Rangers vs. Diamondbacks World Series Game 1 Starting Pitcher Matchup - October 27

Updated Oct. 27, 2023 5:47 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

The Texas Rangers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks to open the World Series on Friday at 8:03 PM ET at Globe Life Field.

The Rangers are projected to give the nod to Nathan Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA) versus the Diamondbacks and Zac Gallen (17-9, 3.47 ERA).

Rangers Probable Starter: Nathan Eovaldi

Eovaldi (12-5) takes the mound for the Rangers in his 26th start of the season. He's put together a 3.63 ERA in 144 2/3 innings pitched, with 132 strikeouts.
In his last outing on Monday against the Houston Astros, the righty tossed 6 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs while surrendering five hits.
The 33-year-old has an ERA of 3.63, with 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings, in 25 games this season. Opponents are hitting .225 against him.
Eovaldi is aiming to claim his fifth quality start in a row in this outing.
Eovaldi will look to extend a five-game streak of going five or more innings (he's averaging 5.8 innings per outing).
He has made eight appearances this season in which he did not allow an earned run.
He will face a Diamondbacks squad that is batting .250 as a unit (13th in MLB). It is also slugging a collective .408 (17th in MLB) with 166 total home runs (22nd in MLB).

Opponent	Date	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB
at Astros	Oct. 22	6.1	5	2	2	4	3
at Astros	Oct. 16	6.0	5	3	3	9	1
vs. Orioles	Oct. 10	7.0	5	1	1	7	0
at Rays	Oct. 4	6.2	6	1	1	8	0
at Mariners	Sep. 29	3.1	5	7	7	5	2

Gallen (17-9) will take to the mound for the Diamondbacks and make his 35th start of the season.
The right-hander's last appearance was on Sunday, when he threw six innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, giving up four earned runs while allowing six hits.
The 28-year-old has pitched in 34 games this season with an ERA of 3.47 and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .238.
He has earned a quality start 20 times in 34 starts this season.
Gallen will look to pitch five or more innings for the 29th start in a row.
He has finished eight appearances without allowing an earned run in 34 chances this season.
The Rangers are batting .263 this season, second in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .452 (third in the majors) with 233 home runs.
The Rangers have gone 14-for-45 with three doubles, a home run and four RBI in two games against the right-hander this season.
The 28-year-old ranks 16th in ERA (3.47), 12th in WHIP (1.119), and 17th in K/9 (9.4) among qualified pitchers in the majors this season.