The Rangers are lucky to have the World Series even at 1-1 after pulling out an extra inning win. The Diamondbacks have outscored the Rangers, 14-7, and now are coming home for Game 3. Texas had a losing road record during the regular season.

Yet this Game 3 is being priced as a toss-up. It's time to start respecting the Diamondbacks. The Brewers, Dodgers and Phillies all discovered that the hard way. It's also time to realize that 39-year-old Max Scherzer is past his prime and not fully healthy.

Scherzer had a 9.45 ERA in two postseason starts against the Astros this month. He is 7-8 with a 3.86 ERA in 29 lifetime playoff appearances. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was quoted as saying he's just looking for innings from Scherzer, rather than his one-time dominance, since the Rangers have a vulnerable bullpen.

I prefer Diamondbacks' rookie Brandon Pfaadt, who showed he could do the job under pressure when he shut out the Phillies on two hits with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Pfaadt has pitched 16 2/3 innings in the playoffs. He has a 2.70 ERA with a 22-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.