Unlikely World Series Matchup: Rangers vs. Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers are set to face off in the World Series, a matchup that few predicted. Both teams had losing records the previous season but experienced a dramatic turnaround in 2023. The Diamondbacks benefited from new MLB rules that rewarded contact and aggressive baserunning, while the Rangers stumbled in the regular season's final days. This will be the third all-wildcard Fall Classic, and the first World Series played by two teams with retractable roof stadiums. Texas manager Bruce Bochy will be aiming for his fourth championship, which would tie him with Walter Alston and Joe Torre for the fourth most managerial World Series titles.