World Series 2013: Predictions for Who Will Face Off in Fall Classic

There are four possible matchups that could occur in the 2013 Fall Classic.

Interestingly enough, each of the remaining four teams are more than familiar with one another. The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers have played two games in the NLCS already, with St. Louis taking both.

In the ALCS, the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are tied at 1-1 in what has been a thrilling series so far.

The only possible matchup that has never occurred? Tigers versus Dodgers, but will fans get to see that one? Read on to find out.

Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers (Tied at 1-1)

Sometimes, momentum is enough to guide a team on a serious run and that may be the case in the ALCS after the events of the first two games.

While Anibal Sanchez and his 12 strikeouts downed Boston in the first game of the series and the Tigers came within of two outs of combining for the first no-hitter in league championship series history, things took a massive swing in Boston's favor in the second game.

The Red Sox had appeared to be in danger of being the first team in MLB postseason history to be no-hit through five innings in consecutive games, as illustrated by ESPN:

However, that was broken up by Detroit in the fifth inning before David Ortiz decided to put the team on his back in the eighth:

Now the series is tied at one game apiece and the Red Sox have an unbelievable amount of momentum and confidence after realizing they can indeed hit Detroit's pitchers.

The dividing line between these two teams is apparent: The Red Sox have the deeper pitching rotation with Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jake Peavy and Clay Buchholz to go with a better bullpen.

In the end, those factors will combine to give the Red Sox another trip to the World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals (St. Louis Leads, 2-0)

The NLCS has not been anywhere near as entertaining with a depleted Dodgers club exploited by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dodgers stars Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier have both battled recent injuries and according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, it appears both will miss the pivotal Game 3.

Even worse for the Dodgers, the Cardinals won the first two games behind solid efforts from pitchers Joe Kelly and Michael Wacha.

That means ace Adam Wainwright will start Game 3 and, if necessary, he will be available for Game 7 should the series go the distance.

It won't, though.

Wainwright is on fire after a 2-0 record and 1.13 ERA in the NLDS, Yasiel Puig has been a disappointment without his supporting cast and a pair of rookies unexpectedly won pitching duels for St. Louis in the first two games.

St. Louis will have little issue in finishing off the wounded Dodgers and advancing to face the Red Sox for a shot at postseason revenge. The last time the two teams met in the World Series, the Red Sox prevailed to break the Curse of the Bambino and end their 86-year championship drought.

Whoever ends up going the distance this postseason, fans are sure to enjoy the ride.

  

Follow B/R's Chris Roling on Twitter for more news and analysis @Chris_Roling