World Series 2013: Players Who Hold Keys to Championship

Locked at two games apiece, the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have turned the 2013 World Series into a best-of-three contest. 

While the Red Sox won Game 1 in an 8-1 rout, the other three games have been decided by two runs or less. Obviously, these teams are closely matched. 

If either the Red Sox or Cardinals can get improved performances from a key player or two, it should be enough to push them to another title. 

Here are three guys who could be counted on by their respective teams for that kind of impact over the final three games. 

Adam Wainwright, P, Cardinals

Considering this is a best-of-three situation, it is tricky putting a pitcher on this list. Adam Wainwright, the scheduled Game 4 starter, could throw the greatest game in the history of baseball and then sit helpless as his team loses the next two.

However, it is vital that the Cardinals win Game 5. While 26 of 40 teams have gone on to win the World Series after winning a tie-breaking Game 5, that stat doesn't tell the whole nature of the Cardinals' predicament. That is due to the fact that St. Louis will be heading back to Fenway Park for the final two games—where Boston went 53-28 this past regular season. 

Not to mention the fact it is nearly impossible to see the Cardinals winning this series if Wainwright doesn't pick up at least one win. He was severely outclassed by Boston's Jon Lester in Game 1. 

The veteran Boston left-hander didn't allow a run in 7.2 innings while picking up the win in Game 1. Meanwhile, Wainwright pitched one of his worst outings of the season, as he allowed five runs in five innings.

Wainwright will look to atone for that bad outing in Game 5, and St. Louis needs him to do just that. 

Stephen Drew, SS, Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox couldn't have entered this postseason expecting the bat of Stephen Drew to carry them. As part of a powerful lineup, Drew hit a modest .253 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI this season.

Still, Boston had to be expecting more than it is getting. In 47 at-bats this postseason, Drew is hitting just .085, and he's only picked up one walk.

As Alex Speier of WEEI.com points out, these are historically bad results. With every player who has at least 40 postseason at-bats, Drew has the third-worst batting average and second-worst on-base percentage.

If Drew can break his painful slump, it will not only give the Red Sox an increase in production, but it will be a nice morale boost to the entire team. 

It won't be easy for Drew to get on track in Game 5. In 19 career at-bats against Wainwright, Drew is 2-for-19.

David Freese, 3B, Cardinals

The Cardinals lineup needs a spark. St. Louis has scored more than two runs just once in this series.

Freese is one of the main culprits for the Cardinals' struggles. He is just 1-for-12 in the Fall Classic, a continuation of a rough postseason for the 2011 World Series MVP. 

Freese hit just .189 in the two series leading up to this World Series. 

With runners in scoring position this postseason, Freese is just 2-for-12. That's a lot of missed scoring opportunities for a player who had previously proven to be clutch in the postseason.

Freese can change the outlook of his postseason with one well-timed and powerful swing of the bat. The Cardinals will need him to do just that if they want to capture another World Series title.