Los Angeles Angels at New York Yankees
Pitching
The Yankees have the best starting pitcher of the series in CC Sabathia, who is 12-2 since the All-Star Break. After Sabathia, the Yankees have only two reliable starters, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. Rather than using Joba Chamberlain or Chad Gaudin as a fourth starter, New York is reportedly considering using Sabathia for Game 4 and, if necessary, Game 7. Sabathia was roughed up in two regular-season meetings with the Angels, however, going 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA.
The Angels have four solid starters in John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders. Kazmir, who owns a 2.67 ERA against the Yankees in his career, could be key in shutting down the left-handed power bats of the Yankees.
While L.A. has the advantage in starting pitching, New York gets the nod in the bullpen. Yankees relievers had the 14th-best ERA in baseball during the regular season, while the Angels ranked 23rd. LA closer Brian Fuentes saved two games against Boston last round, but he's nowhere near as automatic as the Yankees' Mariano Rivera.
Edge: Los Angeles
Offence
Offence has been the calling card for both teams this season. New York scored the most runs in the Majors, while the Angels ranked second. LA had the highest batting average in baseball, followed closely by the Yankees.
New York generates most of its offence with the long ball. Seven Yankees went deep 20 or more times this year, helping the team set a franchise record for home runs in a season. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez combined for 69 homers and 222 RBIs, even with Rodriguez missing the first month of the season.
The Angels steal more bases and run the bases more aggressively. Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu combined to swipe 74 bags during the regular season, setting the table for the rest of the order.
Edge: New York
Intangibles
Most teams are intimidated by playing New York, but the Angels aren't one of them. L.A. is the only American League team with a winning record against the Yankees over the past nine seasons, and the Angels eliminated New York from the playoffs in 2005.
Los Angeles got a huge monkey off its back by beating the Red Sox in the opening round, after falling to Boston in its previous three playoff meetings. Vladimir Guerrero entered the Boston series with only one RBI in his previous 17 postseason contests, but his two-out, two-run single off Jonathan Papelbon in Game 3 clinched the series win for the Halos.
As always, there's plenty of pressure on the Yankees, whose season will be viewed as a failure if they don't win their first World Series since 2000. Like Guerrero, Rodriguez exorcised some playoff demons in the opening round, hitting .455 with six RBIs in the first round and belting a clutch two-run ninth-inning home run off Twins closer Joe Nathan in Game 2.
New York has home-field advantage in the series, and that could be the difference. The Yankees were a league-best 57-24 at home this season.
Edge: New York
Pick: Yankees in seven games