The protagonists of the 2013 World Series' share more than one thing in common. Both have identical 97-65 records, both are the best teams in their divisions and leagues, and both won their league championship series four games to two.

One of the main reasons for the two teams' respective successes is the collective strength of their pitching. Both have starting pitchers that are among the best in the business and relief pitchers that could start in other teams. The recent MLB playoffs just proved how deep their starting rotations and bullpens are.

St. Louis Cardinals

Starting rotation
58 Joe Kelly
31 Lance Lynn
40 Shelby Miller
50 Adam Wainwright

Bullpen
34 John Axford
36 Randy Choate
61 Seth Maness
62 Carlos Martínez
44 Edward Mujica
26 Trevor Rosenthal
46 Kevin Siegrist
52 Michael Wacha

Closer
By committee

Adam Wainwright has reportedly been tabbed to be the Cardinals' starting pitcher in Game One, and it's not hard to see why. Wainwright was excellent in their NLDS series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he had a 2-0 record, allowing just two runs in Games One and Two.

The revelation of the playoffs, however, has been rookie relief pitcher Michael Wacha, who was named MVP of the NLCS against the L.A. Dodgers. Wacha started his hot run as a starter in Game 4 of the NLDS, allowing only one hit and run. Wacha weaved more of his magic in Game Two of the NLCS, allowing five hits but no runs, before clinching the series win in Game Six where he allowed just two hits.

Boston Red Sox

Starting rotation
11 Clay Buchholz
46 Ryan Dempster
22 Félix Doubront
41 John Lackey
31 Jon Lester
44 Jake Peavy

Bullpen
32 Craig Breslow
56 Franklin Morales
36 Junichi Tazawa
67 Brandon Workman

Closer
19 Koji Uehara

For their part, the Red Sox have named Jon Lester to start Game One. Lester started out shaky against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game One of the ALDS, giving up two successive home runs but had only three hits. He also struggled in the ALCS, giving up nine hits and the home run that cost the Red Sox the game and was also threatened in Game 5, allowing a two-out RBI single that let Austin Jackson score from second base. Lester, though, has a 100-56 record, a World Series title under his belt and is a two-time All-Star who can and will get out of his funk.

Supporting him will be Japanese relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa who relieved Lester in Game Five, sealing the win, and started Game Six. The other half of Boston's Japanese pitching corps, Koji Uehara, was named MVP of the series after successfully closing four games, earning a win in one (a scoreless ninth inning in Game Six).