How Unlikely Was Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks World Series? Almost Impossible

Only one World Series matchup had longer odds of happening than the 2023 Fall Classic between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

ARLINGTON, Texas — No one saw this coming.

And if they did, and were the betting kind, they're sitting on a pile of cash about now.

The 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks had 1,750 to 1 odds before the season started, according to Bet MGM.

How big of a longshot was this Fall Classic?

The only more unlikely World Series matchup was in 1991, when the Minnesota Twins beat the Atlanta Braves in seven games. The Twins were +4,000 to win the AL pennant and the Braves were +7,500 to win the NL pennant. The Twins and Braves finished last in their division the season before. The Braves had a MLB-worst 97 losses in 1990. The 1991 season was the beginning of their decade of NL dominance.

The Rangers and D-backs start with Game 1 at 7:03 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field.

Both teams lost more than a 100 games in 2021 – Arizona 110 and Texas 102.

A year ago, the D-backs lost 88 games; the Rangers lost 94 games.

This season the Rangers finished 90-72 in the AL West and only lost the division because of a tiebreaker with the Houston Astros. The Rangers earned a Wild Card berth, their first postseason appearance since winning the division with an AL-best 95 win in 2016.

The Diamondbacks finished 84-78 and earned a Wild Card berth, their first postseason appearance since 2017. 

World Series Schedule (all times CT)
Friday: Game 1 Arizona at Texas, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Saturday: Game 2 Arizona at Texas, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Monday: Game 3 Texas at Arizona, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Tuesday: Game 4 Texas at Arizona, FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Wednesday: Game 5 Texas at Arizona (if necessary), FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Friday, Nov. 3: Game 6 Arizona at Texas (if necessary), FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Saturday, Nov. 4: Game 7 Arizona at Texas (if necessary), FOX (7:03 p.m.)

Rangers Dish on Diamondbacks

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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