World Series Shifts to Arizona, Tied 1-1

The Texas Rangers are lucky to be tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks, as the World Series moves west to Phoenix for the next three games. Arizona was on the verge of winning Game 1, with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. But then Corey Seager hit a huge two-run homer to tie the game, and Adolis Garcia won the game with a home run in the bottom of the 11th.
It was the kind of blown win that could sink a team. On the road, having just watched the first game slip through your fingers, the Diamondbacks could have allowed the loss to snowball into a quick series exit. Instead they responded with an easy win in Game 2, 9-1, out-hitting the Rangers, 16-4.
It could have been a perfect start for Arizona, winning two games on the road to begin the Series. Instead, the Diamondbacks go home for Monday night’s Game 3 in good spirits, and at even odds, according to sportsbook BetUS.com.
Sports betting is not yet legal in Texas, but for everyone who will be in Arizona for the three games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, there is no shortage of physical sportsbooks and online sports betting options.
Series and Game Odds
The Diamondbacks are paying even odds to win the World Series, with the Rangers at -130 to return the series to Texas and eventually win in six or seven games. BetUS.com is paying +150 for the World Series to go the full seven games. At six games or fewer, the odds are -180.
A Rangers series win at 4-2 is paying +325, as is a Rangers 4-3 series win. The shortest odds on a Diamondbacks win is 4-3, paying +450. Both teams are paying long odds to sweep the three games in Arizona. A 4-1 win for the Rangers is at +600, while a 4-1 Diamondbacks win is +550.
The moneyline for Game 3 is -105 for both teams.
Baseball bettors can also find a large number of prop bets and other World Series specials to wager on at online sportsbooks across the country.
Max Scherzer vs. Brandon Pfaadt
You will be forgiven if you know instantly who Max Scherzer is, and you have no idea who Brandon Pfaadt is. Scherzer is, of course, a three-time Cy Young winner, a World Series winner in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, and the $43 million man who was traded this year from the New York Mets to the Rangers, for whom he will start Game 3.
Brandon Pfaadt made his Major League Baseball debut just five months ago, and he finished the regular season with a 3-9 record. In that debut start, he faced these same Texas Rangers, and gave up seven runs, and four home runs, in less than five innings of work. It was not one of his three wins on the season.
You’d also be forgiven if you didn’t know that in the Division and National League Championship Series, Pfaadt made three starts, threw 14 innings, and allowed just three runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. So, for all of his struggles and inexperience in the regular season, he has been outstanding in the postseason, and he gets the ball in Game 3.
Scherzer, for all of his success and experience, has actually struggled in the postseason. He returned from a strained shoulder to make two starts against the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, and gave up a combined seven runs in 6.2 innings.
Game time from Arizona on Monday is 8 p.m. ET.