HOW THEY MATCH UP

FIRST BASE: Boston’s Kevin Millar had a home run and drove in four runs in the division series, after 18 homers, 74 runs batted in and a .383 on-base percentage in the regular season. He is particularly dangerous on pitches that allow him to extend his arms, and Yankee pitchers will try to pitch him inside. Millar has improved defensively, but Manager Terry Francona often goes to Doug Mientkiewicz in the later innings. Abandoned by the last-place Seattle Mariners in late July, Yankee John Olerud is not yet incapable, but he’s not close to the player he once was. Edge: Red Sox.

SECOND BASE: The enduring division series images of Red Sox second baseman Mark Bellhorn are of a .091 batting average and getting picked off second base with two out, the bases loaded and David Ortiz batting in Game 2. In the regular season, Bellhorn struck out 177 times, a lot for a home run hitter, which he is not. Yankee Miguel Cairo hit .200 in 30 at-bats against the Red Sox this season. If they both catch the ball, the series will be decided elsewhere. Edge: Even.

SHORTSTOP: Derek Jeter is approaching legendary status in New York, for his middle-of-the-infield production and his knack for big plays. His defensive range is limited, but he makes the routine plays and some spectacular ones. He led the Yankees in RBIs in the division series. At 30, he already has played in 103 playoff games, and it shows. Orlando Cabrera came to the Red Sox in a four-team deal at the trading deadline, in part for Nomar Garciaparra, and has settled Boston’s defense. Edge: Yankees.

THIRD BASE: At the time of year Yankee fans most appreciate, Alex Rodriguez hit .421 and was a hero in two of the Yankees’ three division series victories. His first season in New York was fine -- 36 homers, 106 RBIs -- if not as dynamic as most expected, but if he has saved something for the postseason, New York will understand. Boston’s Bill Mueller is a productive nine-hole hitter, particularly against the Yankees. He hit five of his 12 homers against the Yankees. Edge: Yankees.

CATCHER: Jorge Posada has become a mature leader for the Yankees, but has hit only .225 in 76 playoff games. Like Posada a switch-hitter, Jason Varitek has equal power numbers from both sides, but hits for a much higher average from the right. The Yankees don’t start a left-hander, however. Like many catchers, Varitek wore out late in the year, batting a season-low .247 in September and October and .167 in the division series. Edge: Even.

LEFT FIELD: Not only did Manny Ramirez have a great season -- .308, 43 homers, 130 RBIs -- he improved significantly on defense. He still has his lapses, but rarely when the bat is in his hands. The Yankees love Hideki Matsui for his production -- 31 homers, 108 RBIs in the regular season, .412 average in the division series -- and his professionalism. Edge: Red Sox.

CENTER FIELD: Though he still has the ability to carry the team for short periods, Bernie Williams is going on 36, and some days shows it. He perked up late in the season, batting .304 after August, but still hit .262, the lowest since his rookie season of 1991. Johnny Damon is a strong defensive outfielder who gets on base, hits for average and, this season, had a career-high 20 homers. His occasional migraine headaches worry the Red Sox, but he has played through them before. Edge: Red Sox.

RIGHT FIELD: Gary Sheffield battled injury to play himself into the AL most-valuable-player race, with Ramirez, Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero. Things got weird at the end, when Sheffield admitted to having used a steroid cream as a result of his relationship with Barry Bonds and BALCO. The Yankees have only right-handed starters, meaning Trot Nixon will bat fifth for the Red Sox, behind Ramirez and Ortiz, and Gabe Kapler will come off the bench. Nixon is back from a thigh injury that caused him to be sidelined most of the season. Edge: Yankees.

STARTING PITCHING: Curt Schilling’s ankle is sore enough to have become a concern to the Red Sox. There’s talk that he has adjusted his mechanics slightly to lessen his pain and improve his balance. Still, he pitched well against the Angels and, apparently, helped inspire Pedro Martinez in his division series start. Bronson Arroyo’s start in Game 3 could be pivotal. The Yankee rotation is a lot less stable, particularly if Orlando Hernandez’s shoulder remains tired. If Hernandez is unavailable, the Yankees will have to cling to Mike Mussina, Jon Lieber, Kevin Brown and the unreliable Javier Vazquez. Edge: Red Sox.

BULLPEN: Neither team has the arms to survive a poor start, no longer unusual in a league whose middle innings have become home to cast-offs and hangers-on. The Yankees are particularly adept after the seventh inning, however, with Tom Gordon setting up Mariano Rivera, assuming Rivera returns from Panama in time for tonight’s game. In 65 postseason appearances, Rivera is 8-1 with 30 saves and a 0.71 earned-run average. Keith Foulke had 32 saves for the Red Sox and has pitched well at Yankee Stadium, where his ERA is 2.89. Edge: Yankees.

DH/BENCH: Ortiz has blossomed in Boston, where he has 72 homers and 240 RBIs in the last two seasons, protecting Ramirez while becoming an MVP candidate. Ortiz batted only .250 against left-handers, but the Yankees have only one left-handed pitcher, Felix Heredia, and he won’t start. A reborn Ruben Sierra will get most of the designated-hitter at-bats for the Yankees, though Manager Joe Torre is going with Kenny Lofton at designated hitter in Game 1 because of his successes against Schilling. Edge: Red Sox.

MANAGER: Torre has a 78-38 record in the postseason with the Yankees, 39 of those games in the World Series. Francona got all of his postseason experience last week. The series may not turn on a manager’s decision, but if it does, Torre will not be intimidated by the stage. Edge: Yankees.

PREDICTION: Red Sox in seven games. The apocalypse is near.

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Red Sox vs. Yankees / THE SERIES

GAME 1 Tonight, Boston (Schilling, 21-6) at New York (Mussina, 12-9), 5 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 2 Wednesday, Boston (Martinez, 16-9) at New York (Lieber, 14-8), 5 p.m. FX

GAME 3 Friday, New York (Brown, 10-6) at Boston (Arroyo, 10-9), 5 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 4 Saturday, New York (Hernandez, 8-2, or Vazquez, 14-10) at Boston (Wakefield, 12-10), 5 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 5* Sunday, at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 6* Oct. 19, at New York, 5 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 7* Oct 20, at New York, 5 p.m. Ch. 11

* If necessary; all times Pacific.

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-- Tim Brown