Boston Red Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals: 2013 World Series Preview

2013 World Series Schedule

Thanks to the American League pulling off a win in July's All-Star game, the Boston Red Sox will enjoy home field advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals. Part of me still wishes that Major League Baseball would adopt the 2-2-1-1-1 schedule over the 2-3-2 schedule, but that doesn't seem likely and we all know that baseball A) would pretend to be concerned about the two extra days that would be added for a full seven-game series, and B) probably wouldn't be willing to eliminate travel days before and after game six.

Here's the schedule.

Game 1: Cardinals at Red Sox (7:07pm CT, FOX)
Game 2: Cardinals at Red Sox (7:07pm CT, FOX)

Game 3: Red Sox at Cardinals (7:07pm CT, FOX)
Game 4: Red Sox at Cardinals (7:15pm CT, FOX)
* Game 5: Red Sox at Cardinals (7:07pm CT, FOX)

* Game 6: Cardinals at Red Sox (7:07pm CT, FOX)
* Game 7: Cardinals at Red Sox (7:07pm CT, FOX)

* -- If necessary

Probable Pitchers

Game 1: Adam Wainwright vs Jon Lester
Game 2: Michael Wacha vs John Lackey
Game 3: TBA
Game 4: TBA

World Series Rosters

While the Cardinals have chosen to go with 13 position players and 12 pitchers, in comparison the Red Sox are taking an extra position player and reducing their bullpen by one pitcher. For St. Louis, who have removed outfielder Adron Chambers in order to put the healthy Craig Allen back on the roster, it would seem that they're running on just four outfielders - but Craig has played both corner outfield spots this season in addition to first base.

Boston will have an advantage if their starters get in trouble or if they need a reliever to go long, as both Ryan Dempster and Felix Doubront spent time in the rotation this year. St. Louis will have Miller available, but if they burn through him in one instance they won't have a second pitcher out of the bullpen capable of going multiple innings without burning themselves for the series.

Red Sox

Catchers (2): David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Infielders (6): Xander Bogaerts, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, Mike Napoli, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia

Outfielders (6): Quintin Berry, Mike Carp, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava, Shane Victorino

Starting Pitchers (4): Jon Lester, Clay Buccholz, John Lackey, Jake Peavy

Bullpen (7): Craig Breslow, Ryan Dempster, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, Brandon Workman

Cardinals

Catchers (2): Tony Cruz, Yadier Molina

Infielders (7): Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, Daniel Descalso, David Freese, Pete Kozma, Kolten Wong

Outfielders (4): Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Shane Robinson

Starting Pitchers (4): Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn

Bullpen (8): John Axford, Randy Choate, Seth Maness, Carlos Martinez, Shelby Miller, Edward Mujica, Trevor Rosenthal, Kevin Siegrist

By the Numbers