On Deck is here to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about the 2013 World Series.
Past 2013 Meetings: After alternating wins and losses, the Boston Red Sox took Games 4 and 5 in St. Louis after a heartbreaking, unlikely loss in Game 3 thanks to an obstruction call. Now, the teams return to Fenway Park with Boston needing just one win to clinch.
Pitching Matchups: Game 6, Wednesday — Michael Wacha (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. John Lackey (0-1, 3.68); Game 7, Thursday — TBD
What's Hot: As great as Jon Lester has been in the World Series, so far, there is no question who the World Series MVP would be if Boston can win one of these last two games. David Ortiz has set the world on fire. Big Papi is hitting an out-of-this-world .733 with two home runs and six RBIs. Mike Napoli's playing time in St. Louis suffered for it because Ortiz had to be in the lineup at first base, where he actually played pretty well. Rookie Xander Bogaerts is hitting .294. After winning ALCS MVP honors, Koji Uehara is back at it again, converting on both of his save opportunites this series without allowing a run and just two hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Allen Craig is the hottest hitting Cardinal in the World Series, but it seems like his leg is being held together by glue at the moment. And after tweaking his knee in Sunday's loss, he was pretty much useless on Monday even though he made the start. Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina are also swinging good bats for the Cardinals. Wacha has been great this postseason, and Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal has been just as good as Uehara.
What's Not: Mike Napoli didn't start a game in St. Louis and looking at the numbers might help understand why. Coupled with Ortiz's unreal series, Napoli is hitting just .125. Jonny Gomes is hitting just .071 but had the game-winning home run in Game 3.
Flame-throwing set-up man Carlos Martinez has a really bright future with the Cardinals, but he hasn't fared so well in this series, giving up three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. 2011 World Series hero David Freese is hitting .200 and has just not been very good in the postseason.
