Red Sox-Angels Series Breakdown

Red Sox-Angels Series Breakdown and Pick
By JON KUIPERIJ

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Series odds: Boston -150

Pitching

Los Angeles has a slight edge when it comes to starting pitching. John Lackey has an ERA under 3.00 since the All-Star break and has been effective against the Red Sox this season, while Scott Kazmir has been excellent since being acquired from the Rays last month. Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders round out the rotation.

For Boston, Josh Beckett is known as a playoff stud, but he's struggled in the second half. Jon Lester is probably the most reliable Red Sox starter right now, having lost only once in the past two months. What Boston will get from Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz or Tim Wakefield is anyone's guess.

Starting pitching gets most of the attention, but this series might be won or lost in the bullpens. Boston ranks seventh in the Majors this year in bullpen ERA, while the Angels' relief corps is ranked 24th. Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon is much more reliable than the Angels' Brian Fuentes.

Edge: Los Angeles

Offense

Both teams have the potential to put up runs in bunches, though they do it in different ways. Los Angeles has the highest team batting average in baseball and all of its regulars are hitting .270 or better. Torii Hunter, Kendry Morales, Juan Rivera and Bobby Abreu have all driven in more than 80 runs. The Angels are also known for running the bases aggressively, ranking third in stolen bases.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox rely more on the long ball, having hit the third-most home runs in the Majors this season. Leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury led the Bigs in steals this year and, along with defending AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, sets the table for RBI men Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay and Victor Martinez. David Ortiz has been a forgotten man after his awful start to the year, but he still came close to 30 homers and 100 RBI this season.

Edge: Boston

Intangibles

Though the Angels have handled the Red Sox fairly well this season, they probably aren't happy to draw Boston in the opening round. The Red Sox have eliminated Los Angeles from the playoffs three times in the past five years, including last season when the Angels had the league's best regular-season record.

Boston's players seem to thrive under the postseason pressure, winning two of the past five World Series, while Los Angeles has developed a reputation as a good regular-season team that folds in the playoffs. Exhibit A is Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, who has one RBI in his past 17 playoff games.

Though Los Angeles has home-field advantage, the Angels will be in tough if they lose one of the first two games and need at least one victory in Fenway Park to extend the series.

Pick: Boston in four games