Diamondbacks vs Rangers World Series Game 2 Prediction & Best Bets: Will Texas Take a 2-0 Lead to the Desert?

Game 1 of the 2023 World Series provided all of the drama that you want to see in playoff baseball. What is in store for tonight’s Game 2 between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers (8:03 pm ET, FOX)?

After erasing an early deficit, the D-backs were in position to take the opener at Globe Life Field, with a 5-3 lead and closer Paul Sewald on the mound in the ninth.

But with one out in the final frame, Corey Seager cranked a two-run home to knot things up and set up some free baseball.

Then, following zeroes in the tenth and the top of the 11th, Adolis Garcia sent the home fans happy with a walk-off blast to lead off the bottom of the 11th.

Bet on Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers Odds at BetDSI

It was the 17th walk-off homer in World Series history and the first since Max Muncy’s 18th-inning long ball to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 in 2018.

Of the previous 16 instances, which includes series-winning shots in 1960 (Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates) and 1993 (Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays), the winning team has won the title 11 times.

If the Rangers are able to take a 2-0 lead tonight, they will be halfway to their first championship.

Will they take care of business tonight, or will the Diamondbacks pick themselves up off of the mat after last night’s missed opportunity and earn a split in Arlington? World Series Game 2 odds favor the home team, but the NLCS showed that Arizona is not to be counted out when behind.

World Series Game 2 Odds – Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers

Courtesy of Bovada.

Moneyline

• Arizona Diamondbacks +132
• Texas Rangers -158

Over/Under

• Over 8.5 (-115)
• Under 8.5 (-105)

Run Line

• Arizona Diamondbacks +1.5 (-145)
• Texas Rangers -1.5 (+125)

The Rangers had the edge with oddsmakers ahead of last night’s opener, and that edge has only increased after their win last night.

Why? Based on recent history, a Texas title triumph is by far the likeliest outcome. In the previous 20 editions of the Fall Classic, the team that won Game 1 went on the win the series 16 times.

Odds to Win the 2023 World Series

Courtesy of Bovada.

• Texas Rangers -310
• Arizona Diamondbacks +250

That said, one of the four outliers took place last year, as the Houston Astros blew a five-run lead to lose Game 1 at home but won four of the next five games to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies.

There is plenty of reason for both the Rangers and Diamondbacks to feel confident at this point. Recent World Series history favors the AL champions, but the Diamondbacks overcame 2-0 and 3-2 series deficits in the NLCS.

There’s also some recent history in Arizona’s favor. While most recent Game 1 winners have gone on to win the World Series, the Game 1 loser has had a lot of success in Game 2.

It’s not nearly as significant of an edge as winning Game 1 is for winning the series, but 12 of the last 20 Game 1 losers have won Game 2, including each of the last three.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers Game 2 Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction: Diamondbacks to win

Best Bets: Diamondbacks ML (+132 at Bovada) & Corbin Carroll to record a run (+130 at Bovada)

I’m rolling with the Game 1 loser to be the Game 2 winner for the fourth consecutive World Series, and I look for Carroll to contribute to his team leaving Arlington with a split.

In Game 1, Carroll was 1 of 5 with two RBI and a run scored, and he now has scored ten runs and driven in eight in the postseason this year.

After going without a run in six consecutive games (NLDS Game 3 against the Dodgers and the first five games of the NLCS), Carroll has crossed home plate at least once in each of the last three games.

If he gets a hit, he will likely score. In the regular season, he tallied a hit in 102 games, and he scored a run in 70 (68.6%) of those games. In the postseason, he has bettered that percentage, scoring a run in six of the eight games (75%) in which he has recorded a hit.

Where to Bet on the 2023 World Series

Many top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of MLB odds throughout the season.

In addition to being able to make daily MLB picks on games from Opening Day until the final game of the Fall Classic, you can also bet on MLB MVP odds, Cy Young Award odds, and MLB Rookie of the Year odds, as well as World Series odds.

There are many sportsbooks out there that are good for MLB betting, but here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Other MLB Content

• World Series Betting Guide
• 2023 World Series Odds
• 2023 World Series MVP Odds