Rangers Take on Cardinals in World Series

The Texas Rangers and the Saint Louis Cardinals will kick off the World Series on Wednesday, beginning a best-of seven-series to decide the 107th Major League Baseball Championship.
Rangers Take on Cardinals in World Series
Kristen Meriwether
Updated:

<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/Cruz129319812.jpg" alt="Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers celebrates one of his six post season homeruns during Game 6 of the ALCS. Cruz hopes to stay red hot and lead the Rangers to their first World Series title. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)" title="Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers celebrates one of his six post season homeruns during Game 6 of the ALCS. Cruz hopes to stay red hot and lead the Rangers to their first World Series title. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)" width="575" class="size-medium wp-image-1796167"/></a>
Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers celebrates one of his six post season homeruns during Game 6 of the ALCS. Cruz hopes to stay red hot and lead the Rangers to their first World Series title. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Texas Rangers and the Saint Louis Cardinals will kick off the World Series on Wednesday, beginning a best-of seven-series to decide the 107th Major League Baseball Championship.

The Rangers are making a return trip to the Fall Classic after their first World Series appearance in franchise history last season. Their championship bid was unsuccessful, as they were eliminated by the San Francisco Giants in five games. The Cardinals are back in the World Series after securing a title in 2006.

Starting pitching will be critical in bringing home a championship, and the Cardinals will have to do better than their paltry postseason performance so far. Their starting rotation served up a 7.03 ERA during the NLCS, with their bullpen providing the saving grace.

The Cardinals will send their ace Chris Carpenter to the mound for Game 1, despite giving up three runs and a 5.40 ERA in his last start against the Brewers on October 12. Despite Carpenter’s stats, his team has not lost when he started.

There has been much speculation on Carpenter’s availability after reports surfaced that he had a sore elbow after his last start, but manager Tony LaRussa told reporter on Tuesday, “If he wasn’t sound, he wouldn’t pitch tomorrow,” in a press conference that was aired on MLB.com.

<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/Freese129400113.jpg" alt="David Freese unloads a 3-run home run against the Brewers in Game 6 of the NLCS. Freese is batting .425 this postseason with four home runs. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)" title="David Freese unloads a 3-run home run against the Brewers in Game 6 of the NLCS. Freese is batting .425 this postseason with four home runs. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)" width="400" class="size-medium wp-image-1796169"/></a>
David Freese unloads a 3-run home run against the Brewers in Game 6 of the NLCS. Freese is batting .425 this postseason with four home runs. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Rangers will send C.J. Wilson out to the bump for Game 1, despite having a mediocre postseason thus far. Wilson has given up six home runs in his three starts and has not lasted longer than six innings. The Rangers have won only once out of his three starts.

The lineups have not been officially set for any further games, but Rangers’ manager Ron Washington said he would give the nod to Colby Lewis for Game 2 but would not speculate on a Game 3 starter. LaRussa said he expected Jaime Garcia to start Game 2, but like his counterpart, did not want to speculate past that.

The Pen

The X factor in this series could be the bullpen. With neither club getting top-shelf work from their starters, both clubs have had to rely on their relievers. It is no secret that the Cardinals’ bullpen got them into the Series, but it remains to be seen if the two days off will be enough rest for their weary arms. With the powerful bats that each team brings to the plate, one bad inning by a starter could make for a long night for the guys out in the pen.

Heavy Hitters

The Rangers offense has been on “Cruz” control this postseason with a record-setting six home runs by Nelson Cruz. He is batting .243 for the postseason and has provided the ignition for the offense as Michael Young’s bat has gone quiet. The combo of Cruz, Young, Josh Hamilton, and Ian Kinsler will give the Cardinals pitching staff plenty to worry about.

<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/RallySquirrel129237283.jpg" alt="The Saint Louis Rally Squirrel runs around Busch Stadium during Game 5 of the NLCS. The Rally Squirrel will be going 'nuts' for the Cardinals during the World Series. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)" title="The Saint Louis Rally Squirrel runs around Busch Stadium during Game 5 of the NLCS. The Rally Squirrel will be going 'nuts' for the Cardinals during the World Series. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)" width="400" class="size-medium wp-image-1796171"/></a>
The Saint Louis Rally Squirrel runs around Busch Stadium during Game 5 of the NLCS. The Rally Squirrel will be going 'nuts' for the Cardinals during the World Series. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Cardinals have a very American-League power lineup themselves with the unlikely David Freese leading a roster that includes Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Lance Berkman. Freese is batting an astounding .425 in the postseason with four homers and 14 RBI. Not bad for a guy making under $500,000.

The Rangers will have to adjust to having their pitcher hit while at Busch Stadium, making the NL home field advantage even more crucial.

The Intangibles

Both teams appear to be evenly matched in terms of powerful offenses and good pitching, all reasons they made it this far. But Texas is lacking one very important element—the rally squirrel! After his (or her) first appearance in Game 3 and then reappearance in Game 4, fans have gone “nuts” for the rally squirrel. It has become the good luck charm for the team, much like the “rally monkey” for the Angels in 2000. With the rally squirrel and home field advantage, the Cardinals seem to have destiny on their side.

Follow Kristen on Twitter @Call2theBullpen