Now, we're down to 2.
The 2023 World Series begins tonight in Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Two Wild Card teams which led their divisions during the regular season, only to fade late.
Arizona won the regular season series between the teams, 3-1. Job one for Torey Luvullo and the D-Backs is to maintain the momentum from taking the last two games of the NLCS in Philadelphia and bouncing the Phillies from the tournament. The Phillies have their own baggage, but that's another story.
One catalyst for Arizona is outfielder Tommy Pham, acquired from the Mets around the trade deadline. Another ex-Met, Paul Sewald, is Arizona's closer after coming over from Seattle. During last off-season, Arizona traded for Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. (Toronto). Rookie Corbin Carroll is considered a front-runner for Rookie of The Year honors. The rotation, however, bent, but didn't break against Philadelphia. The D-Backs are hoping Zac Gallen will find his range vs. the Rangers.
When the season began, the Rangers were banking on an all-star starting rotation featuring ex-Met Jacob deGrom, along with Jon Gray and Nathan Eovaldi. Unfortunately, deGrom didn't last, and had to undergo Tommy John surgery just a few weeks into the season. So, Texas acquired injury-prone Max Scherzer from the Mets at the deadline, and he's had injury issues as well, getting lit up by Houston in the ALCS. Eovaldi has stepped up to become the Rangers' de facto ace. That veteran rotation is surrounded mostly by youth on defense. Catcher Jonah Heim, for example, is in his 3rd season.
So it becomes a case of who's hungrier. The last time Arizona got this far, they upset the Yankees in 2001 behind veteran starters Randy Johnson & Curt Schilling. Texas made its only World Series appearance 10 years ago under Ron Washington. Bruce Bochy, he of the 3 rings with San Francisco, was brought in, seemingly as the final piece of the puzzle.
Former president and Rangers owner George W. Bush will throw out the first pitch tonight. You know what would be really cool? A certain "Texas Rattlesnake" showing up to do the same during the Series at the request of Fox. Yeah. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Since Smackdown is being bumped to FS1 tonight, and, presumably, next Friday if the series goes at least six games, it'd make some sense. Just sayin'.
The pick: Arizona in 6. Of course, I could be wrong.
Post-season record: 5-5.
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