The 119th World Series
Friday marked the 119th renewal of the World Series featuring the American League Champion Texas Rangers and the National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The Arizona Diamondbacks won Game 2 of the Fall Classic to even the series one game a piece. Gabriel Moreno opened the scoring with a solo home run to left-center field in the fourth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a two-out RBI single to score Tommy Pham and make it 2-0. Evan Longoria made it 3-1 with an RBI single in the seventh inning, and came around to score on Corbin Carroll’s RBI single to make it 4-1. Arizona loaded the bases in the eighth inning, cashing in for three runs on a two-run single by Ketel Marte and an RBI single by Corbin Carroll. Emmanuel Rivera singled home two more runs in the ninth inning to make it 9-1.
Diamondbacks Take Game 2
The Arizona Diamondbacks won Game 2 by a final score of 9-1. With the win, it is the fourth straight World Series that has started out 1-1. The 2019 Houston Astros are the last team to take a 2-0 World Series lead after they took Games 1 and 2 of the 2019 World Series over the Washington Nationals.
- It is the 11th consecutive World Series that will not end in a sweep, with the last sweep coming by the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 World Series over the Detroit Tigers.
- 11 consecutive World Series without a sweep is the second-longest stretch in World Series history, behind a 12-year streak from 1977-1988 which saw no teams record a World Series sweep
Recency Bias
Entering this year’s Fall Classic, the American League holds the overall lead in the World Series, 67-51.
- The National League has won eight out of the last 13 and 10 of the last 16 with wins by the Cardinals in 2006, the Phillies in 2008, the Giants in 2010, the Cardinals in 2011, the Giants in 2012 and 2014, the Cubs in 2016, the Nationals in 2019, the Dodgers in 2020 and the Braves in 2021.
- Since the Yankees won three straight World Championships from 1998- 2000, the NL holds a narrow lead over the AL with an 12-10 record in the Fall Classic. However, over a longer span in the World Series, the AL has taken 14 of 27 since 1996; 17 of 31 starting in 1991; and 22 of 40 times beginning in 1983.
Steal a Base, Steal a Record?
Teams have combined for 55 stolen bases in this year’s Postseason, the third-most for a single Postseason in MLB history. MLB set the record with 59 steals during the 1995 Postseason, followed by 56 steals during the 1999 Postseason.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have swiped 21 bases this Postseason, the second-most of any team in a single Postseason. The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays stole an MLB-record 24 stolen bases throughout the 2008 Postseason.
Game Three
The American League holds a 65-53 lead in Game 3 of the World Series with the National League taking each of the last three matchups (2022 Philadelphia Phillies, 2021 Atlanta Braves, 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers). Teams who win Game 3 of the World Series have gone on to win the World Series 75 times (63.6%), including 12 of the last 23 years.
- The Diamondbacks are 6-5 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, 2-2 in Game 3 of a best-of-seven series and 0-1 in Game 3 of the World Series after falling by a score of 2-1 in the 2001 World Series against the New York Yankees.
- This year Arizona has won Game 3 over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS and Game 3 of the NLCS over the Philadelphia Phillies.
- The Rangers are 4-9 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, 2-3 in Game 3 of a best-of-seven series and 1-1 in Game 3 of the World Series… Previously Texas won Game 3 of the 2010 World Series over San Francisco and lost Game 3 of the 2011 World Series by a final score of 16-7 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
- This year Texas has won Game 3 of the ALDS over the Baltimore Orioles and lost Game 3 of the ALCS to the Houston Astros.
TEXAS STARTING PITCHER
Max Scherzer
@maxscherzer31
Age: 39 (7/27/1984)
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
College: Missouri
Drafted: 1st Round in 2006 by AZ
2023 Regular Season: 13-6, 3.77 ERA
2023 Postseason: 0-1, 9.45 ERA
Postseason Performance
Scherzer has made two starts this Postseason going 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA (7 ER/6.2 IP), six strikeouts and a 1.80 WHIP…Opponents are batting .333 with nine hits and two home runs…Started Games 3 and 7 of the ALCS against Houston.
- 10/18 vs. HOU: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 4 SO (63 pitches, 42 strikes)
- 10/23 at HOU: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (44 pitches, 30 strikes)
Against the Diamondbacks
Will face the team that drafted him for the 13th time in his career…Is 9-0 with a 2.65 ERA (23 ER/78.0 IP)…Scherzer’s team has won 11 of the 12 games he has started against the Diamondbacks. - On the Road Again
Went 8-4 away from his home parks this year, pitching to a 4.31 ERA (41 ER/85.2 IP) in 15 starts… In his career he is 113-57 with a 3.17 ERA in 229 regular season road starts.
Regular Season
Went 13-6 with a 3.77 ERA (64 ER/152.2 IP), 174 strikeouts, a 1.12 WHIP, and a .221 opponents’ average…Was traded to Texas from the Mets on July 30th, making eight starts with the Rangers.
Show Me What You Got
Scherzer relies on six pitches: - 4-Seam Fastball – 46.3%, .255 opp. AVG
- Slider – 16.8%, .250 opp. AVG
- Changeup – 14.1%, .207 opp. AVG
- Curveball – 12.4%, .187 opp. AVG
- Cutter – 10.4%, .135 opp. AVG
Career
Now in his 16th season in the Majors, Scherzer has amassed a 214-108 career record with a 3.15 ERA…Attended University of Missouri…Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the First round of the 2006 First-Year Draft…Was also selected by St. Louis in the 43rd Round in 2003…Part of a three team trade between the Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers on December 9, 2009 that saw Scherzer end up in Detroit, RHP Ian Kennedy and RHP Edwin Jackson end up in Arizona, and OF Curtis Granderson in New York …He signed with Washington in 2015 as a Free Agent, going on to win the 2019 World Series… Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30, 2021 along with SS Trea Turner in exchange for C Keibert Ruiz, RHP Josiah Gray, RHP Gerardo Carrillo and OF Donovan Casey…Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets on December 1, 2021…Traded to Texas on July 30th during this year’s Trade Deadline…Made his Major League debut on April 29, 2008 against Houston, tossing 4.1 innings of relief…Earned his first career win on May 16, 2009, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings against the Braves.
ARIZONA STARTING PITCHER:
Brandon Pfaadt
@bpfaadt
Age: 25 (10/15/1998)
Birthplace: Louisville, KY
College: Bellarmine
Drafted: 5th Round in 2020 by AZ
2023 Regular Season: 3-9, 5.72 ERA
2023 Postseason: 0-0, 2.70 ERA
Postseason Performance
Pfaadt has made four starts this Postseason going 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA (5 ER/16.2 IP), 22 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP…Opponents are batting .246 with 15 hits and two home runs…Started Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at Milwaukee, Game 3 of the NLDS against Los Angeles, and Games 13and 7 in the NLCS against Philadelphia…Arizona has won all four of his starts this Postseason, despite the rookie not factoring into a decision.
- 10/3 at MIL: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO (67 pitches, 46 strikes)
- 10/11 vs. LAD: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO (42 pitches, 30 strikes)
- 10/19 vs. PHI: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO (70 pitches, 48 strikes)
- 10/24 at PHI: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO (64 pitches, 39 strikes)
Against the Rangers
Will face Texas for the second time in his career, after starting on May 3rd this year in his Major League debut. Arizona took a 12-7 win in the game, with Pfaadt allowing seven runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings…He allowed a career-high four home runs in the start.
Home Sweet Home
Went 2-5 with a 6.46 ERA (33 ER/46.0 IP) in 10 starts at home this season. Has made two starts at home this Postseason, including a career-high nine strikeouts against Philadelphia in Game 3 of the NLCS.
Regular Season
Went 3-9 with a 5.72 ERA (61 ER/96.0 IP), 94 strikeouts, a 1.41 WHIP, and a .282 opponents’ average…Arizona was 8-11 in games started by Pfaadt.
The Arsenal
Pfaadt relies on five pitches: - 4-Seam Fastball – 45.4%, .325
- Sweeper – 27%, .180
- Changeup – 12.1%, .409
- Sinker – 9.9%, .313
- Curveball – 5.5%, .294
Career
In his first Major League season, Pfaadt amassed a 3-9 record with a 5.72 ERA (61 ER/96.0 IP)….Drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 5th round of the 2020 First-Year Draft out of Bellarmine University…Made his Major League debut on May 3rd at Texas, tossing 4.2 innings…Earned his first career win in his 13th career start on August 25th against Cincinnati.
