2013 World Series

When you have two teams playing for a championship, the hope is the play on the field is clean to determine who is best without having to focus on mistakes being made. 

The 2013 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox hasn't followed that formula. It is tied one-all heading to St. Louis following two defensive miscues by the Red Sox in Game 2 that led to three runs for the Cardinals. 

We came into the 2013 World Series expecting a dramatic, drawn-out battle between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. With the teams tied at a game apiece and the action shifting to Busch Stadium, that's exactly what it's shaping up to be.

The Cards probably won't win three straight and bring the Fall Classic to a premature conclusion, but they should at least take command with two victories at home.

Let's review their greatest advantages going forward.

This is how you want it if you're a baseball fan. The two best teams during the regular season are facing off in the World Series.

Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox finished with identical 97-65 records, earning the top seeds for the playoffs in their respective leagues. Often you see the giants get slain before they can make it to the Fall Classic.

This is only the third time since 1994 that the No. 1 seeds in both leagues have gotten this far, via ESPN Stats and Info.

When the St.

There's one pitch that might be powerful enough to keep the Boston Red Sox from winning the World Series.

That pitch is Michael Wacha's changeup. 'Tis a thing of great power and beauty, and it will soon be on display in the World Series.

The improbable is four victories away from reality. After a dreadful 2012 season, the Boston Red Sox rebounded to win 97 regular-season games, captured the ALDS over Tampa Bay and ousted Detroit in the ALCS. Now, they'll meet an equally excellent St.

The 2013 World Series features one of the top managerial matchups in baseball with Boston’s John Farrell and Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny.

The St. Louis Cardinals have lost four of Adam Wainwright's last five starts with eight or more days of rest, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Wednesday, as they take on the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Sports bettors will find that the Cardinals are plus-110 road underdogs in the pro baseball odds, with the betting total sitting at seven in the market.

While the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox are still preparing for the first pitch of the 2013 World Series, the Bleacher Report crew of MLB lead writers is busy trying to piece together strengths and weaknesses for both teams. 

Major League Baseball's Fall Classic has a way of bringing out the best in some players, but the worst in others.  St. Louis Cardinals' starters Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn and Boston Red Sox's starter Jake Peavy and shortstop Steven Drew, are four players who will collapse in this year's World Series.  Each one of these players is making their first World Series appearance in their current roles.

Joe Kelly