Players to watch in this year’s Diamondbacks-Rangers World Series matchup
ADOLIS GARCÍA, the Rangers outfielder, was named American League Championship Series MVP after putting up a .357 batting average and 15 runs batted in. García has been a crucial piece of the Rangers success in their 2023 run. PHOTO courtesy of flickr
This year’s world series will feature two Wild Card teams from the American League and National League, the first time this has happened since the 2014 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. Both teams won their league’s Wild Card game. Both the Diamondbacks and Rangers had a long road this postseason in reaching the World Series.
The Diamondbacks swept the Milwaukee Brewers in two games in the National League Wild Card Series, swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in three games in the National League Division Series and beat the Philadelphia Phillies in seven games in the National League Championship Series.
Meanwhile, the Rangers swept the Tampa Bay Rays in two games in the American League Wild Card Series, swept the Baltimore Orioles in three games in the American League Division Series and beat the reigning World Champion Houston Astros in seven games in the American League Championship Series.
Key players to watch this series include Rangers outfielder Adolis García, after he was named ALCS MVP when he put up a .357 batting average, five home runs and 15 runs batted in, with the 15 RBIs being a MLB record for the most RBIs in a single postseason series. Another player to watch is Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, who was named NLCS MVP after putting up a .387 batting average, five extra base-hits, and three RBIs. Marte also set an MLB record this postseason by recording a hit in 16 straight games to begin a postseason career and is one game away from tying the MLB record for the longest postseason hitting streak.
Other notable players to watch during this series include:
- Rangers shortstop Corey Seager after he launched a 440-foot home run to put the Rangers ahead in Game 7 of the ALCS.
- Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, who has posted a .295 batting average, a .851 on base plus slugging percentage, two home runs and six RBIs this postseason.
- Rangers starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery, who recorded three wins and no losses to go along with a 2.16 earned run average this postseason.
- Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, who has a .279 batting average, a .852 on base plus slugging percentage, three home runs and nine RBIs this postseason.
Game 1 between the Diamondbacks and Rangers featured both teams’ ace starting pitchers, with the Diamondbacks starting Zac Gallen and the Rangers starting Nathan Eovaldi. In the postseason, Gallen recorded two wins and two losses, while recording a 5.24 earned run average. Eovaldi was also impressive, recording four wins and no losses this postseason with a 2.42 earned run average. The Rangers beat the Diamondbacks in extra-inning in the Game 1 matchup.
Both the Diamondbacks and Rangers have little experience in the World Series. The Diamondbacks have only been to the World Series once before, beating the New York Yankees in seven games in 2001. While the Texas Rangers have been to the World Series twice before 2023, they have zero World Series titles in their franchise history.
The World Series started at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, home of the Rangers where Games 1 and 2 were played. With the series currently tied at 1-1, as of writing this article, the matchup will move to Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, for Games 3 and 4 and a fifth game if necessary. If the series requires a sixth or seventh game, it will head back to Texas.