World Series odds for Diamondbacks vs Rangers opened with the American League champions favored to lift their first trophy in franchise history.
The Rangers lost out in a grueling race to these Astros for AL West supremacy to find themselves in the Wild Card Round, but quickly dispatched of the Rays in a 2-0 sweep. They followed that up with a series against the 100-win and top-seeded Orioles, and also had their way with them, sweeping the series, 3-0. Finally, they beat those same rival Astros in an epic seven-game series.
The Rangers, who will host Games 1, 2, and potentially 6 and 7, opened as -178 favorites to win the World Series at FanDuel. The road Diamondbacks are +138 underdogs.
Below, you'll find the full schedule for this series, as well as a breakdown of both teams and how they got to this point.
All odds cited below via FanDuel, which you can pair with our FanDuel promo code for bonus bets.
For updated odds on every series throughout the postseason, be sure to visit our MLB futures page. For individual game odds throughout the postseason at a variety of sportsbooks, visit our MLB odds page.
Diamondbacks vs. Rangers World Series Schedule
All games start at 8:03 p.m. ET on FOX
- Game 1 in Arlington: Friday, October 27
- Game 2 in Arlington: Saturday, October 28
- Game 3 in Phoenix: Monday, October 30
- Game 4 in Phoenix: Tuesday, October 31
- Game 5 in Phoenix: Wednesday, November 1 (if necessary)
- Game 6 in Arlington: Friday, November 3 (if necessary)
- Game 7 in Arlington: Saturday, November 4 (if necessary)
World Series Betting Projection
I project the Texas Rangers as 60.4% favorites (-152 implied odds) with home-field advantage in a seven-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is just the third World Series featuring two wild-card teams (2002, 2014).
I’d bet the Rangers’ series price up to -140 (58.4% implied) or the Diamondbacks down to +167 before Game 1, with either price target representing an edge of at least two percent compared to my projected number
For the series spread, I set Texas -1.5 games at 43%, or +133 implied, with a corresponding 57% projection and -133 implied odds on Diamondbacks +1.5 games. Bet those props to around -122 for Arizona, and +145 for Texas.
I’d set Texas -2.5 games at +317 (24% implied), and I would need at least +355 to bet Texas to win in five games or less (projected 24% or +317).
—Sean Zerillo
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Regular Season Record: 84-78
- Team wRC+ (Rank): 98 (18th)
- Starting Pitching xFIP (Rank): 4.36 (18th)
- Bullpen xFIP (Rank): 4.27 (16th)
How They Got Here
The Arizona Diamondbacks played well down the final stretch of the season after getting out to one of the hottest starts in baseball, which helped keep them in the race. Outside of the Baltimore Orioles, there is probably not another team in the playoff race with a more stacked supply of young players at their disposal. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is one of the veteran regulars, and he is not even 30 years old.
This team will not necessarily get by in the playoffs with luck. They may look like underdogs, but having two aces at the top of the rotation with two go-to arms in the bullpen helps. They could cause some chaos if they manage to get some consistency from the lineup and ‘pen.
In the NL Wild Card Round, the Diamondbacks beat the Brewers in two games. In the NLDS, they defeated the Dodgers in a three-game sweep. In the NLCS, they outlasted the heavily favored Phillies in an epic, seven-game series.
Offense
Arizona has worked its way around some pretty bad expected numbers. The Diamondbacks do not hit the ball all too hard. They rank in the bottom 10 in Hard Hit Rate and the bottom half of the league in wRC+ and OPS.
They have some stars, like Corbin Carroll and Christian Walker, who are dangerous threats against any pitcher, but the lineup drops off from there when it comes to consistency.
Rotation
The D'backs have arguably the best 1-2 punch at the top of the starting pitching rotation in the playoff field. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are great pitchers and can be among the most reliable starters in the league.
However, Arizona ranks in the bottom 10 in starting pitcher xFIP this season. Since August 1, on the other hand, they rank in the top 10, and this is basically because the rest of the rotation has not been as bad.
Since they have a couple of great starters, they can get by in a shortened series with just that and a bullpen. They might have some trouble after the Wild Card Round.
Bullpen
The Snakes added Paul Sewald at the deadline to help supplement Miguel Castro at the back end of the bullpen. This was a savvy move, as on the season they rank in the bottom half in bullpen xFIP.
Since August 1, they are pretty much in the same spot, but having those two at their disposal will make the decisions easier for manager Torey Lovullo.
—D.J. James
Bet Diamondbacks vs. Rangers Instantly at FanDuel
Texas Rangers
- Regular Season Record: 90-72
- Team wRC+ (Rank): 115 (4th)
- Starting Pitching xFIP (Rank): 4.36 (19th)
- Bullpen xFIP (Rank): 4.43 (22nd)
How They Got Here
After a headline-stealing offseason in which the Rangers spent a ton of money to try and put a contender on the field, Texas got off to a fast start. The Rangers led the AL West from April 9 to August 26. They lost ground to the Astros after that, but reclaimed first place in late September before dropping the title on the final day of the season.
The Rangers also finished third in Isolated Power and hit fly balls at the second-highest frequency, plenty of which turn into home runs at the hitter-friendly Globe Life Field.
In the American League Wild Card Round, the Rangers beat the Rays 2-0. In the ALDS, they beat the Orioles 3-0. In the ALCS, they got revenge on the rival Astros with a Game 7 win in Houston.
Offense
Texas finished top five in wRC+ for the first time since 2012, a stunning turnaround after finishing 20th in that same category a season ago.
The Rangers’ offense has been well disciplined and sits in the top five in walk rate while maintaining average strikeout numbers.
Just about everyone in this offense has hit, and while you’re likely familiar with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, you’ll also want to pay attention to catcher Jonah Heim and rookie Josh Jung. The former has been a pleasant surprise, swatting 18 home runs to go along with a .260 average, while the latter made his first All-Star appearance this season and posted a 111 OPS+.
Rotation
While the Rangers missed Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer down the stretch, they got Scherzer back in the ALCS. What version of the former Cy Young winner we get in the World Series is to be seen, but he provides depth at the very least for a staff that sorely needed it.
Luckily, Jordan Montgomery has transformed into an excellent pitcher since coming over in a trade with the Cardinals. He owns a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts for Texas and will enter the postseason as the Rangers’ most trustworthy arm.
Nathan Eovaldi has taken a bit of a step back this season, but should still be a reliable option come October, and while Jon Gray hasn’t been great, he’s pitched to more contact this year, which has helped considering the Rangers rate very well on defense. There’s a chance we also see Dane Dunning make some starts this postseason after he posted an impressive 3.72 ERA during the regular season.
Bullpen
Aroldis Chapman regained some of his magic in a Royals uniform this season, but since coming over via trade, he’s posted a brutal 3.72 ERA in 29 innings. The bullpen is what’s going to ultimately hold this team back as Chapman has been of little use and the Rangers ranked 20th in bullpen ERA this season.
Starters such as Dunning, Cody Bradford, Andrew Heaney and Martin Perez will be pulled into helping this struggling stable in October, but given how all three have pitched, it’s looking pretty bleak. Jose Leclerc has been excellent and should take most of the high-leverage work, while the Rangers have also come to rely on Josh Sborz.
—Kenny Ducey
