Tank's World Series Preview

Frank The Tank10/27/2023 2:50 PM

Ron Vesely. Getty Images.

2023 World Series

Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamond Backs
Rangers in Six

Two years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers topped 100 losses. Now, they will be playing in the World Series. The meteoric rise of the Rangers and Diamondbacks is a shock and a demonstration of how crazy the MLB Postseason has become. This has led teams like the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers to complain that they were disadvantaged, as the baseball media is upset that the Fall Classic lacks star power. Meanwhile, Fox Executives are in a state of depression as television ratings could be the lowest ever for the World Series.

Both teams took similar paths to the World Series. They were underdogs every step of the way and have been road warriors. They each won four road playoff games before playing their first home. The Rangers swept the Rays in the Wild Card and won the first two games in Baltimore before sweeping the 100-win Orioles in the Division Series. The Diamondbacks meanwhile rallied to beat the Brewers in two games in the Wild Card before sweeping the 100-win Dodgers. The Rangers defeated the Astros in a Lone Star showdown, with the road team winning all seven games, while the D-Backs retired Chris Russo and stunned the experts by taking down the Phillies, winning the final two games in Philadelphia.

Each team has a hot hitter that won the LCS MVP. Ketel Marte comes into the World Series on a 16-game hitting streak. It is one short of the MLB record and the most for a player starting their postseason career. Marte is hitting .358 in the playoffs with two home runs and seven RBI. He has seemingly been in the middle of every critical rally for Arizona, as the Diamondbacks stunned the Phillies after losing the first two games and trailing 5-2 in Game 4. Adolis Garcia has been even hotter. In Dallas, he will be a legend; in Houston, he will be a villain, as he slammed the Astros in the ALCS, hitting five home runs, including two in Game 7.

Ultimately, it will be pitching that decides the series. The Rangers' bullpen, much maligned in the regular season, has been strong in the playoffs. With the exception of his Game 5 loss, Jose Leclerc has been solid in the closer role, recording three saves. Josh Sborez has a 1.04 ERA in eight postseason appearances, while Nathan Eovaldi has won all four starts, and Jordan Montgomery has won three games, including a win in relief of an ineffective Max Scherzer in Game 7. The Diamondbacks beat the Phillies with Zac Gallen pitching poorly, losing two games. Brandon Pfaadt picked up the slack, shutting down the Phillies twice, including Game 3, which was the turning point of the NLCS. However, it is Arizona's bullpen that has been the difference, as Paul Sewald has yet to allow a run, pitching eight scoreless innings in the postseason with a win and six saves.

Looking up and down the rosters, this is the Rangers' World Series to lose. Both teams have been the underdog in each series, but the Rangers won 90 games and have a deeper lineup and a better pitching rotation, even with Max Scherzer being washed up. Look for this series to go six games, with the Rangers winning the first World Series.