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The Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers play Game 2 of the 2023 World Series on Saturday. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Diamondbacks vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
World Series: Rangers lead 1-0
Game 1 of the World Series was amazing. The Rangers went ahead 2-0, but the Diamondbacks did a good job in the middle innings to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the 9th. That’s when Diamondbacks closer RHP Paul Sewald fell apart, as Rangers SS Corey Seager swatted a 2-run HR to tie the game 5-5. For the 1st time in the entire postseason, a game headed to extra innings.
In the 11th inning, that’s when Rangers OF Adolis Garcia took over, walking it off with a solo HR to send the crowd in Arlington into a frenzy with a 6-5 win. It was just the 2nd victory in 5 postseason home games.
The Rangers used 5 relievers with 84 pitches to get through the game, while the Diamondbacks used 6 relievers and 111 total pitches. It will be interesting to see how the bullpens fare in Game 2.
Diamondbacks at Rangers projected starters
RHP Merrill Kelly vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery
Kelly was 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA across 30 regular-season starts. He had a 1.19 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in 177 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 8 K in 5-1 win at Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of NLCS
- 2023 road splits: 7-3, 4.07 ERA (84 IP, 38 ER), 11 HR in 15 starts
- Making 4th career postseason start and 4th overall appearance
Montgomery made 32 starts in the regular season, going 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA with the Cardinals and Rangers. He had a 1.19 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 over 188 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K in 11-4 win at Houston Astros in Game 7 of ALCS
- 2023 home splits: 7-5, 3.61 ERA (99 2/3 IP, 40 ER), 10 HR in 17 regular-season starts
- Making 6th career postseason start and 8th overall appearance
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Diamondbacks at Rangers odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:16 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Diamondbacks +124 (bet $100 to win $124) | Rangers -146 (bet $146 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Diamondbacks +1.5 (-162) | Rangers -1.5 (+134)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -118 | U: -104)
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Diamondbacks at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 6, Diamondbacks 4
Moneyline
The RANGERS (-146) got the job done in 11 innings in the series opener, and Texas should head into Game 2 with a ton of momentum and confidence. The Rangers have been favored just 3 times in the playoffs, winning twice, including 2 victories at home.
The southpaw Montgomery has done a great job in the postseason, allowing just 6 ER across 25 IP for an ERA of 2.16. He’ll have the Rangers holding a lead heading into the final few innings, rather than fighting back out of a hole like in Game 1.
Run line/Against the spread
The RANGERS -1.5 (+134) are worth playing lightly on the run line behind the southpaw.
Texas has covered the run line just once, Game 3 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles. The Diamondbacks +1.5 (-162) played well in Game 1, but it taxed the bullpen hard, and it is going to be difficult to rebound.
Over/Under
The OVER 8.5 (-118) is worth playing lightly, but it may take a late miracle similar to Game 1.
The total has gone high at a 6-0-1 pace in the past 7 games for the Rangers, and Over bettors have to send Seager a thank-you note for the late homer to push it across the finish line.
The Over in the series opener snapped a 3-game Under streak for the Snakes. The Over has a 5-4 edge in 9 postseason road games for Arizona, however.
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