World Series Rematch: Round #2
The last time the D-backs played the Rangers at Chase Field, it was Game 5 of the 2023 World Series. After Zac Gallen heroically took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Texas pulled away to win the game, and with it the World Series. Since then, however, things have not gone very well for the Rangers. They currently site four games below .500, and look likely to be the first World Series team with a losing record the next year, since the 2013 Red Sox won 71 games the following campaign. [Technically, the 2019 Nationals did in 2020, but we all know that “fun size” season counts for absolutely nothing.] Six games out of the wild-card, they are basically playing out the string.
Hopefully they will act like it over the next couple of games, and just roll over for the D-backs, to put a little space between them and the Mets/Braves. In scoreboard watching action, both teams are in action on the road today, in Toronto and Washington respectively, with the Braves ahead and the Mets trailing at the time of writing, as Arizona seek to keep pace. The Padres are also away from home, and will be taking on the Mariners, with that game starting at the same time as this one. Having thought Gallen was starting the last game in Houston, I’m just going to repeat the same sentiment I had on Sunday: hopefully Zac will continue the form which he showed on his last start, because this team will live or die based on its pitching.