Red Sox-Angels: Starting pitching

10/04/2004 1:10 AM ET

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

Boston Red Sox

CURT SCHILLING

RHP

His emergence as the new force of the staff is confirmed by manager Terry Francona's choice to have him start Game 1. If you think he appeared to pitch with a mission during his 21-win season, you ain't yet seen him at his most obsessive: He has a lifetime 5-1 postseason record, with a 1.66 ERA in 11 starts.

Pitches: Four-seam fastball, splitter, sweeping curve
Speed: 85-97 mph

PEDRO MARTINEZ

RHP

As Shakespeare, a noted Red Sox fan, would say, "Wherefore art thou, oh real Pedro?" Martinez's late-season unraveling was so dramatic, it's hard to remember that, until then, he was pretty much the same old Pedro: 16-5, with a 3.44 ERA. If it's all in his head, maybe the playoffs is just what Dr. Phil ordered.

Pitches: Fastball, hard curve, cutter, changeup, slider
Speed: 78-94 mph

BRONSON ARROYO

RHP

Including him in the Series rotation was an easy call. The 27-year-old traveled down the stretch with Boston's hottest arm: 5-0 in his last nine starts, with a 3.78 ERA. Either it was the hair, or a coincidence, because he began streaking when he adopted the Bo Derek look.

Pitches: Fastball, curveball, slider
Speed: 82-92 mph

TIM WAKEFIELD

RHP

The staff's old reliable, Wakefield and his rubber-armed knuckleball are always the wild card in a short series. He'll start a Fenway Park game, but is liable to pop up in relief before and after. However, Francona may scratch him if its an elimination game: He staggered to the end of an off-year.

Pitches: Knuckleball, curveball, fastball
Speed: 66-80 mph

Anaheim Angels

JARROD WASHBURN

LHP

Never the overpowering sort, Washburn has relied on control even more after an injury-interrupted 2003 season. After missing all of August with a ribcage injury, he did return in September with his most consistent month of the season. A battler who'll get the most out of what he has on a given day.

Pitches: Slider, changeup, fastball
Speed: 84-90 mph

BARTOLO COLON

RHP

Formerly one of baseball's prime heat throwers, Colon's maturation into a pitcher has been impressive. He'll pace himself, no longer into chalking up triple-digit radar readings, but can still reach back for the white-heat stuff when he needs it. Being backed by a deep bullpen, without the need to extend himself, has also helped.

Pitches: Four-seam and two-seam fastball, slider, changeup
Speed: 86-98 mph

KELVIM ESCOBAR

RHP

Yes, this is the same guy who had 38 saves for Toronto a couple of years ago. His varied repertoire is ideally suited to starting, and the Angels finished the project begun by the Blue Jays in 2003. May have supplanted Colon as the hardest thrower in the league.

Pitches: Fastball, curveball, slider. change, splitter, sinker
Speed: 83-97 mph

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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