The Texas Rangers are the 2023 World Series favorites as they prepare to host the Arizona Diamondbacks for Game 1 on Friday (8:00 PM ET). The Rangers are among a limited number of Major League-level teams on the North American sports frontier that have never won their respective league's title. They came pretty close in 2011 but it has been a long twelve years since David Freese's fly ball went for extra bases, a memory Rangers' fans will be trying to bury in the upcoming several days. My Diamondbacks vs Rangers prediction is that Game 1 of the 2023 World Series will have OVER 8.0 runs.
To Win 2023 World Series: ARI Diamondbacks v TEX Rangers (bet365)
ARI Diamondbacks +155
TEX Rangers -175
Arizona vs Texas Prediction: Latest MLB News
The Rangers enter the World Series on an extra day of rest. Both teams played seven games in the league championship round. However, the scheduling favored Texas just a little bit in this case. Nonetheless, each team has a great starter for Game 1.
The Diamondbacks will send Zac Gallen while Texas has Nathan Eovaldi. Gallen is 2-2 in the playoffs with a 5.24 ERA and a WHIP of 1.48. He will be looking to hit better form for his club as the D'backs cannot afford to go without top performances from their best players.
Eovaldi has an ERA of 2.42 in the playoffs and a 4-0 record. Texas would not be where they are now without him. Eovaldi last pitched on the 22nd while Gallen last pitched on the 21st.
The Diamondbacks are into the World Series as one of the worst teams to ever make it. Some might find that history astounding. However, the basic fact is that it would have been very hard for a team with an 84-78 record to even make the playoffs for a huge part of MLB's history. It was not even 30 years ago when the league expanded to an 8-team playoff format, let alone the 12-team one we see now. The Diamondbacks appearing in the World Series mainly reflects the expanding playoff format, love it or hate it.
The Rangers could be looked at for their own interesting trends. They had a losing record on the road this season. But in the playoffs, they are undefeated as visitors -- despite playing the best competition. This World Series matchup is really a head-scratcher from some point of view.
Diamondbacks vs Rangers Prediction: Betting Tips
With the pitching matchup, my prediction is that Game 1 will have OVER 8.0 runs (bet365). Eovaldi wasn't at his very best in the ALCS. Meanwhile, Gallen has been pretty easy pickings for hitters. He has given up six dingers so far this postseason.
Also, I think that both the NLCS and the ALCS going seven games helps hitters a little. Yes, they've had some days off before the World Series. But some of the pitching arms might not quite be perfect. The bar looks pretty low for total runs and bettors should be taking the OVER at -115 (bet365).
