2013 World Series Prediction

Have blown my last two World Series picks, but here's to trying to break my streak.

The 2013 World Series Champion will be...

 

Here's why:

Both league championship series were dominated by pitching, but timely hits by Boston and St. Louis have set up this rematch of the 2004 Series.

So, let's break it down.

Lineups

The best offense in baseball in the regular season faced an incredible Detroit starting rotation in the ALCS and found a way to advance. Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Napoli did most of the damage, while David Ortiz and Shane Victorino's grand slams in Games 2 and 6 proved to be the difference in the series. Losing the DH for Games 3-5 could be an issue for Boston because Napoli has been the great this postseason, but will be relegated to the bench no DH, since Ortiz will move to first base. This means Boston might have to play more small ball, with Ellsbury and 2B Dustin Pedroia being the catalysts. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have gone on their typical postseason run (2nd World Series in 3 years) riding the hot bat of living legend Carlos Beltran, and the three Matts (Holliday, Adams, Carpenter)

Edge: Red Sox

Pitching:

Championships are determined by pitching, and both teams have outstanding staffs, both in the rotation and in the bullpen. St. Louis' Adam Wainwright and NLCS MVP Michael Wacha have been almost unhittable this postseason, as they have gone a combined 5-1, with a 0.98 ERA in their run through the Pirates and Dodgers in the NL. In the bullpen, Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal have been lights out, while lefty specialist Randy Choate could play a key role in the series against David Ortiz. Boston's pitching staff, meanwhile, is anchored by ace Jon Lester, with the real strength of the staff in the bullpen in the form of Junichi Tazawa and ALCS MVP Koji Uehara.

Edge: Cardinals

This series is about as even as they come, and I think the biggest question mark will be whether the Boston lineup can score enough runs off the outstanding St. Louis pitching staff. In the end, although they are the favorites, I don't think they will be able to. 

Cardinals in 7.