The 2023 World Series Primer 🏆

October 27, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Rangers & Diamondbacks (By the Numbers) Before the 2023 Fall Classic

Here. We. Go. After 162 games from April to October laid the foundation for the MLB Playoffs, only two teams remain. You might’ve had Texas pegged for reaching the World Series, but you didn’t have Arizona. Over those 162 games, it came down to just one win that put the Diamondbacks into the postseason as the National League’s 6th seed. Arizona (82-78) is attempting to set the record as the team with the worst regular-season winning percentage to win the World Series. How about that? The previous record belongs to the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (83-77). Those raking Rangers have the advantage on paper, but the D-Backs have struck down two giants thus far.

Game 1 of the seven-game Fall Classic gets underway tonight, and we’ll have a fun finale of baseball for the next week. Here’s a snapshot of both World Series clubs to help you get ready for the 2023 Fall Classic.

World Series Team Comparisons

Texas Rangers (AL)

Season Record: 90-72 (AL 5th Seed)

Playoff Record: 9-3

Batting: .263 Avg. (2nd)

Runs Scored: 881 Runs (3rd)

Home Runs: 233 HRs (T-3rd)

Pitching: 4.28 ERA (18th)

Defense: 716 Runs Allowed (13th)

Roster Breakdown: It’s hard to argue against the fact that the Rangers are the better team on paper. They just are. And their roster screams it. Adolis Garcia (7), Corey Seager (3), Josh Jung (3), and Nathaniel Lowe (3) are raking homers. And while the pitching hasn’t been perfect, it’s nearly impossible to beat the Rangers’ depth on the mound in a seven-game series. Arizona will have to face Jon Gray, Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery, and Max Scherzer. Toss in the closer of a batter’s nightmare in Aroldis Chapman, and it’s an uphill battle for the D-Backs.

Arizona Diamondbacks (NL)

Season Record: 84-78 (NL 6th Seed)

Playoff Record: 9-3

Batting: .250 Avg. (14th)

Runs Scored: 746 Runs (14th)

Home Runs: 166 HRs (T-22nd)

Pitching: 4.48 ERA (20th)

Defense: 761 Runs Allowed (20th)

Roster Breakdown: The D-Backs are a fun team to watch, but not quite as flashy as their World Series counterparts. They’re full of youth with an underdog mentality, featuring rookie of the year Corbin Carroll, and a few veterans sprinkled throughout the lineup, like Tommy Pham and Evan Longoria. The difference-maker for Arizona has been their pitching core of Brandon Pfaadt, Zac Gallen, and a bullpen that’s been clutch. Combine the pitching with some breakout bats and a playoff full of home runs (13), and the D-Backs went from playoff longshots to World Series contenders.

Fun Run Facts: The Rangers (71 runs) have scored 20 more runs than the Diamondbacks (51 runs) in the playoffs despite both teams playing the same number of games (12).

$\"⚾️\"$ World Series Schedule

Gm 1: D-Backs at Rangers (Fri. 8:03 pm ET)

Gm 2: D-Backs at Rangers (Sat. 8:03 pm ET)

Gm 3: Rangers at D-Backs (Mon. 8:03 pm ET)

Gm 4: Rangers at D-Backs (Tues. 8:03 pm ET)

Gm 5: Rangers at D-Backs (Wed. 8:03 pm ET)

Gm 6: D-Backs at Rangers (Next Fri. 8:03 pm ET)

Gm 7: D-Backs at Rangers (Next Sat. 8:03 pm ET)

*All Games on FOX

SI: Diamondbacks Eager to Continue Defying Doubters in World Series

FOX Sports: World Series Preview: Rangers-Diamondbacks — Who’s Got the Edge?

Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images