World Series: Rangers-Diamondbacks Schedule, Preview, and More

The Arizona Diamondbacks will take on the Texas Rangers in the World Series, just like you predicted. And by “You,” we’re referring to the freshly-minted millionaire psychic who took these teams in a preseason bet, because the so-called experts definitely did not predict this outcome.

The Diamondbacks snuck into the postseason as a Wild Card with a -15 run differential, and finished a full 16 games behind the NL West-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. Less than two weeks later, they had swept the Dodgers in the NLDS. The D-backs then overcame a 3-2 hole to the Philadelphia Phillies, whose home stadium was such an advantage, a well-known sports pundit swore he’d quit his job if Arizona won (spoiler alert: he didn’t).

The Rangers’ World Series run is only slightly less improbable. After leading the ultra-competitive AL West for 159 days during the regular season, Texas lost a tiebreaker to the Houston Astros on closing day, dropping them into a Wild Card spot. From there, the Rangers would sweep the Tampa Bay Rays and the top-seeded Baltimore Orioles. And in the ALCS against the defending World Series Champion Astros, Texas would battle back from a 3-2 series deficit to win the final two games on the road by an aggregate score of 20-6.

All told, these improbable storylines set up one of the most unlikely World Series in recent memory, with the Rangers chasing the team’s first World Series and the Diamondbacks looking for their first title since beating the Yankees in seven games in 2001. Here’s a closer look at both teams. Game 1 is Friday, Oct. 27 at 8pm ET on FOX, check out the full schedule below.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Manager: Torey Lovullo

Game 1 Starting Pitcher: Zac Gallen

Projected Game 1 Starting Lineup:

1. Ketel Marte, 2B
2. Corbin Carroll, RF
3. Gabriel Moreno, C
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Tommy Pham, DH
6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
7. Alek Thomas, CF
8. Evan Longoria, 3B
9. Geraldo Perdomo, SS

Players to Watch: Texas’ Adolis García is naturally getting a lot of attention due to his RBI streak, but D-backs’ second baseman Ketel Marte, the NLCS MVP, has his own crazy streak going. Including the 2017 postseason, Marte has hit safely in 16 consecutive postseason games; if he gets a hit in Game 1 of the World Series, he’ll tie the record shared by Manny Ramirez, Hank Bauer and Derek Jeter. And on a team loaded with talented rookies, Corbin Carroll stands above them all. The presumptive NL Rookie of the Year had three hits, two RBI, and two stolen bases in his team’s Game 7 win over the Phillies.  

Texas Rangers

Manager: Bruce Bochy

Game 1 Startling Pitcher: Jordan Montgomery

Projected Game 1 Starting Lineup:

World Series Schedule

All times Eastern