World Series at a glance

When: Game 1: Today at Boston, 8:07 p.m.; Game 2: Tomorrow at Boston, 8:07 p.m.; Game 3: Saturday at St. Louis, 8:07; Game 4: Sunday at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.; Game 5: Monday at St. Louis, 8:07 p.m.*; Game 6: Oct. 30 at Boston, 8:07 p.m.*; Game 7: Oct. 31 at Boston, 8:07 p.m.*

* - If necessary

TV: All games on Fox

History: The Cardinals and Red Sox have met in the World Series three times. The Cardinals took the first two championships, in 1946 and 1967, and the Red Sox won in 2004.

This season: St. Louis and Boston did not meet in the 2013 regular season.

About the Cardinals: St. Louis used a balanced attack to get to the World Series. Aside from their 9-0 thrashing of the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS that clinched their berth, they had a low-scoring series. They scored only 12 runs in their first five games, well below their regular-season average of 4.8 runs per nine innings. However, they'll get a boost from the return of cleanup hitter Allen Craig. Rookie Michael Wacha came up big pitchingwise for the Cards, earning two wins in the six-game series. Ace Adam Wainwright, who pitched well in Game 3 of the NLCS but lost, will start Game 1.

About the Red Sox: Boston had perhaps the most exciting road to the World Series as anyone in the past few years. The Red Sox were saved by a game-tying grand slam by slugger David Ortiz in Game 2 of the ALCS against Detroit. Shane Victorino came up with another slam in Game 6 with his team down to push the Red Sox into the World Series for the first time since 2007. From a team that went 69-93 last season, to the World Series, it has been quite the turnaround. The offense has continued to rise in the clutch, as it did in the ALCS. Their starting pitching was not consistent, with only John Lackey and Jon Lester earning wins. Lester will oppose Wainwright tonight.

Fun fact: This is the first time the owners of the best record in the NL and the AL will meet in the World Series since 1999. That year, the New York Yankees swept the Atlanta Braves.

What to look for: A team with red in its logo will be hoisting the World Series trophy when it is all said and done. All kidding aside, this should be a fun one. The Red Sox' offense will continue to score runs in bunches, as it has all season. This series will come down to starting pitching. Whichever team can limit the damage to its starter and save its bullpen as long as possible will be the one that wins. The Cardinals' starters have been pitching better recently, and one can expect Wainwright to excel on the big stage. The Boston starters should be helped by the fact that the St. Louis offense is not as powerful as Detroit's.

- Andrew Albert