HOW THEY MATCH UP

* INFIELD: The Braves have a diverse first-base platoon featuring left-handed hitting Ryan Klesko, who adds some pop to the lineup, and right-handed hitting Brian Hunter, who is a much better defensive player. Second baseman Bret Boone is solid defensively and has decent power, though he hit only .182 in the National League championship series. Manager Bobby Cox probably will go with Walt Weiss over Ozzie Guillen and Jose Hernandez at shortstop. The strength of the infield is power-hitting, switch-hitting third baseman Chipper Jones, who earned so much respect from the Mets he was walked nine times in their series. The Yankees have one of baseball’s best all-around shortstops in Derek Jeter, a defensive wizard who can hit for average and power and is the glue to the infield. First baseman Tino Martinez has struggled in the playoffs but hit a huge grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series last year. Second baseman Chuck Knoblauch has suffered from a mysterious throwing ailment that has prompted Manager Joe Torre to replace him in the late innings of close games. Third baseman Scott Brosius didn’t have the career year he had in 1998 but showed he can still have an impact, with a homer, triple and single in Game 1 of the American League championship series.

* OUTFIELD: Atlanta right fielder Brian Jordan made the Mets and Astros pay for their decisions to pitch around Jones, hitting .310 with three homers and 12 RBIs in the playoffs. Center fielder Andruw Jones is a terrific defensive player with excellent range, a strong arm and a fearless approach to the game. However, he’s hitting only .220 with three RBIs in the playoffs. Left fielder Gerald Williams, a former Yankee, has been a pleasant surprise since moving into the leadoff spot in early August, and he hit .261 with four RBIs and four stolen bases in the playoffs. The Yankees counter with one of baseball’s best center fielders, Bernie Williams, who had career highs in hits (202), runs (116), RBIs (115) and walks this season. But whereas Williams is hitting .367 with three homers and 12 RBIs in league championship series play, he is a .125 hitter in 10 World Series games. Right fielder Paul O’Neill is no Gold Glover, but he’s a clutch hitter who seems immune to playoff pressure.

* CATCHERS: Eddie Perez, who took over for the injured Javy Lopez in July, has been phenomenal in postseason play for the Braves, hitting .389 with two homers and eight RBIs, and he was named NLCS most valuable player. He’s a good receiver but doesn’t have a very strong throwing arm. If Cox has to remove him for a pinch-runner late in the game, his options on the bench--former Angels Greg Myers and Jorge Fabregas--are not that attractive. Jorge Posada did most of the catching for the Yankees during the season, but Torre has turned to the more experienced and better defensive catcher, Joe Girardi, in the playoffs. Posada, however, is Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez’s catcher, so he will start tonight.

* STARTING PITCHING: Only one team in baseball can boast of a better rotation than the Yankees, and that’s the Braves, who have Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Kevin Millwood and John Smoltz. Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz almost always pitch into the seventh inning or later, relieving stress on the bullpen. Hernandez, the Yankees’ Game 1 starter, is 4-0 with a 0.97 ERA in five playoff starts, but he has struggled against the Braves, giving up nine earned runs in 7 2/3 innings of two starts. David Cone struggled in the second half of the season but had an excellent start--two runs, seven hits, nine strikeouts in seven innings--against Boston in the ALCS. Left-hander Andy Pettitte solidified his reputation as a big-game pitcher with division series and league championship victories, but No. 4 starter Roger Clemens is nowhere near as dominating as when he won his five Cy Young awards.

* RELIEF PITCHING: Brave closer John Rocker is a bold left-hander who throws 93-95 mph and can trash-talk at a similar pace. After his first full year as a closer, Rocker has been strong in the playoffs, giving up two runs, both unearned, in 10 innings. He is set up by Mike Remlinger, a left-handed finesse pitcher who went 10-1 this season, and right-hander Russ Springer. Left-hander Terry Mulholland probably will get plenty of action against the Yankees’ predominantly left-handed hitting lineup. Cox also won’t hesitate using Maddux and Smoltz out of the bullpen if necessary. Yankee closer Mariano Rivera is the anti-Rocker in terms of personality, a quiet right-hander who shows little or no emotion, but he has an explosive four-seam fastball and a nasty cutter. Ramiro Mendoza got the Yankees out of two huge jams in the ALCS and has been invaluable because he can throw three innings or more if necessary.

* BENCH: Keith Lockhart can be a tough out to lead off an inning, and Otis Nixon, although his overall skills have diminished, is still a legitimate base-stealing threat. Hernandez is a decent hitter off the bench, and Guillen can be feisty at the plate, but neither has much power. The only time the Braves will have a long-ball threat on the bench is in the games Klesko doesn’t start. He probably will serve as DH when the series shifts to Yankee Stadium. The Yankee bench, on the other hand, is loaded with power--Darryl Strawberry, Chili Davis and Posada and Ledee on the nights they don’t start.

* MANAGERS: Some believe Cox had his best year this season, guiding the Braves to another World Series despite the devastating losses of first baseman Andres Galarraga and Lopez. Cox seems to have gotten a little more daring, showing no hesitation to send runners when the Braves are trailing in late innings. In fact, the Braves had 11 stolen bases in the NLCS. Torre managed 15 years in the National League and is no stranger to the double-switch and pitchers hitting. His bullpen depth allows him to get the late-game matches he wants, even if he has to go through three or four relievers.

* KEY TO SERIES: As good as the Braves’ starters are, they are human and they make mistakes, and when they do, the Yankees must pounce on them. The Yankees, though not as potent as they were in 1998, have more power than the Braves, an excellent defense, Knoblauch’s transgressions notwithstanding, and very good pitching, so if they play to their capabilities, they should win the series. The Braves must continue to get key production from unexpected sources, players such as Perez and Gerald Williams, and if the Yankees pitch around Jones, Jordan needs to have another big series offensively.

* PREDICTION: Yankees in six.