(Giants listed first)

1B

J.T. Snow vs. Scott Spiezio: Both players are excellent defenders, helping to solidify the infield defense of their both clubs. Snow was a switch-hitting first baseman for the Angels from 1993 to 1996, but now he plays up the coast and hits exclusively from the left side. Spiezio, a switch-hitter himself, is more of an offensive threat, though neither player has the power numbers typically associated with first basemen. Spiezio has hit .375 in this postseason. He had a game-tying home run for the Angels during the fifth inning of their Game 5 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Key matchup stat: Snow has won six Gold Gloves, but Spiezio has better defensive numbers. Over the past three seasons, Snow has committed 14 errors in 399 games, and Spiezio has committed eight errors in 405 games.

EDGE: ANGELS

2B

Jeff Kent vs. Adam Kennedy: Kennedy is the Angels' No. 9 hitter, but he sneaked up on teams all season and won American League Championship Series MVP honors after becoming the fifth player in major-league history to hit three home runs in the same postseason game. But Kennedy, a left-handed hitter, didn't start Game 3 of the ALCS against Twins left-hander Eric Milton, and the Giants are starting left-hander Kirk Rueter in Game 4. Kent earned National League MVP honors in 2000 and will be a free agent after this series, meaning many teams will be watching closely, deciding just how many millions to offer him.

Key matchup stat: Hitting behind Barry Bonds in the cleanup spot, Kent batted .297 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs this season. When the Giants moved him to No. 3, in front of Bonds, he hit .333 with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs.

EDGE: GIANTS

SS

Rich Aurilia vs. David Eckstein: Both players have critical offensive roles as table-setters for the heart of their orders. Aurilia made the All-Star team in 2001, when he hit .324 with 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. His numbers dipped considerably this season (.257, 15, 61). But Aurilia entered a groove late in the season, and he hit two home runs in each of the first two series. Aurilia has the power edge, but he stole just one base this season, compared with 21 for Eckstein.

Key matchup stat: After posting a .363 on-base percentage during the regular season, Eckstein hasn't been quite as big of a catalyst in the playoffs. He has yet to draw a walk, and his on-base percentage during the ALCS was .318.

EDGE: GIANTS

3B

David Bell vs. Troy Glaus: Glaus is Anaheim's most dangerous hitter, and opposing teams grimace each time he swings. He had three home runs against the New York Yankees in the Division Series and another against the Twins in the ALCS. But he showed this year he can be pitched to, and his home run totals the past three seasons have dipped from 47 to 41 to 30. Bell had 20 home runs after signing with the Giants as a free agent last offseason. Bell advanced to the ALCS with the Seattle Mariners twice, but this is his first appearance in the World Series.

Key matchup stat: Bell has struggled more than any of the other Giants for his career against Angels starter Kevin Appier. In 21 career at-bats against Appier, Bell has three hits for a .143 average.

EDGE: ANGELS

C

Benito Santiago vs. Bengie Molina: Santiago won NLCS MVP honors, hitting the decisive home run in the Giants' Game 4 victory. Most importantly, he gave San Francisco somewhat of an intimidating presence behind Barry Bonds, making the St. Louis Cardinals at least think before walking Bonds. Santiago did have two passed balls on strikeouts, however, giving St. Louis two runners who eventually scored. Molina's offensive numbers have dropped progressively each of the past three seasons, but he has a rocket arm, which could bring the Giants' running game to an absolute halt if he can contain Kenny Lofton.

Key matchup stat: Including the postseason, Santiago has 18 home runs this year. Molina has five.

EDGE: GIANTS

LF

Barry Bonds vs. Garret Anderson: Anderson will finish higher than any of his teammates in the American League MVP voting, but his presence in this series pales in comparison to Bonds'. Anderson hit .306 with 29 home runs and 123 RBIs this season, and he has been equally potent in the postseason. But in his 17th season, Bonds has finally reached the World Series, and he has dispelled talk that he isn't a good postseason player by posting a .500 on-base percentage and a .786 slugging percentage through the first two rounds.

Key matchup stat: In 10 games so far this postseason, Bonds has walked 14 times, two fewer than the entire Angels team.

EDGE: GIANTS

CF

Kenny Lofton vs. Darin Erstad: Lofton put San Francisco in the World Series with his ninth-inning single in Game 5 of the NLCS, and this is exactly what the Giants had in mind when they acquired him from the Chicago White Sox before the trade deadline. This is Lofton's seventh postseason and second World Series. Erstad is less streaky, and he has shined in his first postseason, batting .390 with 16 hits in nine games.

Key matchup stat: The Cardinals seemed to get into Lofton's head when Matt Morris threw at him in Game 1 of the NLCS. Lofton got his revenge, but his numbers for the series were pretty telling. He was 4-for-4 against Morris and 1-for-14 against the rest of the St. Louis pitching staff.

EDGE: ANGELS

RF

Reggie Sanders vs. Tim Salmon: Sanders was not in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLCS after opening the series 1-for-16. If he can shake that slump and find his stroke, it might be just the spark the Giants need. Salmon aggravated a hamstring injury running on the Metrodome turf, forcing him to leave Game 2 of the ALCS, but he started the final three games in right field. After batting .227 and looking washed up in 2001, Salmon resurrected himself this year and has held down the No. 3 spot in the Angels' batting order.

Key matchup stat: Sanders hit .304 (7-for-23) for Arizona in last year's World Series, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the New York Yankees in seven games.

EDGE: ANGELS

DH

TBA vs. Brad Fullmer/Shawn Wooten: The Giants don't have an obvious choice here, which will be a distinct disadvantage at Edison International Field. It appears their choice comes down to Shawon Dunston, Pedro Feliz, Tom Goodwin or possible roster addition Damon Minor. The Angels, meanwhile, have a potent left-right platoon with Fullmer and Wooten. Look for Wooten to start Game 4 against left-hander Kirk Rueter.

Key matchup stat: Wooten has been terrific this postseason, batting .471 (8-for-17) with a home run. The Giants' designated hitters combined to bat .333 this season, with three home runs in 30 at-bats.

EDGE: ANGELS

STARTERS

On paper, the two starting staffs appear even, and both teams had enough time to set their rotations exactly the way they want them. The Game 1 starters - Jarrod Washburn for Anaheim, Jason Schmidt for San Francisco - are the two pitchers most capable of dominating a game. Each team has an Ortiz - Russ for the Giants and Ramon for the Angels - with dazzling stuff. The series could hinge on who performs better between San Francisco's Livan Hernandez and Anaheim's Kevin Appier.

Key matchup stat: Hernandez is 6-0 for his career in the postseason and won both of his starts for the Florida Marlins in their 1997 World Series victory over the Cleveland Indians. Anaheim's Ramon Ortiz led all major-league pitchers with 40 home runs allowed this season, an obvious danger against Bonds.

EDGE: GIANTS

BULLPEN

Though this series doesn't feature marquee starting pitching matchups the likes of Roger Clemens vs. Curt Schilling, it does feature two of the best bullpens in baseball. The Angels smothered the Yankees and the Twins with their bullpen, as Francisco Rodriguez and Troy Percival combined to pitch 7 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. Anaheim has just one left-handed reliever, Scott Schoeneweis, to face the left-handed-hitting Bonds, so that could become a key factor. San Francisco comes at teams with Tim Worrell, Felix Rodriguez and Robb Nen. The Giants had the second-best bullpen ERA (2.91) in the majors behind Atlanta.

Key matchup stat: Counting the postseason, Nen has converted 48 of 56 save opportunities this season. Percival has converted 44 of 48.

EDGE: ANGELS

BENCH

The Giants have slimmer pickings here with Shawon Dunston, Tom Goodwin, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Ramon Martinez, Pedro Feliz and Yorvit Torrealba. The key player in the group is Dunston, who had a big pinch hit in Game 5 and finally reached the World Series after 18 seasons in the big leagues. The Angels counter with Shawn Wooten, Benji Gil, Alex Ochoa, Orlando Palmeiro, Chone Figgins and Jose Molina. Wooten and Gil often start against left-handed pitchers, and Figgins is a blur as a pinch runner.

Key matchup stat: Angels pinch hitters batted .288 this season with two home runs in 118 at-bats. Giants pinch hitters batted .196 with one home run in 184 at-bats.

EDGE: ANGELS

MANAGERS

Dusty Baker vs. Mike Scioscia: Baker and Scioscia were teammates with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980 to 1983, winning a World Series together in 1981. Baker's teams always seem to overachieve, and he was named NL Manager of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 2000. He came into this season with a 1-6 career record in the postseason as a manager, but he has quieted his critics. Scioscia is the favorite for AL Manager of the Year this season, having helped his team overcome a 6-14 start to win 99 games.

Key matchup stat: Baker isn't afraid to play his hunches. He called for the first suicide squeeze bunt in the NLCS since 1998 and had Rich Aurilia lay down three sacrifice bunts, four fewer than Aurilia had all season.

EDGE: GIANTS

PREDICTION

These teams match up very well, and they are both red-hot. Counting the playoffs, both teams are 25-11 since Sept. 1. But after dismantling the Yankees and Twins by a collective score of 60-37, the Angels will beat the Giants.

ANGELS IN SIX