The Texas Rangers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to win Game 1 in dramatic style. This leaves the Arizona Diamondbacks down a game in the World Series.
You don’t have to wait long for Game 2. These two teams meet on Saturday, with the Diamondbacks in a Texas-sized hole, and there may be no oil at the bottom of this well. Caesars lists Texas as the slight favorite for Game 2.
World Series odds now price the Rangers as favorites, according to Bet365. But this Fall Classic is far from over.
Game 2 World Series Odds
D’backs Bullpen Finally Stumbles in 9th Inning
Once again in Game 1, the D’backs simply wore down the opponent. Like a wrestler using a sleeper hold, Arizona isn’t flashy. They simply slowly, methodically subdue the other team. Two-run hole after one inning? No worries, the D’backs bounced back with their ninth inning of 3+ runs this postseason, and gradually pulled away.
The D’backs held a 5-3 advantage in the ninth and had their closer, Paul Sewald, on the mound. The Arizona bullpen had strung together 12 consecutive scoreless innings going back to the NL Championship Series. But, Sewald only had a chance to throw one pitch to Corey Seager, who smacked a towering home run to tie the game with one out in the ninth.
Neither team could score in the 10th, so it was the 11th where the drama took place. Adolis Garcia, MVP of the ALCS, hit a walk-off homer to win Game 1, 6-5 for Texas. That’s five straight games with a home run for Garcia.
Game 2 Pitching Matchup
Merrill Kelly (2-1, 2.65 ERA, 19 K) vs. Jordan Montgomery (3-0, 2.16 ERA, 17 K)
This game should be less about WHO is on the mound and more about the approach from the lineups. The Rangers seemed to be overanxious at the dish in Game 1.
For most of the Texas hitters, they’ve never experienced the pressure of performing on the biggest stage with a championship trophy on the line. No matter how cool an athlete is, that scenario can make the uniform feel tighter and the bat feel heavier.
The Rangers must be asking themselves if this is the magical October for the D’backs. Texas plated two runs in Game 1 but saw Arizona score three. The Rangers tied the game, only for Arizona to jump back ahead.
Montgomery can’t take away the unyielding spirit of the D’backs. He can only hope to make pitches that will lead to weak contact. The problem is the Diamondbacks are squaring the baseball.
And, oh, the troubles when they get runners on base. The Diamondbacks have been successful in their last 17 stolen base attempts.
If Texas flails at sliders and cutters as they did in the last six innings of Game 1, they may find themselves in a 2-0 hole on their way to the airport to fly northwest to Phoenix.
Montgomery has a glimmering ERA this postseason, but it hides the fact that opposing teams have hit the ball hard (exit velocity in the top 8% this PS). If more of those balls land on green grass, this could be a high-scoring game.
Game 2 Prediction
This is likely to be a long series, if only because both teams have fought through so much adversity to get here. Following an extra-inning game on Friday, it’s clear neither team will flinch. That’s why we like Arizona to win Game 2, in a game that goes over the total runs.
Same-Game Parlay
Odds on this three-leg parlay for Game 2 of the World Series are +945 from FanDuel. This means a winning $100 bet on this parlay will pay $845.
- Arizona to Win
- Total Runs OVER 9.0
- Texas To Lead After 5 Innings
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World Series Schedule
- Game 1: Texas 6, Arizona 5
- Game 2: Arizona at Texas, Oct. 28, 8:03 PM ET, FOX
- Game 3: Texas at Arizona, Oct. 30, 8:03 PM ET, FOX
- Game 4: Texas at Arizona, Oct. 31, 8:03 PM ET, FOX
- Game 5:* Texas at Arizona, Nov. 1, 8:03 PM ET, FOX
- Game 6:* Arizona at Texas, Nov. 3, 8:03 PM ET, FOX
- Game 7:* Arizona at Texas, Nov. 4, 8:03 PM ET, FOX
*If necessary
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