HOW THEY MATCH UP

* Offense: Colorado’s lineup, led by MVP candidate Matt Holliday, was the deepest in the league during the regular season. Seven of Colorado’s starters batted at least .288 and five had at least 91 runs batted in, which is why they led the National League in hitting and were second in runs. And with leadoff hitter Willy Taveras and his 33 steals rejoining Kaz Matsui and his 32 steals at the top of the lineup, the Rockies have speed too. Coors Field had an effect on Colorado’s offense, however, with the Rockies batting 37 points better and scoring more than a run a game more at home than on the road. Arizona, meanwhile, was the worst-hitting team in the league at .250 and scored more often than only Washington and San Francisco. They had no .300 hitters, no one with more than 83 RBIs and Chris Young, who led them in homers (32), also struck out 141 times while batting only .237.

Edge: Rockies.

* Defense: The Rockies were far and away the best-fielding team in baseball in the regular season, making only 68 errors. Rookie Troy Tulowitzki led all big-league shortstops in fielding percentage and Todd Helton, a three-time Gold Glove winner, started the season with the fourth-highest fielding percentage for a first baseman in history. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, ranked 21st in the majors in fielding percentage and will be without their best glove man, second baseman Orlando Hudson. Give Arizona the advantage in the outfield, though, where their athletic trio will cover more ground than Colorado’s threesome.

Edge: Rockies.

* Starting pitching: Led by 18-game winner Brandon Webb, the league’s ERA leader at 3.01, Arizona’s starters were the third-stingiest in the NL. But the Diamondbacks are hardly as deep as that statistic would suggest -- Webb is the only member of the rotation more than a game above .500 or with an ERA below 4.25. The Rockies’ staff falls off even more precipitously after its Game 1 starter, Jeff Francis (17-9, 4.22), with rookies Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales, in the minors until mid-July, expected to start Games 2 and 4, sandwiched around Josh Fogg.

Edge: Diamondbacks.

* Bullpen: Lights-out closer Jose Valverde, baseball’s saves leader with 47, anchors a deep, experienced Arizona bullpen that includes former closers Brandon Lyon and Bob Wickman in setup roles. Colorado’s Manny Corpas, meanwhile, has only a half-season’s experience in closing games and got the job because former All-Star Brian Fuentes struggled, blowing saves in four consecutive appearances in late June. Look for veteran Matt Herges, who came up big with three scoreless innings in Colorado’s winner-take-all, wild-card playoff win over San Diego, to assume a bigger role. Herges hasn’t given up a run in his last 9 2/3 innings.

Edge: Diamondbacks.

* Bench: Colorado’s bench, led by outfielders Cory Sullivan (.286) and Ryan Spilborghs (.299, 11 homers) and infielder Jamey Carroll, is deep and versatile. And clutch too, with Jeff Baker and Seth Smith delivering important pinch-hits in wins over Philadelphia in the division series. Arizona’s bench, led by veteran Tony Clark (17 homers, .511 slugging), is more experienced. Plus they led the majors with 11 pinch-hit homers, three by Clark.

Edge: Rockies.

* Manager: Both Bob Melvin of Arizona and the long-suffering Clint Hurdle of Colorado have done masterful jobs taking young, low-payroll teams to the brink of the World Series. Hurdle’s team closed fastest, going from 6 1/2 games out of first with two weeks left to a one-game playoff for the wild card by winning 13 of its last 14. And with the playoff win and a division series sweep, the Rockies have lost only once since Sept. 15. Arizona, meanwhile, passed San Diego for the NL West lead Sept. 5 and never looked back, finishing with the league’s top record. So it’s fitting their squads are so evenly matched -- Colorado was 89-73, Arizona 90-72 and both were 50-31 at home and below .500 on the road. And that last stat could be the difference because Arizona’s one-game edge in the regular season will give it home-field advantage in the series.

Edge: Even.

* Prediction: Diamondbacks in seven games.

-- Kevin Baxter