Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction: Can Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Step Up for Diamondbacks in Game 5?
The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the World Series with their backs against the wall. Can Lourdes Gurriel Jr. step up to save the Diamondbacks and extend the series? Ben Rajavuori answers with his Rangers vs. Diamondbacks prop pick.
Ben Rajavuori - November 1, 2023, 4:06 PM EDT
6 minTexas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction: Can Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Step Up for Diamondbacks in Game 5?
The Texas Rangers came into Chase Field in Arizona and have continued their perfect run of road wins in the postseason, taking game four by a score of 11-7. Texas has taken a 3-1 lead in the series, meaning that tonight is the first of three elimination games for the Diamondbacks.
Rangers vs. Diamondbacks Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: November 1, 2023
- Game Time: 8:03 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: FOX
Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
It is a long road ahead if the Snakes want to win the World Series, as they will have to win three in a row, but they have shown fight all postseason. They were down 3-2 before winning two in a row in Philly to get here, so we know they can do it. If they are going to do it, though, they need hitters to step up, and one of those guys I love to do well at the plate tonight is Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Gurriel Jr. has been having a pretty good postseason. He is hitting .274 with a .468 slugging percentage and .760 OPS. He has been doing even better in the World Series. He is 5-14 in this series, hitting .357. He has two multi-hit games as well, having two hits in games two and four. He also had a home run in the 9th inning last night. Gurriel has good momentum at the plate right now, which is always good going into a game as big as this one.
Another advantage Gurriel has in this game is his experience against the Rangers starter tonight, Nathan Eovaldi. Gurriel went 0-2 against Eovaldi in Game 1, but I think he finds the mark off him again tonight. Gurriel leads all Arizona hitters with 20 at-bats against Eovaldi, and he is hitting 7-20 in those 20 at-bats for a .350 average. He also has two home runs off of him.
Even if Gurriel somehow can't get to Eovaldi, the Rangers bullpen has been very shaky, and Gurriel proved that with a home run blast off Stratton last night. The D-backs putting up seven runs in the last two innings last night gives them momentum coming into tonight, even if they lost yesterday. I don't think the Dbacks will go 0-3 in their home stand, and if they are hoping to win tonight, they will need a good effort from their hitters. I like Gurriel as one of the more overlooked guys in this World Series. He has been hot, and he just needs a ball over or at the wall to hit 2+ bases again tonight.
Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Pick
Pick: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Over 1.5 Bases (+135) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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