One team, the Rangers, hasn’t been in the World Series since 2011. The other team, the Diamondbacks, hasn’t been in the World Series since 2001.

Arizona wasn’t even a team until 1998. Yet, in their fourth year in existence, they made it into the World Series. It was 2001. A month after 9/11. The entire country wanted the New York Yankees to win as a way to help heal that city. But Arizona put emotion aside and beat the Yankees in a nail-biting seven-game World Series when they got to Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 7 for one of his rare blown saves. 

It took Texas a bit longer to get into their first World Series. Started in 1972, it took them twenty-five years to make the playoffs, and thirty-nine years to make the World Series.

Both teams have struggled recently. In fact, while the Rangers lost 102 games in 2021, the Diamondbacks outdid them that year by losing 110 games. Last year, Arizona won seventy-four games, Texas won sixty-eight. Both teams finished fourth in their division.

Both teams were in first place at the All-Star Break. Arizona was 52-39. Texas was also 52-39. The second half was a struggle for both teams, with both ending up losing their division lead and coming into the playoffs as a wild card.

What did Arizona do? They swept the Brewers in their wild card round, then shocked everyone by sweeping the 100-win Dodgers. What did Texas do? They swept the Rays in their wild card round, then swept the 100-win Orioles.

Both teams took their Championship Series to seven games. Both had to win their last two on the road to make it into the World Series.

Even though the Diamondbacks won just eighty-four games this year, Texas and Arizona are evenly matched. 

The two best teams in baseball the first half of the season are the last two teams standing for the last series of the season. This one will probably go down to extra innings in Game 7.

*****

Game 1: Friday, October 27, at Texas, 7:03 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, October 28, at Texas, 7:03 p.m.
Game 3: Monday, October 30, at Arizona Shed, 7:03 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, October 31, at Arizona, 7:03 p.m.
Game 5*: Wednesday, November 1, at Arizona, 7:03 p.m.

Game 6*: Friday, November 2, at Texas, 7:03 p.m.
Game 7*:Saturday, November 3, at Texas, 7:03 p.m.