BOSTON – It was just one game but it was an ugly one for the St. Louis Cardinals, who will be looking to bounce back from last nights 8-1 defeat to the Red Sox in the World Series opener. A lot will be asked of Cardinals rookie starter Michael Wacha, especially with the apparent reemergence of David Ortiz as a potent offensive threat for the Red Sox. Heres a closer look at tonights game. GAME TWO PREVIEW: PITCHING MATCHUP Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (Regular season: 4-1, 2.78, 1.098 WHIP in 64.2IP; Playoffs: 3GS: 3-0, 0.43, 0.571 WHIP in 21IP) Wacha has never faced the Red Sox or any of Bostons hitters. LINEUP CONSIDERATIONS The Cardinals will make a decision on Carlos Beltrans availability after he takes part in warm up drills and baseball activities this afternoon. Beltran badly bruised the right side of his rib cage crashing into the right field wall while he robbed David Ortiz of a second inning grand slam. Beltran finished the inning in the field but did not return in the third. If Beltran cant play, the Cardinals offence takes an obvious hit. Even if Beltran is in the lineup, he wont be 100 per cent, which will render St. Louis with two hitters in the heart of its order playing under less than ideal conditions. Allen Craig, St. Louis first baseman/designated hitter, went 1-for-4 in Game 1, his first action since spraining his foot on September 4 in Cincinnati. Well see how Craig performs throughout the series but its asking a lot of a player to immediately find his timing and be productive batting in the clean up spot. Red Sox RHP John Lackey (Regular season: 10-13, 3.52, 1.157 WHIP in 189.1IP; Playoffs: 2GS, 2-0, 3.00, 1.167 WHIP in 12IP) Only two Cardinals have ever faced Lackey (Carlos Beltran, Matt Holiday) and neither have a hit in 16 combined at-bats. LINEUP CONSIDERATIONS David Ortiz, held to just two hits in the ALCS (granted one, his Game 2 grand slam, was very important) had as many hits in the World Series opener. He could have had one more but he was robbed of a second inning grand slam by Carlos Beltran. Ortiz singled in the fifth and then hit a two-run home run in the seventh. Bostons 3-4-5 hitters (Dustin Pedroia-Ortiz-Mike Napoli) went 5-for-12 in the game with five RBI and four runs scored. If Ortiz is indeed heating up, the Red Sox are in good shape to win this series. GAME TWO PREDICTION The Cardinals play much better, this is if they stop kicking around the baseball, but the Red Sox get to Michael Wacha and prevail, 5-3, to take a 2-0 series lead to the Midwest. Custom Tennessee Titans Jerseys . Fourteen players were suspended last summer by Major League Baseball as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal, ranging from All-Stars to also-rans. Earl Campbell Jersey . -- Adam Tambellini scored three times and set up one more as the Calgary Hitmen won their sixth in a row by crushing the host Lethbridge Hurricanes 8-1 on Saturday in Western Hockey League play. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Jurrel...-titans-jersey/. His apology came before a pregame ceremony in which the team honoured its 2004 team that won Bostons first World Series championship since 1918. "I realize that I behaved bad in Boston," Ramirez said. Eddie George Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will head into the regular season short on experience at quarterback after trimming the roster on Friday. Kevin Byard Jersey . The San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders are giving it a try, too.Lewis Hamilton believes he can still beat Nico Rosberg to the 2016 world title if he repeats the form he showed in Malaysia before his engine blew and handed his team-mate a significant points advantage. Hamiltons hopes of becoming Britains first four-time champion were dealt a major and sudden blow 15 laps from the end of Sundays race at Sepang when his Mercedes engine failed while he was holding a 22-second lead.The reigning champion initially appeared angry and downcast in the aftermath of a retirement which has given Rosberg a 23-point title lead with five races to go. However, appearing more optimistic in a later media session, he insisted he would not be giving up the chase. Read the full Lewis Hamilton Q&AI have no idea whats going to happen in these next five races, all I can do is do what Ive done this weekend, he said. Be as focused as I can possibly be, put in performances like I have done this weekend, and pray that the car holds together. I dont know if my two engines [in his pool] are going to make it, but I can only hope and if I perform the way Ive performed this weekend everything is still to play for.Hamilton then added: I still have faith and hope and thats a powerful thing.Although overcoming a points deficit of effectively a full race victory is a tall order in the space of five races, the reigning champion has past experience of quickly wiping out seemingly comfortable title leads for Rosberg.Mercedes reassure HamiltonDuring the Mercedes team-mates first duel for the title in 2014, Hamilton took just three races to overcome a 29-point advantage for Rosberg after the summer break and went on to win the title.ddddddddddddAnd earlier this year Rosberg, with four wins in a row, led by 43 points after the first five rounds yet Hamilton was ahead in the standings just six grands prix later after a succession of wins.But having had his title challenge this year disrupted by intermittent engine problems, Hamilton admitted it seemed as though a higher power did not want him to triumph. Niki Lauda feels Lewis Hamilton has been let down by his Mercedes team after engine failure at the Malaysia Grand Prix severely damaged his title chances Hamilton admits all he can do is perform at his best between now and Novembers Abu Dhabi finale.Ill continue to fight more for sure, but at the end of the year if the higher power doesnt want me to be champion with everything that Ive given towards it then Ill have to accept that, he said.But as long as I end my year knowing Ive given it everything and done everything I possibly could do, and we have done everything we possibly could do, thats all you can ask for. Also See: Paper review: Conspiracy talk absurd Lewis lights fuse after blow-out Malaysia GP driver ratings Watch the Japanese GP on NOW TV Cheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '