to me, was a long-time coordinating producer at ESPN. I reconnected with her the night that MLB Tonight won the Emmy this year for Most Outstanding Studio Show Daily. The next day, she got my number from my colleague Robert Flores. She said, ‘I might have a potential job for you.’ When she told me, I said, ‘Let me park my usual Canadian humility because I’m the perfect person for this job.’ She laughed. She said, ‘Why do you think I’m reaching out to you?’ I was born in Toronto but grew up in a small town. I grew up in Morven, Ontario. I follow Canadian teams. I work at the NHL Network. I’ve covered hockey my entire life… It’s been a real homecoming for me.”

You have a movie podcast. What’s the best film you’ve seen this year?

“It has been a pretty lean year for movies. I’d like to give some love to Ezra. It’s not the best movie I’ve seen, but I thought it was a sweet movie from Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro. I talked to director Tony Goldwyn on my podcast, Cinephile. I think Dune: Part Two is a strong film. I think it will do well in terms of the Academy Awards. But honestly, there hasn’t been that big film that has stood out, like Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon. So, I’m still waiting for that big movie. I can’t wait to see Anora. That won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Sean Baker directed it and it’s getting rave reviews. Gladiator II is supposed to be unbelievable. As usual, they give us all the Oscar bait in November and December. So, I’ll reserve judgment for my best movie.”

About Michael Grant

Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant.