The 119th World Series starts tonight in Texas. The unexpected clash between the Rangers and Diamondbacks is easy to disparage.
It features talent that is unappealing to Madison Avenue and would go unrecognized on it. It features franchises lacking mystique. It is a good bet to become the lowest-rated World Series of all-time.
The matchup of the 90-win Rangers and 84-win Diamondbacks will produce the lowest combined win percentage (.537) in the history of the Fall Classic.
Soon, that may not matter.
The 1973 World Series between the Mets and A’s (.545), which previously held the honor, went seven games. So did the 2014 matchup between the Giants and Royals (.546), which featured Madison Bumgarner’s all-time heroics and one of the most thrilling endings in history. The same can be said for the 1997 World Series between Cleveland and Florida (.551).
What may seem unappealing now could eventually be considered a classic. The following may be responsible for why it happens:
Adolis Garcia: Every at-bat has become an event for the 30-year-old Cuban, whose power and emotion ignited an ALCS MVP performance. He has seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 12 postseason games, putting him two RBIs shy of setting the single-postseason record.
Corbin Carroll: The N.L. Rookie of the Year frontrunner ranked third in the majors with 54 steals this season. In Game 7 against Philadelphia, Carroll, 23, became the second-youngest player in postseason history with at least three hits and two stolen bases in a game. Only Ty Cobb was younger.
Corey Seager: You probably forgot that the Rangers’ shortstop already captured World Series MVP honors when he was with the Dodgers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The four-time All-Star — who is hitting .333 in the playoffs — could become the fourth player in history (Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson) to win a second World Series MVP.
Ketel Marte: The switch-hitting second baseman was named NLCS MVP after setting the record for the longest-hitting streak by a player to begin his postseason career (16 games). Marte needs to hit safely in the Series’ first two games to break the all-time record, shared by Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez and Hank Bauer.
Evan Carter: Two months ago, the 21-year-old had never played in the majors. Now, the speedy outfielder is one of the biggest reasons the Rangers are four wins from their first title.
Tommy Pham: The Mets’ sell-off allowed baseball’s most intense player a chance to return to the postseason. Line drives and long stares followed.
Max Scherzer: The three-time Cy Young winner also expected to be here with the Mets. Instead, the 39-year-old is in the American League, appearing with his third team in the World Series. He isn’t Clayton Kershaw in October, but Scherzer’s legacy could benefit from a postseason-defining performance.
Brandon Pfaadt: Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly carried Arizona’s rotation in the regular season, but Pfaadt has made his mark in the postseason. The rookie, who went 3-9 with a 5.72 ERA this season, allowed a total of two runs in 14 innings (1.29 ERA) against the Phillies and Dodgers.
Evan Longoria: Arizona’s 38-year-old third baseman — the former Rookie of the Year who led the Rays to the 2008 World Series — is the first position player in history to go 15 years between appearances in the Fall Classic. Longoria is far past his prime, but no player will have more neutral support to win a ring.
Bruce Bochy: With a fourth World Series title, the Rangers manager would match Joe Torre and Walter Alston for fourth on the all-time list. Bochy, 68, could also become the third manager to win championships in both leagues (Sparky Anderson, Tony La Russa). Bochy would then stand alone for snapping two historic droughts, bringing the Giants their first championship in San Francisco (55 years) — over the Rangers — and leading Texas to its first title (63 years).
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Take the underdog
Seven games into a season that started with Super Bowl hopes, the Jets are a betting favorite for the first time this year, thanks to back-to-back wins — most recently over the reigning NFC champs — and a defense that has kept some of the best offenses in the NFL in check. A win against the Giants (2-5) and their 32nd-ranked offense would put the postseason back in play for the Jets (3-3), who come to MetLife Stadium as the “visiting team” in Sunday’s matchup.
Vegas expects the Jets — a 3-point favorite — to win, but sportsbooks have historically had a poor handle for how this rivalry game will play out. In 14 regular season matchups between the teams, the underdog has won outright on eight occasions:
Nov. 10, 2019 (Giants -3): In a battle between two of the NFL’s worst teams, Daniel Jones throws for 308 yards and four touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley is held to one yard on 13 carries. The Jets enter the fourth quarter trailing by three, but take the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Le’Veon Bell. Jets 34, Giants 27
Dec. 24, 2011 (Jets -3): A season that ended with another improbable Giants Super Bowl run started with Victor Cruz’s 99-yard touchdown. After back-to-back AFC Championship appearances, Rex Ryan and the Jets lost another chance to reach the postseason, losing the most hostile and meaningful game in the history of the series. Giants 29, Jets 14
Dec. 5, 1999 (Jets -2.5): For one game, Vinny Testaverde’s absence didn’t sink the Jets this season. Ray Lucas threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Kerry Collins, though, had 341 yards and three touchdowns, all caught by Amani Toomer (181 yards). Rookie Joe Montgomery received 38 of his 123 career carries in the highest-scoring game in the series. Giants 41, Jets 28
Sept. 22, 1996 (Jets -2): It seems impossible in retrospect, but Rich Kotite’s team was favored during its infamous 1-15 campaign. Neil O’Donnell failed to lead the Jets into the end zone, marking the first of five straight losses in the series. Giants 13, Jets 6
Oct. 31, 1993 (Giants -7): Bad weather was to blame for the lowest-scoring matchup between the teams. Phil Simms and the Giants lost for just the second time that season after failing to score a touchdown despite three drives inside the Jets’ 10-yard line. Jets 10, Giants 6
Dec. 18, 1988 (Giants -6): The Giants finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs, thanks to this loss in the regular season finale. After blowing a 13-point lead, the Jets (8-7-1) broke Big Blue’s hearts when Al Toon caught a 5-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining. Jets 27, Giants 21
Nov. 1, 1981 (Giants -2): It was the first time the teams played as co-tenants at Giants Stadium and the only time they met as playoff-bound teams. In a game featuring eventual Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Lawrence Taylor, Mark Gastineau took the spotlight in the most lopsided battle in the series, recording four of the Jets’ nine sacks of Simms. The Giants made up for it with a win over Dallas in the regular season finale, clinching playoff spots for both local teams. Jets 26, Giants 7
Nov. 10, 1974 (Giants -7): The first of three overtime meetings between the teams came in front of 67,740 fans at the Yale Bowl. After the two lowly teams missed game-winning field goal opportunities, Joe Namath ended the NFL’s second-ever regular season overtime game with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Emerson Boozer. Jets 26, Giants 20
Between a rock and a hard place
The Knicks opened the season against the betting favorite to win the NBA title. It will be another two weeks before their schedule starts to soften.
In what may be the toughest start to the season for any team in the league, the Knicks — following their season-opening loss to the Celtics — begin a three-game road trip Friday night in Atlanta, then head to New Orleans on Saturday and Cleveland on Tuesday. Their return home features three straight games against returning playoff teams (Cavaliers, Bucks, Clippers).
Last season, the Knicks had the good fortune of following a hard-fought season-opening loss at Memphis with three home games against lowly opponents (Detroit, Orlando, Charlotte).
This season, they’ll need to rebound against another team with postseason expectations. While Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are bound to shoot better than they did against Boston, Trae Young is due, too. The Garden favorite shot 4-of-19 — including 1-of-9 3-pointers — in a season-opening loss to the Hornets.
What we’re reading
🏈 The Jets defense talked a big game before the season started, and Steve Serby writes they can back it up by shutting out the Giants.
🏈 Neither Dalvin Cook nor Carl Lawson has asked for a trade, but Brian Costello notes that both are unhappy with their Jets roles.
🏀 Kyrie Irving is blaming the media for why things went wrong for him in Brooklyn. Or is he? Drian Lewis and Dan Martrin try to explain.
⚾ The Yankees aren’t the only team that’ll be watching former players in the World Series. Joel Sherman identifies the clubs that may have some regrets.
🏈 After a career-worst performance the last time he faced the Jets in the regular season, Saquon Barkley wants to redeem himself, writes Ryan Dunleavy.