In a stunning twist of fate, the 2023 World Series is set to showcase an epic clash between two resilient wild-card teams known for their prowess on the road. The Texas Rangers will open their home field to the Arizona Diamondbacks as they square off in Game One on Friday, igniting what promises to be an exhilarating championship showdown.
For the Texas Rangers, home-field advantage has not proven to be a game-changer, as they dropped three home games but managed to secure four critical victories at Minute Maid Park in their triumph over the defending champion Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).
The Rangers embarked on their playoff journey with blazing intensity, delivering two road victories against the Tampa Bay Rays and emerging victorious from the wild-card round. They then continued their remarkable run by sweeping the formidable 101-win Baltimore Orioles in the Division Series and, most impressively, by overcoming the Astros in Game Seven of the ALCS, securing the franchise’s third pennant in their quest for a maiden World Series championship.
In Game One, the Rangers will turn to their seasoned manager, Bruce Bochy, who has entrusted ace pitcher Nathan Eovaldi with the task of taking the mound. The 33-year-old right-hander started the season on a dominant note before a forearm strain sidelined him for more than a month. Eovaldi encountered struggles upon his return but has rediscovered his form in the playoffs, providing a glimmer of hope for the Rangers’ championship aspirations.
On the opposing side of the diamond, the Arizona Diamondbacks have orchestrated a remarkable journey to reach the pinnacle of Major League Baseball. Despite finishing the regular season a significant 16 games behind the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the “D-backs” displayed their mettle by sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in two games and stunning the heavily-favored Dodgers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
While their resolve was tested with consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS, the Diamondbacks mounted an extraordinary comeback, clinching Games Six and Seven amid the fervent atmosphere of Citizens Bank Park to secure the NL pennant.
The Diamondbacks, an expansion team that entered the league in 1998, have tasted World Series success before, most notably in 2001 when they dismantled the New York Yankees’ dynasty in a thrilling seven-game series to claim their sole championship title.
Arizona will entrust the opening pitcher role to right-hander Zac Gallen, who earned his first All-Star selection this season. At the plate, the Diamondbacks will look to the impressive contributions of presumptive NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll and the NLCS MVP, Ketel Marte, who is riding an astonishing 16-game postseason hitting streak.
For the Rangers, the electrifying Adolis Garcia, patrolling right field, remains a beacon of hope. The Cuban slugger etched his name in the record books by driving in a postseason series record of 15 RBIs, highlighted by a Game Six grand slam and two Game Seven homers, which earned him the NLCS MVP accolade.
While this championship series may not have been the expected matchup, Bruce Bochy, a three-time World Series-winning manager with the San Francisco Giants, expressed his anticipation and gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “This is what you dream about, this is what you sacrifice for, it’s what you play for – to have the ability to play on the biggest stage in baseball. You have to savor and be honored by it because it doesn’t happen a lot. It’s not easy to get here, so enjoy.”
