World Series 2013 Game 1 Preview

Sports analysts have been comparing the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals all season.  They are undoubtedly similar teams in terms of style of play.  They are also similar in that they have both made it to the World Series, and now we will see which team really sets themselves apart from the other.

Both the Red Sox and the Cardinals have made three World Series appearances a piece since 2004.  The Red Sox and Cardinals both finished the season with MLB-best 97-65 record.  They both also made it to the series by taking care of their division rivals in six games.  Tonight these two similar teams will clash to see who is the best in the MLB.

Game 1 is more important than it seems.  Over the last 24 world series games 20 of them were won by the team that takes Game 1.

The Red Sox are looking for their eighth title win in franchise history.  It will be their third in the last 10 years.  The veteran Red Sox squad scored more runs than any other team in baseball this past season.

The Cardinals have won the World Series 12 times and three times in the last eight years. The Cardinals young pitching rotation is their most dangerous weapon. They posted the second best ERA during the 2013 season.

Cardinals will start Adam Wainwright.  Wainwright will be starting in his first World Series.  He was injured when the Cardinals made a World Series run in 2011.  He did however pitch as a closer as a rookie in 2006 in the World Series.  Most recently Wainwright pitched in the NL Championship Series Game 3.  He posted a 1.57 ERA in his three postseason starts this year.

The Red Sox will be starting southpaw Jon Lester.  In the month of October, Lest has gone 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA.  His only loss came in the ALCS with 1-0.  He has given up just five runs through 19 1/3 innings this postseason.

The odds are close in this game.  The Red Sox moneyline is set at -118 compared to the Cardinals +108 moneyline.  The game airs on FOX and the first pitch will be thrown at 8:07 p.m.