It’s been a remarkable year for Shohei Ohtani, who signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers last December. But the most remarkable part is that it began with a career-threatening controversy.

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani strolled into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse about three and a half hours before first pitch, displaying the easygoing demeanor of a kid he once was growing up in Japan. He smiled. He joked with teammates. He appeared completely relaxed, just happy to come to the field to play baseball.

The best individual players on the Yankees and Dodgers offer previously unmatched levels of greatness among the best head-to-head World Series matchups.