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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

World Series best bets: Clock to strike midnight for Cinderella

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated 10/26/23

Just as we thought we were heading for a championship rematch between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies, the underdogs crashed the party. Instead, it'll be the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series.

It might not be the matchup FOX executives and MLB envisioned, but we can spice it up with some series bets. Let's break down the World Series and target some Series wagers for Rangers-Diamondbacks.

Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks betting odds

World Series odds: Rangers -174 | Diamondbacks +148
World Series spread: Rangers -1.5 games (+120) | Diamondbacks +1.5 games (-145)

The Diamondbacks have been pegged as +148 underdogs to beat the Rangers in the World Series, but they're no strangers to the underdog mentality. Arizona won as an underdog in all three of its NL playoff series to get to this point, and this team is ready to beat the odds yet again.

It's no surprise the media, fans and oddsmakers keep doubting the D-backs. Torey Lovullo's squad won just 84 games in the regular season, and it snuck into the postseason despite a -15 run differential. The Diamondbacks were the only team in MLB to make the playoffs with a negative run differential this year.

But that team isn't the same one we've been watching in October. Arizona is a smart, speedy offensive team led by Ketel Marte and rookie Corbin Carroll. Almost the entire starting lineup is a threat to steal a base, and they have no problem playing small ball to generate runs.

As for the pitching, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly make up a strong 1-2 punch at the top, and rookie Brandon Pfaadt has been lights out under the bright lights. Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald, the two-man anchor in the back of the bullpen, haven't given up a single run in the playoffs.

The Rangers, on the other hand, beat you in a different way. Texas has blasted 19 home runs in the playoffs, and this lineup has five hitters with a batting average of .300 or better in the postseason. None have been better than Adolis Garcia, who's batting .327 with seven homers and 20 RBIs this October.

The starting pitching staff features a three-headed monster of Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery. Texas also has the coaching advantage considering Bruce Bochy won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants. If you had to point to one weakness on this team, it would be the bullpen.

Game 1 is scheduled for Friday night at 8:03 p.m. ET in Arlington. Gallen will be on the mound for Arizona, and Texas will counter with Eovaldi.

World Series picks

The Cinderella run the Diamondbacks are on is remarkable, but it all comes to an end in the World Series.

Arizona stunned the Philadelphia Phillies because Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber all went cold at the same time. Philly scored just three total runs over the last two games of the series, but we don't see that happening with Texas. The Rangers lineup is firing on all cylinders right now, as it averaged 5.6 runs per game in the ALDS. The Diamondbacks won't be able to dink and dunk their way around this team.

Eovaldi and Scherzer have both started in the World Series before, and Bochy has three championship rings on his hand. The combination of a hot, powerful lineup and an experienced pitching staff and head coach will be the difference in this series.

The bets to make: Rangers -1.5 games (+120), Evan Carter to win World Series MVP (+2200)

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