How the ALCS teams compare

The Angels and the New York Yankees, weather permitting, open the American League Championship Series tonight at Yankee Stadium. Here’s a glance at how the teams stack up:

Offense

The Yankees, who led the AL in runs (915), home runs (244), on-base percentage (.362) and slugging percentage (.478), are stacked, with power from both sides and decent speed sprinkled throughout. Alex Rodriguez, long criticized for his playoff failures, went five for 11 with two homers and six RBIs in the division series against the Twins, and he loves to hit in Angel Stadium, where he has a .335 average, 37 homers and 82 RBIs in 89 games. Mark Teixeira pelted the Angels for a triple, double and single the last time the teams met, on Sept. 14. The Angels have what might be the best offense in franchise history because they added more patience and power to their usually aggressive base-running and good situational hitting.

Edge: Yankees.

Defense

The Angels didn’t make any spectacular plays in the division series, but they made all the plays, a considerable upgrade from their 2008 playoff loss to the Boston Red Sox. Torii Hunter is an eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, and Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar make it extremely difficult to get any balls through the left side of the infield. Teixeira is a two-time Gold Glove winner who has upgraded the Yankees’ infield defense.

Edge: Angels.

Starting pitching

The extra day off between Games 4 and 5 will enable the Yankees to use CC Sabathia three times, in Game 1, in Game 4 on short rest and in Game 7 on regular rest. However, the ace lost both of his starts against the Angels this season and is 5-7 with a 4.72 earned-run average in 14 career starts against them. A.J. Burnett has faced the Angels six times, going 2-2 with a 4.43 ERA. Andy Pettitte is 15-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 36 career playoff starts and 12-10 with a 4.70 ERA in 28 career starts against the Angels. John Lackey and Jered Weaver were both superb in the division series, each going 7 1/3 innings in wins over the Red Sox.

Edge: Angels.

Bullpen

Angels closer Brian Fuentes, who led the major leagues with 48 saves but was not as effective in the second half (4.81 ERA) as he was in the first half (3.23), threw 1 2/3 hitless innings with one walk against the Red Sox. Veteran left-hander Darren Oliver was superb in the division series, pitching in all three games and allowing no runs and one hit in 2 1/3 innings. Rookie right-handers Kevin Jepsen and Jason Bulger fared well in their first taste of playoff baseball, and converted starter Ervin Santana could provide a boost. There is simply no better closer than Yankees right-hander Mariano Rivera, who is 8-1 with an 0.74 ERA and 35 saves in 79 playoff games, and converted starter Phil Hughes (8-3, 3.03 ERA) has developed into a superb setup man.

Edge: Yankees.

Bench

The switch-hitting Maicer Izturis (.300, 65 RBIs) gives the Angels a strong offensive and defensive presence at second base against right-handers. Gary Matthews Jr. went five for 11 with six RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season. Mike Napoli, who provides much more power than Jeff Mathis, will catch Weaver, Scott Kazmir and, possibly, Joe Saunders. Yankees backup catcher Jose Molina is a superb defender who will handle Burnett, and speedy outfielder Brett Gardner is a dangerous pinch-runner and a rangy defender.

Edge: Angels.

Prediction

Angels in seven games.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com