2023 World Series

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2023 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
Texas Rangers (1) Bruce Bochy 90–72 (.556), GB: 0
Arizona Diamondbacks (0) Torey Lovullo 84–78 (.519), GB: 16
DatesOctober 27 – November 4[a]
VenueGlobe Life Field (Texas)
Chase Field (Arizona)
UmpiresVic Carapazza, Brian Knight, Alfonso Márquez, Bill Miller (crew chief), David Rackley, D. J. Reyburn, Quinn Wolcott
Broadcast
TelevisionFox (United States – English)
Fox Deportes (United States – Spanish)
MLB International (International)
TV announcersJoe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, and Tom Verducci (Fox)
Adrian Garcia Marquez, Edgar Gonzalez, Carlos Alarexz, and Jaime Motta (Fox Deportes)
Dave Flemming and Ryan Spilborghs (MLB International – English)
RadioESPN (United States – English)
TUDN (United States – Spanish)
KRLD (TEX – English)
KAMM (TEX – Spanish)
KMVP (ARI – English)
KHOV (ARI – Spanish)
Radio announcersJon Sciambi, Jessica Mendoza, Eduardo Pérez, and Buster Olney (ESPN)
Jesus Acosta, Alberto Ferreiro, Jose Napoles, and Luis Quiñones (TUDN)
Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks (KRLD)
Eleno Ornelas and José Guzmán (KAMM)
Greg Schulte, Chris Garagiola, and Tom Candiotti (KMVP)
Oscar Soria and Rodrigo López (KHOV)
ALCSTexas Rangers over Houston Astros (4–3)
NLCSArizona Diamondbacks over Philadelphia Phillies (4–3)
World Series program
← 2022 World Series 2024 →

The 2023 World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2023 season, and the 119th edition of the World Series. It is a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers and the National League (NL) champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The series began on October 27, with a possible Game 7 scheduled for November 4.[1][2]

The Rangers have the home-field advantage in the series due to having a better regular season record than the Diamondbacks.[3]

Background[edit]

See also: 2023 Major League Baseball postseason

This is the first postseason meeting between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both teams lost over 100 games in 2021.[4] The 174 combined wins is the lowest ever total for a non-shortened season World Series.[5] This series will be the third time in the history of the World Series where both are wild card teams, after 2002 and 2014.[6]

This is the first World Series in which both teams play their home games with a retractable roof. This is the first World Series since 2020 (where all games were played at the Rangers' Globe Life Field as a neutral site due to COVID-19) to have all games played on artificial turf, as well as the first World Series since 1993 to have all games played on artificial turf without the use of a neutral-site. Furthermore, since the Astros played in the 2019, 2021 and 2022 World Series this is the fifth consecutive Series with games played in Texas. Additionally, this is the first World Series to not feature either the Houston Astros or Los Angeles Dodgers, of which at least one team had appeared in the World Series since both faced each other in 2017. This was also the first World Series in MLB history between a team that had never won a series and a team that had never lost a series where both teams had made at least one appearance in a prior series.

Much like with the 2023 ALCS, the mayors of Arlington and Phoenix made a friendly wager, started by Arlington, where the losing team would not only have to wear the winning team’s jersey to a city council meeting but also have to treat the winning mayor to local cuisine, being Hurtado BBQ in Arlington and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix.[7]

The Diamondbacks won the regular season series 3–1, splitting a two-game series in May at Globe Life Field, and sweeping the Rangers at Chase Field in August.[8]

Texas Rangers[edit]

See also: 2023 Texas Rangers season

During the regular season, the Texas Rangers were led by an AL-best offense in runs scored and were tied with the Minnesota Twins in home runs.[9] The Rangers led the AL at the All-Star Game with six players in Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Josh Jung, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Nathan Eovaldi.[10] Mid-season injuries to staff-aces Jacob deGrom and Eovaldi and subpar performance in the bullpen led the Rangers to acquire closer Aroldis Chapman, middle reliever Chris Stratton, and starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Max Scherzer.[11][12][13] Despite leading the AL West for most of the season, poor play late in the year saw the team finish second in the division behind the Houston Astros; the teams had identical win-loss records, but Houston owned a better head-to-head record.

The Rangers qualified for the postseason as the fifth seed wild card entrant in the American League just two years removed from a 102-loss season. In the Wild Card Series, they swept the fourth-seeded Tampa Bay Rays. In the Division Series, they swept the American League East division winner and top-seeded Baltimore Orioles. In the American League Championship Series, they defeated their division rival and defending World Series champion Houston Astros in seven games to win their third American League pennant in franchise history.[14] The Rangers made it to the World Series for the first time since 2011, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The Rangers are heading in as the favorites to win the series for the first time all postseason while also seeking their first World Series title in franchise history, which would put an end to their World Series championship title drought of 62 seasons since their franchise began, the second-longest active championship drought in Major League Baseball behind the Cleveland Guardians and the oldest active franchise without a World Series title.[15]

This is a return to the World Series for three-time World Champion Bruce Bochy, who is looking to tie Walter Alston and Joe Torre for fourth on the list of World Series victories for managers.[16] Texas came into the season with 50-1 betting odds, which was tied for the seventh-longest odds to make a World Series since 1985.[17]

Arizona Diamondbacks[edit]

See also: 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks season

The Diamondbacks are just two seasons removed from a 110–loss season, which included an MLB record 24 straight road losses.[18] They had an uneven regular season in 2023, which included extreme highs and lows. At their peak in mid-June, they were 41–25 and leading the NL West. At their lowest, they had a 32-game stretch, where from early–July to mid–August, they went 7–25, a .219 win percentage, and had fallen to 57–59.[19] They were led by a young core consisting of Corbin Carroll, Zac Gallen, Gabriel Moreno, Alek Thomas, and Geraldo Perdomo, along with veterans Ketel Marte, Merrill Kelly, Christian Walker, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tommy Pham, and Evan Longoria.[20] The Diamondbacks team finished second in MLB in stolen bases behind the Cincinnati Reds, including 56 from Carroll.[21] They were also the best defensive team in the 2023 MLB season, committing the fewest errors in the regular season with 56 and tied for first with the Rangers with the best fielding percentage at .990%.[22]

The Diamondbacks qualified for the postseason as the sixth seed wild card entrant in the National League. In the Wild Card Series, they swept the third-seeded and National League Central division winner Milwaukee Brewers. In the Division Series, they swept and upset the National League West division winner, second-seeded, and 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers. In the National League Championship Series, they defeated the fourth-seeded and defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in seven games to win their second National League pennant and make it to the World Series for the first time since 2001. The Diamondbacks are seeking their second World Series title in franchise history.[23] The 84 wins is the lowest amount for a full season NL champion since the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, who had 83 wins. The Diamondbacks also joined the 1987 Minnesota Twins as the only two teams to win a pennant with a negative run differential.[24] Arizona's revamped bullpen of Ryan Thompson, rookie Andrew Saalfrank, setup man Kevin Ginkel, and closer Paul Sewald, has a combined 1.45 ERA so far in the postseason in 31 innings of work.[25]

At 125-1 preseason odds, Arizona had the third-longest odds to make a World Series since 1985 and longest since the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008.[17]

Summary[edit]

Note: Times listed are EDT (UTC−4)

Texas leads the series, 1–0.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 27 Arizona Diamondbacks – 5, Texas Rangers – 6 (11) Globe Life Field 4:02 42,472[26] 
2 October 28 Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers Globe Life Field 8:03 pm - 
3 October 30 Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field 8:03 pm - 
4 October 31 Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field 8:03 pm - 
5 November 1† Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field 8:03 pm - 
6 November 3† Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers Globe Life Field 8:03 pm - 
7 November 4† Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers Globe Life Field 8:03 pm -

† If necessary

Game summaries[edit]

Game 1[edit]

Adolis García (pictured in 2019) hit a walk-off home run in Game 1
October 27, 2023 7:07 pm (CDT) at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas 73 °F (23 °C), Roof Closed
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Arizona 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 0
Texas 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 6 9 0
WP: José Leclerc (1–0)   LP: Miguel Castro (0–1)
Home runs:
AZ: Tommy Pham (1)
TEX: Corey Seager (1), Adolis García (1)
Attendance: 42,472
Boxscore

Despite this being the Rangers' first World Series appearance at Globe Life Field, this is the second Fall Classic at the venue following the 2020 World Series, which was played exclusively at Globe Life due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] R&B singer H.E.R. sang the national anthem.[28] Former President of the United States and Rangers owner George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former Hall of Fame Rangers catcher Iván Rodríguez.[29] Nathan Eovaldi started on the mound for Texas, while Zac Gallen started for Arizona.

Evan Carter first put Texas on the board in the first inning with a double off the base of the right field wall to score Corey Seager. Adolis García scored Carter with a single, making it 2-0 Texas. In the top of the third, with runners on first and second, Corbin Carroll tripled, scoring both runners and tying the game. Ketel Marte scored Carroll on a fielder’s choice, giving Arizona a one-run lead. The Rangers loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, where Gallen walked Mitch Garver to tie the game at three. Gallen limited the damage as Jonah Heim flew out to end the inning. In the top of the fourth, Tommy Pham hit a solo home run, which gave Arizona a lead they would not give up until the bottom of the ninth. In the fifth, Marte added on a run for Arizona with a double that scored Geraldo Perdomo and took Eovaldi out of the game. In the bottom of the sixth, Gallen was replaced with Ryan Thompson. After Thompson walked Heim, Nathaniel Lowe hit a towering fly ball that was caught by Carroll on the warning track. If the ball had been hit out, it would have tied the game. Thompson was able to get out of the jam by striking out Leody Taveras. Arizona relievers Joe Mantiply and Kevin Ginkel kept the seventh and the eighth innings scoreless.

Will Smith retired the side in the top of the ninth, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth, where closer Paul Sewald was sent in to record the final three outs for Arizona. Sewald gave up a leadoff walk to Taveras before striking out Marcus Semien. The next batter, Seager, hit a towering two-run home run to right field to tie the game at five. Sewald struck out Carter and Austin Hedges to send the game to extra innings. José Leclerc retired the side in the top of the tenth. The bottom of the tenth started out well for Texas, with Kyle Nelson giving up a leadoff walk to Lowe. However, Josh Jung grounded into a double play. Nelson then walked Taveras and gave up a single to Semien, but got the hero of the ninth inning, Seager, to ground out, ending the inning. Leclerc once again retired the side in the top of the eleventh, giving Texas another chance to walk it off. After getting Carter to fly out in the bottom of the inning, Nelson was replaced with Miguel Castro, who was sent in to face García. On a 3-1 count, Garcia hit a home run to right field to win the game for Texas.[30] This was the first [31] Game 1 walk off in the world series since Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series.

Game 2[edit]

October 28, 2023 7:03 pm (CDT) at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Arizona - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0
Texas - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0
Starting pitchers:
AZ: Merrill Kelly (0–0)
TEX: Jordan Montgomery (0–0)
Boxscore

The national anthem will be sung by 18-year-old Pearle Peterson.[28] Former Rangers third basemen Adrián Beltré will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to former Rangers Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins.[29] Merrill Kelly was announced as the Game 2 starter for Arizona[32] while Jordan Montgomery will start for Texas.[33]

Game 3[edit]

October 30, 2023 5:03 pm (MST) at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0
Arizona - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0
Starting pitchers:
TEX: TBD
AZ: Brandon Pfaadt (0–0)
Boxscore

Brandon Pfaadt was announced as the game 3 starter for Arizona.[32]

Game 4[edit]

October 31, 2023 5:03 pm (MST) at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Texas - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0
Arizona - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0
Starting pitchers:
TEX: TBD
AZ: TBD
Boxscore

Broadcasting[edit]

Television[edit]

For the 24th consecutive year, the World Series is televised in the United States by Fox. Play-by-play announcer Joe Davis are calling the event with Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz as color analyst, and Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci as field reporters. Kevin Burkhardt hosts the pregame and postgame shows, joined by analysts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and David Ortiz.[34] Fox Deportes is airing the Spanish language telecast, with play-by-play announcer Adrian Garcia Marquez, analyst Edgar Gonzalez, and reporters Carlos Alvarez and Jaime Motta.[35]

MLB International is providing television coverage outside of the United States, using feeds remotely produced by MLB Network. The English-language world feed features Dave Flemming on play-by-play and Ryan Spilborghs as analyst.[36]

Radio[edit]

For the 26th consecutive year, ESPN Radio is airing the series in the United States. Jon Sciambi is calling the network's play-by-play of the event for the first time (taking over from Dan Shulman),[37] with Jessica Mendoza and Eduardo Pérez as color analysts and Buster Olney as field reporter.[38]

TUDN Radio is broadcasting the series in Spanish, with an announcing crew including Jesus Acosta, Alberto Ferreiro, Jose Napoles, and Luís Quiñones. The flagship radio stations for both teams are also broadcasting the series locally. In Dallas, KRLD-FM and KAMM is airing the games in English and Spanish respectively, while KMVP-FM and KHOV-FM are doing the same in Phoenix.[39]

Sponsorship[edit]

The 2023 World Series is sponsored by Capital One, as part of a multi-year agreement. This sponsorship includesd logo branding in-stadium and on official digital properties on the field, as well as commercial inventory during Fox's telecasts of the games.[40]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Series could end as early as October 31, if the Rangers sweep.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "MLB announces 2023 Postseason schedule". MLB.com. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Gardner, Steve (August 8, 2023). "MLB unveils 2023 postseason schedule, World Series begins Oct. 27". USA Today. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Rangers have home field over D-backs in World Series". MLB.com. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Blum, Ronald. "Longshot World Series: Diamondbacks vs Rangers is a Fall Classic few saw coming". apnews.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Singh • •, Sanjesh (October 25, 2023). "These stats show rarity of Rangers-Diamondbacks matchup in 2023 World Series". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
  6. ^ "Parity in the playoffs? That's nothing new". MLB.com.
  7. ^ https://www.audacy.com/krld/news/local/mayors-of-arlington-phoenix-agree-on-friendly-wager
  8. ^ Postins, Matthew (October 26, 2023). "Recapping Rangers, D-backs Season Series". Sports Illustrated Texas Rangers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 MLB Team Hitting Stat Leaders". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "Rangers All-Stars | Texas Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rangers trade for Aroldis Chapman to bolster 'pen". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Thompson, Cole (August 14, 2023). "Going Inside Deadline Deals by Rangers". Sports Illustrated Texas Rangers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  13. ^ "Rangers add lefty Montgomery for playoff push: 'We're in a great spot'". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  14. ^ "Adolis Garcia, Rangers crush Astros in ALCS Game 7 to reach World Series". USA TODAY.
  15. ^ Kelly, Matt; Simon, Andrew; Langs, Sarah (October 23, 2023). "Rangers can snap MLB's 2nd-longest title drought". MLB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  16. ^ Singh, Sanjesh (October 24, 2023). "Here's a list of the best managers in MLB history". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "2023 MLB odds: Diamondbacks among biggest underdogs ever to make World Series". FOX Sports. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  18. ^ Axisa, Mike (June 27, 2021). "Diamondbacks blow out Padres, snap MLB record road losing streak at 24 games". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  19. ^ Sommers, Jack. "Diamondbacks Collapse: From Loss to Acceptance". si.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Clemens, Ben. "2023 World Series Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers". fangraphs.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "2023 MLB Team Hitting Stat Leaders". MLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "2023 Major League Baseball Team Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. ^ "Diamondbacks shock Phillies in NLCS Game 7, advance to first World Series since 2001". USA TODAY.
  24. ^ Castrovince, Anthony. "7 reasons the D-backs are the unlikeliest World Series team". mlb.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  25. ^ Mackie, Theo (October 25, 2023). "How are the Diamondbacks in the World Series? Look no further than their bullpen". azcentral.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "D-backs 5, Rangers 6 Final Score". Major League Baseball. October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  27. ^ "MLB playoffs back at the Globe with Texas Rangers part of them, and not neutral 3 years after COVID". AP News. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Staff, FOX 4 (October 25, 2023). "World Series: National Anthem singers for Game 1 and 2 announced". FOX 4.
  29. ^ a b Postins, Matthew (October 26, 2023). "World Series First Pitches for First Two Games". Sports Illustrated Texas Rangers News, Analysis and More.
  30. ^ {{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/oct/27/world-series-game-1-arizona-diamondbacks-v-texas-rangers-live%7Ctitle=World Series Game 1: Arizona Diamondbacks 5-6 Texas Rangers (11 innings) – live|first=Hunter|last=Felt|date=October 28, 2023|via=www.theguardian.com}}
  31. ^ https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-series-game-1-score-highlights-rangers-adolis-garcia-hits-walk-off-home-run-against-diamondbacks/live/#:~:text=Garc%C3%ADa%2C%20then%2C%20has%20a%20chance,since%20Kirk%20Gibson's%201988%20heroics.
  32. ^ a b "Merrill Kelly to start World Series Game 2 for Diamondbacks and Brandon Pfaadt to start Game 3". AP News. October 26, 2023.
  33. ^ "Rangers lefty Montgomery gets Game 2 start". ESPN.com. October 27, 2023.
  34. ^ "FOX Sports Sets Postseason Lineup Led by Hall of Famers, World Champions and Lauded Broadcasters - Fox Sports Press Pass".
  35. ^ "FOX Sports Steps up to the Plate for 2023 World Series Presented by Capital One". Fox Sports Press Pass. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  36. ^ Hernández, Kristian (October 6, 2023). "MLB Postseason 2023: MLB Network Remotely Produces Division-Series World Feed From Secaucus Facility". SVG News. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  37. ^ Agrest, Jeff (October 26, 2023). "Cubs TV voice Jon Sciambi brings passion for radio to his first national World Series call". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  38. ^ Rajan, Ronce (October 6, 2023). "ESPN Radio Broadcast Teams for Remainder of 2023 MLB Postseason".
  39. ^ Lucia, Joe (October 27, 2023). "Your 2023 World Series announcing schedule and broadcast primer". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  40. ^ Jabari Young (March 28, 2022). "MLB reaches a $125 million sponsorship deal with Capital One". CNBC.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

External links[edit]

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