World Series 2011: 5 Reasons St. Louis Cardinals Will Out-Slug Texas Rangers

It's finally here, baseball fans.

The 2011 World Series begins tonight as the St. Louis Cardinals play host to the red-hot Texas Rangers.

While it's Texas whose lineup has been hitting home runs at a ridiculous rate, and who finished the regular season ranked second in slugging percentage, St. Louis has quietly been crushing the ball as well, out-slugging both the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers en route to a World Series berth.

There's no doubt that the Rangers' big bats will do their fair share of damage this series, but the Cardinals have some sluggers of their own and they should not be overlooked.

Here are five reasons that St. Louis will out-slug Texas throughout the 2011 World Series.

The Experience Factor

When it comes to the playoffs, and particularly the World Series, experience is priceless.

While it's fair to say that Texas is an experienced ball club, considering they were in the World Series just last season, St. Louis boasts one of the most veteran lineups in the game.

The middle of the Cardinals lineup is packed with veteran sluggers in Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holiday, and all three have significant playoff experience. They won't be fazed by the pressure associated with playing in the World Series and they will certainly be swinging for the fences.

Don't be surprised to see the Cardinals' "Big Three" do some serious damage throughout the series.

Mr. Freese

In addition to having veteran talent, the Cardinals also have a young slugger in the making in third baseman David Freese.

So far this postseason, Freese is batting .425 with four home runs and 14 RBI. Even more ridiculously, he's also slugging .850. 

The guy is on an absolute tear, and if he can keep it up the Cardinals should be able to put up some serious runs against Texas' streaky pitching staff.

Texas Gives Up the Long Ball

Texas loves to hit home runs, but they also have a knack for giving them up.

The Rangers boast a talented young pitching staff, and they find ways to win, but Tampa Bay and Detroit hit a combined 20 home runs against Texas. That's eight more homers than St. Louis has allowed.

It's scary to think what Albert Pujols and the rest of the Cards' big bats could do to this susceptible staff. 

Depth in the Pitching Staff

Texas has one of the league's most dangerous lineups, but the Cardinals have the pitching staff to keep them at bay.

It's no secret that St. Louis' starting rotation is solid, but it's their bullpen that has been particularly impressive this postseason. Octavio Dotel, Fernando Salas, Arthur Rhodes and closer Jason Motte have all been lights out and the Rangers could have their work cut out for them should they find themselves having to score late in ball games.

As for Texas' sluggers? The four aforementioned pitchers have allowed just one home run between them this postseason. Don't expect Nelson Cruz to keep up his late-inning home run magic.

Nothing to Lose

The Cardinals probably shouldn't be in the World Series.

Heck, without some help from a slumping Braves squad, St. Louis probably would not have even made the playoffs.

While Texas was a force in the AL all season long and expected by most of the baseball community to make some waves in the postseason, St. Louis has absolutely nothing to lose in this World Series. 

They'll be swinging for the fences and more than likely hitting the ball all over the ballpark.