MLB World Series 2011 Schedule: Chris Carpenter Will Outduel C.J. Wilson

The 2011 World Series kicks off tonight, and while hitting has been the focal point of the postseason this year, expect a strong start to Game 1 by the St. Louis Cardinals ace. 

After a week of rest, both Chris Carpenter and the Texas Rangers' ace C.J. Wilson will be on point tonight, but Carpenter will get the better of the two. 

The last time these two teams played baseball was Game 6 of their respective series, and each team hit six home runs in big wins over their opponents.

The last time Carpenter pitched he gave up three runs on six hits and one home run to the Brewers, whereas Wilson gave up six runs on eight hits and three home runs to the Tigers.  

It's difficult to say there won't be any home runs in Game 1 because there is so much power in this year's World Series. 

Carpenter and Wilson have their hands full tonight, but it will be Carpenter who channels his clutch gene and gets the job done for the Cardinals.  

Both the Rangers and the Cardinals need great performances from their aces, but the MLB would prefer that Game 1 be a slugfest. 

There will be some big hits, but for the most part the aces will throw a solid game and hope their bullpen doesn't blow it. 

Wilson told reporters that he has faith that he just has to get outs and make it to his postseason average of five innings. Per ESPN:

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"The starting pitchers on our team, we talked about it and said we're here to win and however we have to win, it doesn't really matter," Wilson said. "If we only get to throw five or six innings, that's fine because our bullpen is awesome."  

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The Rangers' ace hasn't been outstanding this postseason, but I think Wilson will do enough to go six innings tonight and only give up a couple of runs. 

However, Carpenter will be dealing tonight and the Rangers will struggle to hit him in the early going. 

Second baseman Nike Punto told reporters that the Cardinals are always psyched to play better when their ace is on the mound. Per ESPN:

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"He embraces the fact that he's our stopper and our ace, and we all kind of feed off that energy, that confidence, that swagger he brings into a game. His intensity rivals anybody I've ever been around."

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Both Texas and St. Louis have been red-hot lately, with guys like Nelson Cruz, Albert Pujols, Ian Kinsler, Adrian Beltre, Lance Berkman and even David Freese all crushing the ball right now.

In the biggest series of them all, the Cardinals and the Rangers will battle hard in every game. It's going to be a great World Series, and Carpenter will set the tone for the Cardinals in Game 1 tonight by out-performing Wilson and giving St. Louis the early lead.