CLEVELAND VS. BOSTON

CLEVELAND AT A GLANCE

Lineup

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CF Kenny Lofton .301 SS Omar Vizquel .333 2B Roberto Alomar .323 RF Manny Ramirez .333 DH Richie Sexson .255 1B Jim Thome .277 LF David Justice .287 3B Travis Fryman .255 C Sandy Alomar .307

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* Analysis: The Indians, with their impressive blend of speed, contact hitters and power hitters from both sides of the plate, may have more weapons than any other team. Lofton, Vizquel and Alomar can beat you with a stolen base, a bunt or aggressive base running. Ramirez, Sexson and Thome are mashers who can go deep at any time, and Justice, one of the more seasoned playoff veterans, has had many clutch postseason hits. Cleveland’s only weakness is its starting rotation, though Jaret Wright has made a strong recovery from shoulder problems that sidelined him late in the season, Bartolo Colon can be dominating if he’s on, and Charles Nagy, though rarely dominant, has a knack for finding a way to keep the Indians in games.

* Key Reserves: DH Harold Baines (.312), INF Enrique Wilson (.262), C Einar Diaz (.281).

* Team batting average: .289 (second in the AL).

* Team pitching: 4.89 ERA (sixth in the AL).

*

BOSTON AT A GLANCE

Lineup

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2B Jose Offerman .294 3B John Valentin .253 DH Brian Daubach .294 SS Nomar Garciaparra .357 LF Troy O’Leary .280 1B Mike Stanley .281 C Jason Varitek .269 CF Darren Lewis .240 RF Trot Nixon .270

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* Analysis: You look at the Red Sox lineup, and your first question is, “How did they get here?” There is not a ton of power, and there’s not much speed, but there is one of baseball’s most prolific offensive shortstops in Garciaparra. He is supported by players who have had above-average years, especially Daubach, the 27-year-old rookie who has filled in capably for the departed Mo Vaughn, and O’Leary, who has had his best season. And, of course, there is Pedro Martinez, who has been baseball’s most dominant pitcher this season and is the one player teams don’t want to face in a short series. The Red Sox are 25-5 in Martinez’s 30 appearances, and he gave up 2 1/2 runs a game fewer than the league earned-run average.

* Key Reserves: C Scott Hatteberg (.275), INF Donnie Sadler (.280), OF Butch Huskey (.282), OF Damon Buford (.242), OF/DH Reggie Jefferson (.277).

* Team batting average: .278 (seventh in the AL).

* Team pitching: 4.00 ERA (first in the AL).

KEYS TO THE SERIES

Boston Manager Jimy Williams has set up his rotation so that Martinez will start Game 1 and Game 5, if necessary, but that will probably change if the Red Sox are facing elimination in Game 4. If they don’t win the opener with Martinez, they will be in deep trouble, because their rotation drops off dramatically. If Cleveland wins a low-scoring game in the opener, the Indians could make quick work of the Red Sox, because there is little chance of the other Red Sox starters shutting down the powerful Indians. Don’t expect Boston to be intimidated, though. The Red Sox won eight of 12 games against the Indians in the regular season, and the underdogs have that potentially lethal postseason combination of extreme confidence and a feeling they have nothing to lose.

* Records: Indians 97-65, Red Sox 94-68.

* Head to head: Red Sox won season series, 8-4.