New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Best-of-seven series)

THE NUMBERS

* Regular-season records: Yankees 101-61, Red Sox 98-64.

* Head to head: Red Sox won season series, 11-8.

* Team batting: Red Sox .282, second in the AL; Yankees .268, eighth in the AL.

* Runs scored: Red Sox 949, first in the AL; Yankees 897, second in the AL

* Team ERA: Red Sox 4.18, third in the AL; Yankees 4.69, sixth in the AL

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THE MATCHUPS

* Batting: In return for his millions, George Steinbrenner fielded a lineup that scored the second-most runs in baseball ... to the Red Sox. The Yankees hit 242 home runs, 36 each by Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield. Six Yankees hit at least 21 homers and three -- Rodriguez, Sheffield and Hideki Matsui -- drove in at least 106 runs. Sheffield’s numbers came despite a shoulder injury. Derek Jeter hit .292 after batting .223 in the season’s first two months. The Red Sox scored 25 runs in three division series games against the Angels. Their attack revolves around Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz but possesses end-to-end balance. Edge: Yankees.

* Pitching: Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez, who lead the Red Sox rotation, would get two starts apiece in a best-of-seven series, and Bronson Arroyo showed well in a big start Friday against the Angels. Manager Terry Francona said Saturday he probably would not try to squeeze a third start out of Schilling. The Yankees won the American League East in spite of their pitching. With Manager Joe Torre looking for volunteers by Game 3 of the division series, Kevin Brown stepped in behind Mike Mussina and Jon Lieber, and then Javier Vazquez got the Game 4 start almost by default. The Yankees set up Mariano Rivera with Tom Gordon. Edge: Red Sox.

* Intangibles: 1918, the year of the last Red Sox World Series title; since then the rivalry that has been all Yankees for more than eight decades. The Red Sox were believed to be the better team last year, yet lost to the Yankees in a memorable seven-game league championship series, Aaron Boone finishing it with an extra-inning home run off Tim Wakefield. Despite their second-place finish in the AL East, the Red Sox, because of their pitching, are thought to be the more dangerous playoff team again, and they defend better after getting shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Even for a loose team like the Red Sox, 1918 is a lot of weight to carry. Edge: Yankees.