First Base: Albert Pujols can single-handedly win the World Series for the Cardinals. When he hits, they win. With Sean Casey of the Tigers out with an injury, Carlos Guillen has been playing first base, but he has not put up nearly as good numbers as Pujols has. Edge: Cardinals

Second Base: St. Louis’ Ronnie Belliard isn’t a household name, but he does his job by getting on base and letting the big bats behind him drive him in. The Tigers’ Placido Polanco is hitting close to .500 this postseason, and his on-base percentage is .514. You can’t argue with those numbers. Edge: Tigers.

Third Base: Scott Rolen may not be having a great postseason offensively, but he has been to the playoffs before, and his glove will help the Cards win a few games. Brandon Inge is batting close to .300 but has done hardly anything else in the playoffs. Edge: Cardinals

Short Stop: David Eckstein is very overrated and barely makes the throw across the diamond to first base. And a lead-off hitter batting less than .200 is never a good sign. Backup shortstop Ramon Santiago, who has had to play for Detroit because of an injury to Sean Casey, has not produced so far and is lucky to be surrounded by a lineup that can pick him up. Edge: Even

Leftfield: Preston Wilson and Scott Spiezio have split time in left, neither of them having any impact on the Cardinals’ postseason victories. Craig Monroe is hitting .353 with three home runs and seven RBI. Edge: Tigers.

Centerfield: Curtis Granderson is hitting over .300 with three homers and seven RBI, and has had several clutch hits for Detroit this postseason. Jim Edmonds has very similar numbers (.250-2-6), but his presence in center field saves at least one run every game for the Cards. Edge: Cardinals.

Rightfield: Juan Encarnacion should not be starting for the Cards; So Taguchi has done a better job this season and postseason. Magglio Ordonez has overcome injury problems over the last few seasons and is having a fine postseason (.313-3-8). Not to mention his walk-off HR which propelled the Tigers to the World Series. Edge: Tigers.

Catcher: Yadier Molina is batting over .300 and has the best arm of any catcher in the league. However, Ivan Rodriguez has been to, and won, the World Series before. Edge: Tigers

Starting Pitchers: Detroit’s starting rotation is 5-1 with an ERA of under 3.50. Potential Cy-Young candidate Chris Carpenter can’t pitch more than three games in this series, meaning the Cards would need another arm to step up big time. Edge: Tigers

Bullpen: The Cardinals’ relievers have a very high ERA and average against them, not to mention they are without a bona fide closer. Joel Zumaya and Todd Jones form a nasty duo, who can come in and end the game in a hurry. Edge: Tigers

The Tigers should have no problem winning their first World Series in 22 seasons. St. Louis just doesn’t match up with Detroit. The Tigers have won seven in a row and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Pujols may win one game for St. Louis, but that will be all. Detroit in five.