Capsules of the other series (all best of 5)

Game 1: Today, St. Louis (Carpenter 17-4) at Los Angeles (Wolf 11-7), 9:37 p.m.

Game 2: Tomorrow, St. Louis (Wainwright 19-8) at Los Angeles (Kershaw 8-8), 6:07 p.m.

Game 3: Saturday, Los Angeles at St. Louis (Pineiro 15-12), 6:07 p.m.

Game 4: Sunday, Los Angeles at St. Louis, if necessary

Game 5: Tuesday, St. Louis at Los Angeles, if necessary

History: The Dodgers and Cardinals last met in the 2004 NLDS series, with the Cardinals winning, 3-1.

This season: The Cardinals won the season series, 5-2, outscoring the Dodgers, 31-19.

About the Dodgers: Los Angeles was 21-8 and on its way to a possibly historic season when Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for steroid use. Ramirez was hitting .348 at the time. Without Ramirez, the Dodgers went 29-21. Ramirez hit .269 the rest of season as Los Angeles (45-38 in its last 83 games) nearly lost its division lead to the Rockies. The Dodgers kept the NL's best record thanks in large part to Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Ethier led the team in home runs (31) and RBI (106), while Kemp slugged 26 homers and had 101 RBI.

About the Cardinals: Tony La Russa loves the finer intricacies of baseball. But when you have Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday in the middle of your lineup, and Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright at the front of your rotation, the decision-making process becomes a lot easier. Pujols led the majors in home runs (47). He had 135 RBI while batting a cool .327. Holliday, acquired to protect Pujols in a midseason trade with the Oakland Athletics, tore apart NL pitching to the tune of a .353 average. Carpenter was 17-4 with a majors-best 2.24 ERA. Wainwright tied for the major league lead with 19 victories and had a 2.63 ERA.

Fun fact: Remember Ryan Franklin? If you don't, it's understandable. The 36-year-old pitched 46 games for the Phillies in 2006, compiling a 4.58 ERA. But 3 years later, Franklin had a resurgence as the Cardinals closer, saving 38 games in 43 opportunities, with a 1.92 ERA.

What to look for: The matchup might be lost in a pair of intriguing subplots. Managers Joe Torre and Tony La Russa might be the two greatest minds in baseball history. Who wins their chess game? And who will be more clutch: Manny Ramirez or Albert Pujols? The Cardinals look as if they have way better starting pitching in this short series. The only way the Dodgers win is if Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw are unhittable and a quality Los Angeles bullpen can shut down a dynamic St. Louis offense.

Predictions: Dodgers will win: Hayes (5). Cardinals will win: Conlin (3), Donnellon (3), Hagen (4), Hofmann (4), Murphy (4).

Game 1: Tomorrow, Boston (Lester 15-8) at Los Angeles (Lackey 11-8), 9:37 p.m.

Game 2: Friday, Boston (Beckett 17-6) at Los Angeles (Weaver 16-8), 9:37 p.m.

Game 3: Sunday, Los Angeles (Kazmir 10-9) at Boston (Buchholz 7-4)

Game 4: Monday, Los Angeles (Saunders 16-7) at Boston (Lester 15-8), if necessary

Game 5: Wednesday, Boston at Los Angeles, if necessary

History: The teams have met three times since 2004, with the Red Sox winning all three series.

This season: The Angels won the season series, 5-4, outscoring the Red Sox, 44-40.

About the Red Sox: In their first full season in the post-Manny Ramirez era, the Red Sox still put up more than respectable numbers. Jacoby Ellsbury set the tone at the top of the order with an major league-leading 70 steals, while Kevin Youkilis (.305, 27 HR, 94 RBI), Jason Bay (.267, 36, 119) and Victor Martinez (.336, 8, 41 with Boston), who was acquired from the Indians to give the Sox some added thump at the trading deadline, anchor the middle. The Red Sox possess arguably the best duo at the top of their rotation in emerging southpaw Jon Lester (15-8, 3.41 ERA) and World Series hero Josh Beckett (17-6, 3.86). Boston needs phenom Clay Buchholz and the injury-plagued Daisuke Matsuzaka, no matter what his role, to step up.

About the Angels: Normally, when a team loses a dominant closer who set a major league record for saves and a first baseman who put up MVP-caliber numbers and added much-needed power to its lineup, it tends to have a difficult time replacing them. The Angels managed to replace Francisco Rodriguez with Brian Fuentes and Mark Teixeira with unknown Kendry Morales. Fuentes had an ML-high 48 saves; and the 26-year-old Morales in his first stint as a full-time first baseman had a team-high 108 RBI and 34 home runs. Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75 ERA), Scott Kazmir (2-2, 1.73 with LA) and John Lackey (11-8, 3.83) make a formidable trio and don't forget Joe Saunders (16-7, 4.60), who had a pretty good year himself.

Fun fact: Angels manager Mike Scioscia says Bobby Abreu is his team's MVP. The 35-year-old veteran has been a model of consistency in the middle of the lineup, with a .390 on-base percentage and batting .354 with 82 RBI when runners were in scoring position.

Series breakdown: This series is about as even as it gets. Mike Scioscia and Red Sox skipper Terry Francona have won World Series championships. Which team's staff will shut down the other's imposing offense? Beckett and Lackey, who have had subpar seasons by their standards, need to find their postseason forms.

Predictions: Red Sox will win: Conlin (5), Hofmann (5), Murphy (5). Angels will win: Donnellon (4), Hagen (5), Hayes (4).

Game 1: Tonight, Minnesota (Duensing 5-2) at New York (Sabathia 19-8), 6:07

Game 2: Friday, Minnesota (Blackburn 11-11) at New York (Burnett 13-9), 6:07 p.m.

Game 3: Sunday, New York (Pettitte 14-8) at Minnesota

Game 4: Monday, New York at Minnesota, if necessary

Game 5: Wednesday, Minnesota at New York, if necessary

History: The Yankees and Twins have faced each other twice since 2003, with the Yankees winning both series.

This season: The Yankees swept the season series, 7-0.

About the Yankees: The Yankees missed the playoffs last season after qualifying 13 straight times. GM Brian Cashman spent more than $400 million to bring pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and first baseman Mark Teixeira into the fold. The three helped carry the Yankees to baseball's best record. Sabathia won 19 games, tied for the best in the majors. Burnett went 13-9, and Teixeira led the AL with 122 RBI. Derek Jeter (.334, .406 OBP) and closer Mariano Rivera (44 saves, 1.76 ERA) put together vintage seasons and third baseman Alex Rodriguez recorded his 12th straight 30-homer, 100-RBI season despite playing in just 124 games due to injury.

About the Twins: The Twins rallied from three games down to Detroit with four to play. Minnesota looked done on Sept. 14 when it was announced that cleanup hitter Justin Morneau would miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a stress fracture in his back, but the Twins rallied around catcher Joe Mauer. Mauer led the majors with a .365 average. Scott Baker posted a career-high 15 wins and closer Joe Nathan (47 saves, 2.10 ERA) has been terrific.

Fun fact: The Yankees' 244 home runs were a franchise record. New York homered in 127 regular-season games and 73 of its 81 games at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees also finished with the most homers in the majors outright for the first time since 1961, when Roger Maris (61) and Mickey Mantle (56) combined for 117.

What to look for: This is the Yankees' series - and postseason - to lose. The Yankees need Sabathia to deliver in Game 1, his first postseason start since debacle against the Phillies in last year's NLDS. Rodriguez also needs to come around in the postseason. The Twins' hopes rest on Mauer, who needs to have a huge series, especially with Morneau out. The Twins are one of the hottest teams going into postseason play.

Predictions: Yankees will win: Conlin (4), Donnellon (3), Hagen (3), Hayes (3), Hofmann (3), Murphy (3).