| Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated |
St. Louis doesn't have enough premium pitching to withstand the Boston offense in what will be an entertaining series. The Curse ends on Halloween Night.
Red Sox in 7 |
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| John Donovan, SI.com Senior Writer |
If Curt Schilling breaks down, this is over. Cards win in a walk. But if he pitches like he did in Game 6 of the ALCS, he's the difference-maker. The Cards' lineup is great, granted, but Boston's bangs, too, and the Sox have lesser pitchers to face.
Red Sox in 7 |
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| Daniel G. Habib, Sports Illustrated
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Offensively, these mashers have found their matches. The Red Sox led the AL in runs per game and slugging percentage; the Cardinals led the NL. In Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the Red Sox, alone among the playoff qualifiers, can bang with Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen. Consider Boston's massive edge in starting pitching, assuming Schilling is healthy, and its devastatingly durable closer, Keith Foulke -- compared to the iffy, one-inning Jason Isringhausen -- and the Sox seem sure to get it done.
Red Sox in 6 |
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| Albert Chen, Sports Illustrated |
A clash of two juggernaut offenses, the series will come down to middle relief. Julian Tavarez, Kiko Calero, and Ray King have been sharp in October and should get the job done.
Cardinals in 6 |
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| David Sabino, Sports Illustrated |
The Cardinals beat Roger Clemens to get to the Series, but he'll be the man to blame when they lose Game 7. The Rocket got rocked for six first inning runs in the 2004 All Star Game, thus giving the Red Sox the home-field advantage they'll need to finally win it all.
Red Sox in 7 |
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| Ryan Hunt, SI.com Senior Producer |
Remember what happened to the Yankees last season after an emotional, do-or-die seven-game ALCS victory over the Red Sox? Someone forgot to tell them it wasn't the World Series, and they were steamrolled by the Marlins. And Florida didn't have Albert Pujols. But beating the Yankees is a nice consolation prize.
Cardinals in 6 |
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| Jacob Luft, SI.com Baseball Producer |
The Cardinals' pitching is underrated, with Woody Williams and Jeff Suppan serving as competent counterparts to Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. The Red Sox's dynamic pitching duo won't be the difference in this series. Instead, it will be the superior defense and baserunning the Cardinals employ compared to the butchery of the DH-laden Red Sox. As long as St. Louis' pitching can limit Boston's home runs, this one will be all too easy.
Cardinals in 5 |
