MLB World Series 2011 Schedule: Rangers Need C.J. Wilson to Shine vs. Cardinals

While neither the St. Louis Cardinals nor the Texas Rangers can end the World Series tonight, the winner will set the tone for the rest of the series. With that in mind, the most important player in Game 1 has to be starting pitcher C.J. Wilson.

The Rangers starter will be going up against Chris Carpenter, who we have seen dominate in the postseason already.

Wilson, on the other hand, has had a difficult time in three starts. He has thrown 15.2 innings and allowed 14 earned runs with 17 strikeouts and eight walks. That is a far cry from the 2.94 ERA he had in 223.1 innings in the regular season.

Jean Jacques-Taylor of ESPNDallas.com wrote that it is time for Wilson to step up in the most important game of his career.

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“Wilson might occasionally get on our nerves with his arrogance and condescending tone, but we must admit he's considerably better than he's pitched in the postseason.

Wilson's ego knows no bounds, so he couldn't possibly be suffering from stage fright. We're talking about a dude who says his stuff is "electric," which certainly doesn't sound like a pitcher who's afraid of the moment.

Then again, all we can do is go by the awful results we've seen thus far.”

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Both teams have had to use their bullpens a lot more than they would have liked to in the League Championship Series’, so it will be a huge boost if their starters can eat some innings and allow the relievers to work as little as possible.

We know Carpenter can do it because in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Phillies, he threw a complete game shutout in Philadelphia.

The jury is still out on how much Wilson has left in the tank. He has not been right all postseason, but all it takes is one good game to turn everything around.

Wilson’s performance in Game 1 of the World Series on the road will tell us all we need to know about how this series will play out.

If he dominates, the Rangers will have a decided advantage and a chance to close things out in Texas. If he doesn’t, they will find themselves wondering what went wrong in the World Series for the second straight season.