World Series 2023: What we’ve learned about Rangers, D-backs

Two games into the 2023 World Series, there has been plenty of excitement for the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

First, the Rangers won Game 1 in thrilling fashion, thanks to spectacular home runs from Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia that had Globe Life Field buzzing.

Then, in Game 2, the Diamondbacks evened the series thanks to a dominant start from Merrill Kelly.

As both teams head to Phoenix ahead of Game 3 Monday at Chase Field, we asked our ESPN MLB experts to break down what we’ve seen so far — and where this World Series will lead from here.

What surprised you the most in the first two matches?

Alden Gonzalez: That the depth of the Rangers’ roster hasn’t really shown up. Big homers from Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia in Game 1 masked the fact that the Rangers got very little production from the bottom half of their lineup. In Game 2, against a sharp-edged Merrill Kelly, their entire offense recorded just three hits – two singles and a solo homer – and did not draw a walk in the first seven sleeves. The Rangers had 13 hits in the first two games.

Buster Olney: At which point some of the main hitters are falling apart. Christian Walker looked completely lost in his appearances at the plate in Game 1 and in Game 2, when he was hitting the ball hard – rockets down the third base line and up the middle – he wasn’t not rewarded with hits and was slowly coming back. to the dugout. Nathaniel Lowe is a very good offensive player, but he, like Walker, seems to be feeling the ball at the plate right now, trying to find his swing. But as Tommy Pham told Torey Lovullo after being benched in the NLCS, all it takes is one swing, one good plate appearance. It will be interesting to see if managers make any changes to players who are losing momentum.

Jeff Passan: How in control the Diamondbacks – who, remember, are just one blown save away from a 2-0 lead – have been. Entering the series, the combination of Arizona’s plate discipline and Texas’ lack of strikeout pitchers was significant, and sure enough, through two games the Diamondbacks only struck out 12 times. They went first 33 hitters with no strikeouts in game two. Texas, meanwhile, made it 10 times in each of the first two games. Given both teams’ ability to turn in-play balls into outs — two games into the series, there have been no errors — the strikeout could be the differentiator.

Jesse Rogers: Honestly? The crowd. After spending the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park, I was happy to see that Globe Life had some life too. The loudest moment of the entire playoffs might have come in Game 1 when Corey Seager tied the game with a blast in the ninth. Or maybe it was two innings later, when Adolis Garcia homered to win it. And even though the Rangers trailed for most of Game 2, the crowd was engaged like they should be. Sure, the roof was closed, but in terms of volume, it was the Rangers fans who brought it.

How will the show change when it arrives in Arizona?

Gonzalez: The Rangers and D-backs will play three games in three days, and that’s a big deal for two teams that plan to navigate Game 4 exclusively with relievers. The D-backs will have the advantage in Phoenix, not only because they will be at home, but also because their bullpen has proven to be deeper and better. The Rangers need others to step up outside of Josh Sborz and Jose Leclerc. Specifically, they need performances like starter-turned-temporary replacement Jon Gray provided in Game 1.

Olney: I don’t think this will change at all. We see two teams that have weathered their deficits time and time again, and no matter what happens in Game 3, the loser will come back for Game 4 convinced they will find a way to win. The scar tissue from their respective journeys seems to serve both teams well, and they will each be convinced they are a team of destiny until they aren’t. On the ride back to the hotel after Game 2, the ESPN radio crew covering these games — Boog Sciambi, Jessica Mendoza, Eduardo Perez — all agreed that this game would inevitably go seven games.

Passan: The Rangers are 8-0 on the road in the playoffs, so it’s clear they don’t mind playing away from Globe Life Field, and some of the best starts from Game 3 starter Max Scherzer – his first game ever playoff, his 13- A strikeout gem in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS, his seven scoreless in Game 2 of the 2019 NLCS- came on the road. Between Scherzer and the Rangers turning to Johnny Wholestaff in Game 4 before turning again to Nathan Eovaldi in Game 5, Texas needs better pitching to thwart this Diamondbacks offense that has exploded for 14 points in the first two games. Arizona, on the other hand, will play almost as many home games this week (three) as it has in the entire postseason (four). The Diamondbacks are 3-1 at Chase Field, giving them the opportunity to close out the series in front of their fans.

Rogers: After the NLCS, it was said that Chase Field was not very friendly to road teams. Opposing hitters have noted that with the roof closed, it appears darker than other domed stadiums and that the ball did not travel far in the final round. For a power-based team, this reduces that advantage – and works in favor of a home team that likes to run and create havoc more than hammer balls in the night. Texas will have to get used to its surroundings during Sunday’s practice.

What’s the biggest adjustment either team needs to make from here?

Gonzalez: It will be crucial for the Rangers’ starting pitchers to continue to adapt to the relief roles they have assumed in these postseasons. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy will want to preserve Josh Sborz; Jose Leclerc and Aroldis Chapman can be kept for the tracks. That means leaning on Gray, Andrew Heaney, Dane Dunning and Martin Perez, as well as Cody Bradford, who has more relief experience than the others. Their task will primarily be to keep deficits manageable and secure a comeback. Perez failed to do that in Game 2, and this entire group will need to do better moving forward.

Olney: Merrill Kelly provided a road map for other pitchers on how to work with Adolis Garcia – fastballs down and in, soft stuff. They’re going to make it a point to not let him beat them for the rest of this series, which is part of why those behind him (Mitch Garver, Jonah Heim, Lowe) need to do more damage as this series goes on.

Passan: Texas pitchers should take notes from Scherzer, who is one of the toughest players in baseball to steal. Arizona thrives when it runs, and if wide receiver Jonah Heim and the Texas staff can keep the Diamondbacks from constantly moving, it’s the kind of thing that forces them out of their comfort zone offensively. If Texas can remove this element of the Diamondbacks’ game, Arizona hitters will expand their zones in an attempt to make up for this loss in hitting – and Texas will be able to speed up the strikeouts.

Rogers: Texas will have to be a little more dynamic on offense. Take away Seager’s ninth-inning homer in Game 1, and what did they really do at the plate? Merrill Kelly stopped them in Game 2 unlike any pitcher facing them in the postseason. The Diamondbacks are playing a little looser so far — through the first two games, sac bunts, stolen bases and, yes, the timely home run have been in their toolbox. Sure, the Rangers can try to muscle their way to a victory, but they would benefit from stealing some of these traits for themselves.

Who is your World Series MVP so far – and will he take home the award in the end?

Gonzalez: The World Series leader in OPS so far: none other than Tommy Pham, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles while reaching No. 5 in the Diamondbacks’ lineup. No, I don’t expect him to continue this and win MVP. But this is a good opportunity to talk about how valuable Pham has been to this team, both on the field and in the clubhouse. Any team could have had him for a modest price at the July trade deadline. The D-backs aren’t here if they aren’t the ones who succeed.

Olney: Kelly has a big lead after her start in game two. He doesn’t pitch in the style of Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, who were content to intimidate hitters with stuff, but he was spectacular in Game 2 – hitting on the first pitch to 18 of 24 batters, and he didn’t There have been only two occasions where the Texas hitters took it to a 2-0, 3-1 batter count. If he has another start like that in Game 6 and Arizona wins this series, he will be the MVP. He’s halfway there.

Passan: Since the turn of the century, a pitcher has won the World Series MVP in just five seasons. So even if Kelly is the right pick after two games, he needs another gem in a potential Game 6 to be considered. While it’s possible, the writers’ predilection is to go with one hitter, and someone will step up their offense over the next three games and emerge as the favorite.

Rogers: Agreeing that Kelly has a real chance after his performance in game two. If anything less than seven good innings would even get a starting pitcher in the picture – well, mission accomplished. Honorable mention: Tommy Pham.

Would you like to revise your original WS pick based on what we’ve seen?

Gonzalez: I had the Rangers in six, and I’ll adjust it slightly: The Rangers will win the first championship in franchise history, but it will take them seven games to do it. The Diamondbacks are really going to give them a win.

Passan: Texas in seven early. Texas is still on seven.

Rogers: Absolutely not. Arizona is going to win this series.

Olney: I picked Texas in six. I’ll revise this at seven games.