The Fall Classic is set. Here’s how, and what, to watch
The World Series is set.
After a pair of Game 7s and some thrilling baseball, the Texas Rangers are set to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series.
Here is how, and what, to watch in the Fall Classic.
Schedule and television information
Game 1: Diamondbacks at Rangers, Friday, October 27, 8:03 p.m., FOX
Game 2: Diamondbacks at Rangers, Saturday, October 28, 8:03 p.m., FOX
Game 3: Rangers at Diamondbacks, Monday, October 30, 8:03 p.m., FOX
Game 4: Rangers at Diamondbacks, Tuesday, October 31, 8:03 p.m., FOX
Game 5: Rangers at Diamondbacks, Wednesday, November 1, 8:03 p.m., FOX*
Game 6: Diamondbacks at Rangers, Friday, November 3, 8:03 p.m., FOX*
Game 7: Diamondbacks at Rangers, Saturday, November 4, 8:03 p.m., FOX*
*If necessary
Storylines
With the Rangers, it starts with Adolis García. The slugger had as enjoyed a postseason for the ages, putting up an incredible 15 RBI in the ALCS alone, a postseason record. García has 20 RBI entering the World Series, putting him just one shy of the MLB record for a player in the playoffs.
But this is an entire lineup that can mash. As a team the Rangers enter the World Series with an OPS of .825, second only to the Phillies, who will be watching from home. While García has an OPS of 1.102 in the playoffs, shortstop Corey Seager bests him with a 1.127 OPS. Marcus Semien might be cold right now, with an OPS of .507 in the playoffs, but if he gets hot too? Watch out.
This Texas lineup will punish mistakes.
However, they’ll face a pitching staff that has been very impressive in the playoffs. Arizona enters the World Series with a team ERA of 3.34 in the postseason, third best among the playoff teams. The Diamondbacks have also posted a WHIP of 1.27 in the playoffs, and hitters are batting just .237 against Arizona’s staff in the postseason.
Entering the playoffs, the book on the Diamondbacks was speed on offense, but to that Arizona added a bit of pop during the playoffs. The Diamondbacks posted a slugging percentage of .432 in the playoffs, along with an OPS of .748. Of course, the speed factor is still there. The Diamondbacks have swiped 16 bases so far in the playoffs, tied with the Phillies for the most among playoff teams, and well ahead of the nine from the Rangers.
Beyond all of that, the biggest storyline might be the near-immediate turnarounds for both teams. The Rangers lost 102 games two seasons ago, and spent their way out of that hole. Texas added Corey Seager and Marcus Semien (as well as Jon Gray) prior to 2022, then followed it up a year later with Jacob deGrom (who underwent Tommy John surgery in June) and Nathan Eovaldi.
As for the Diamondbacks, they lost 110 games two seasons ago, a year which saw ace Zac Gallen go 4-10. They lost 88 games a year ago. But then Corbin Carroll – the NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner — broke out this season. Ketel Marte got healthy, played like an All-Star, and set an MLB record on Tuesday night when he got a hit in his 16th-straight playoff game, the most ever for a player starting his postseason career. Marte took home NLCS MVP honors for that effort.
A hit in Game 1 of the World Series would see Marte tie Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, and Hank Bauer as the only players with a hit in 17-straight playoff games.
Oh, and Gallen went 17-9 this season.
More than anything else, quick turnarounds are the story of this World Series.
Prediction
Frankly? I am absolutely the last person to ask this question. I picked the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series when the playoffs began, and they were swept right out of the ALDS. I ranked the Phillies and the Astros as the top two teams heading into the LCS, and both teams will be watching the World Series on the couch with me.
So you can look at this prediction in either one of two ways: Either I’m due, or I’m guaranteed to get it wrong. So there is something for fans of both teams to cling to.
I put the Phillies at the top of the rankings going into the LCS, partly because of the advantage they had playing at home. Well … Arizona went into Citizens Bank Park and won a pair of games to get here. They’re pitching well, and have found ways to get the job done. Texas can absolutely mash … but so could the Phillies.
I’m rolling with the Diamondbacks in seven games.
