HOW THEY MATCH UP

* Offense: Despite knee and shoulder injuries, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz hit .352 with 21 home runs and 65 RBIs after the All-Star break. Manny Ramirez missed 24 games because of an oblique strain but had seven hits in 18 at-bats after returning last week. 3B Mike Lowell (.324, 120 RBIs) is the team’s MVP. The Angels offense revolves around Vladimir Guerrero (.324, 27 homers, 125 RBIs), but if Garret Anderson, who had 65 RBIs in 68 games after the break, drives the ball, they would have a strong middle-of-the-order duo. Leadoff batter Chone Figgins, hitless in 22 at-bats, needs to snap out of his funk to set the table. Casey Kotchman and Howie Kendrick have good gap power. Edge: Red Sox.

* Defense: The Angels are very good, but they’d be even better if center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. (left knee tendinitis) could play and if Guerrero, relegated to DH because of an elbow injury, could play right field. Reggie Willits isn’t nearly as accomplished an outfielder as Matthews, and Figgins, who has played third base most of the season, will start in right. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera has been Gold Glove caliber, and Kotchman is a superb defender at first. Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis has an AL record errorless streak of 190 games, center fielder Coco Crisp and Lowell have been Gold Glove caliber, and catcher Jason Varitek is an elite game-caller. Ramirez in left and Julio Lugo, who has 19 errors at shortstop, are liabilities. Edge: Red Sox.

* Starting pitching: Both rotations are headed by tall Texans, 6-foot-5 right-hander Josh Beckett, a native of Spring, for the Red Sox and 6-6 right-hander John Lackey, the pride of Abilene, for the Angels. Beckett had a phenomenal 2003 postseason, going 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA and winning World Series MVP honors for Florida. In two 2007 starts against the Angels, Beckett gave up two earned runs in 13 innings, striking out 13. Lackey has been dominant for most of 2007 but is 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA in Fenway. Kelvim Escobar, the Angels’ No. 2 starter, is a five-pitch right-hander who can be nearly untouchable when he’s on and rather ordinary when he struggles to find his rhythm. Red Sox veteran Curt Schilling has reinvented himself, relying on finesse and guile instead of power. Jered Weaver (Angels) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (Red Sox) have deceptive deliveries and change speeds well. Edge: Even.

* Bullpen: What in late July was a strength for both teams has been a source of angst for managers since. When the Red Sox traded for Eric Gagne, they figured he would team with left-hander Hideki Okajima and closer Jonathan Papelbon to give Boston baseball’s best bullpen. Papelbon has 37 saves in 40 attempts and a 1.85 ERA, but Gagne has been such a disaster and Okajima has struggled so much in the second half that Manny Delcarmen has assumed more of an eighth-inning role. Gagne, the former Dodgers closer, has a 6.15 ERA in 20 games for the Red Sox, with two losses and three blown saves. Okajima, 2-0 with an 0.83 ERA in the first half, has a 7.24 ERA in 15 games since Aug. 10. The Angels have issues too. Closer Francisco Rodriguez has been falling behind in counts. Scot Shields, who had a 1.70 ERA in 40 first-half games, has a 7.36 ERA in 31 games since the break and lost his set-up role to Justin Speier. But they have good depth with Darren Oliver and Ervin Santana. Edge: Red Sox.

* Bench: September call-up Jacoby Ellsbury may serve only as a pinch-runner, but the September call-up has game-changing speed. Alex Cora is a slick-fielding middle infielder, and Eric Hinske and Bobby Kielty add pop. Angels OF Juan Rivera, a right-handed hitter with power, could hit late in the game against Okajima, and Kendry Morales gives the Angels power from the left side or from the DH spot if Guerrero returns to right field. Nathan Haynes provides outstanding speed and solid outfield defense. Edge: Angels.

* Manager: Both Terry Francona and Mike Scioscia have guided their teams to championships, Scioscia with the Angels in 2002 and Francona with the Red Sox in 2004, and both have plenty of pennant-race and postseason experience. Francona is also the first Red Sox manager to take the team to the postseason three times. Francona has the Red Sox running more, but he usually won’t take any chances on the bases in front of Ortiz and Ramirez. Scioscia loves to hit-and-run and to start runners to stay out of double plays. Both have been criticized for sticking too long with struggling relievers. Edge: Angels.

* Prediction: Red Sox in four games.

-- Mike DiGiovanna