Our baseball writers size up the World Series

How the Giants can win: Stay the course. That means continue to rely on the 1-2 starting-pitching punch of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain and the bullpen, anchored by closer Brian Wilson. Manager Bruce Bochy has moved Cain up to start Game 2 ahead of Jonathan Sanchez. What the Giants really need is to get some production from first baseman Aubrey Huff, whose 10 postseason hits all have been singles. Huff was the Giant's leading offensive force during the regular season, with 26 homers. The Giants were a middle-of-the-pack team offensively, and if the pitching takes a holiday, they may have to slug with the Rangers. The Giants also will need production from whomever they choose for DH in the middle three games at Texas.

Intangibles: The NL has the homefield advantage for the first time since 2002, when Dusty Baker's Giants couldn't capitalize against the Angels. The Giants were 49-32 at home during the regular season. Manager Bruce Bochy is a quiet giant among managers in the big leagues. After having knocked off the favored Phillies in the NLCS, the Giants may feel like they can't be stopped.

Possible sleeper hero: In the NLCS, it was Cody Ross. Now, how about center fielder Andres Torres? After a brutal NLDS against the Braves (2-for-16), Torres came alive in the NLCS, going 7-for-20. He's nursing a sore hip flexor, but he says he'll be ready to go. Torres went to spring training with the Cubs as a nonroster man in 2008. He's the Giant's leadoff hitter, and he had an OBP of .343 during the regular season.

Quotable: “I know they scored a lot of runs against the Yankees, but they haven't faced us yet. We've got pretty good pitching.” Sanchez

Bruce Miles' prediction: Rangers in seven.

How the Rangers can win: Keep on swinging. Texas leads all postseason teams with a .281 batting average, a whopping 40 points higher than the runner-up Yankees. The Rangers are also averaging 5.4 runs per game and have 17 home runs in series wins over Tampa Bay and New York. Texas' pitching has been solid as well, and the balanced attack has the Rangers in the Fall Classic for the first time in franchise history. Starter Cliff Lee has been getting much of the attention, which is well deserved. The left-hander has won all 3 of his playoff starts while allowing just 2 runs in 24 innings (0.75 ERA). And don't forget about right-hander Colby Lewis, who is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in 3 starts following a mediocre regular season.

Intangibles: The Rangers are brimming with confidence after taking down arguably the best teams in baseball the Rays and Yankees in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Credit manager Ron Washington for getting past some off-field drug issues in spring training and helping Texas overcome 38 years of failure. And with the popular Cowboys' season already over, Dallas sports fans are throwing their support behind their baseball team.

Possible sleeper hero: Rangers sluggers Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler and Vladimir Guerrero have been carrying the offense, but Texas must do the little things against a strong San Francisco pitching staff. Elvis Andrus has done a great job setting the table during the first two rounds. The leadoff man is batting .333 and has 6 runs scored and 7 stolen bases in the postseason.

Quotable: “The two best teams have arrived. Tampa Bay nor New York laid down for us. Atlanta or Philadelphia didn't lay down for San Francisco. Every game that we've won to be here, we've won it. They certainly didn't give it to us.” Washington

Scot Gregor's prediction: Rangers in six.