AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

Jon Lester takes the mound for the Red Sox against the Angels in opener of their ALDS.

By John Kruk, ESPN

The Boston Red Sox are quite familiar opponents for the Los Angeles Angels in the American League Division Series. However, all those previous matchups resulted in Red Sox series wins.

The key for the Red Sox this time is pitching. Jon Lester, who opens the series, has to keep guys off base, especially the guys who can run. Jacoby Ellsbury will be a key factor against Angels starter John Lackey. If Ellsbury gets on base, he's going to steal. He will need to use his legs to create runs. Even though Lackey struggles against Boston, he has done some pretty good things in the postseason, including when he stepped up in 2002 and the Angels won the World Series.

Another important point the Red Sox must consider is to allow Lester to go deep in the game. That way, manager Terry Francona can mix and match his bullpen.

The key for the Angels is to focus on running. They have to get guys on base, from Chone Figgins to Erick Aybar to Bobby Abreu to Torii Hunter. They will have to make offense by taking the double play away from Lester, thus making him more concerned about the runners than he is about the hitter.

Keep in mind that Boston's pitchers don't keep runners close. They are very easy to run on. If you look at how the Angels played this year, that's how they won a lot of games. They showed a lot more patience at the plate. Overall, their on-base percentage is higher than it's ever been, but they ran -- and that's what they will have to do to beat Boston. If the Angels try to sit back and outhomer Boston, they will fail because the Red Sox just have too much firepower in the middle of their lineup. The Angels will have to run and run and run. If they make it a track meet, they will beat the Red Sox.

Lackey and Josh Beckett are capable of demoralizing a team, and it's unclear whether the Angels have that shutdown pitcher to counter it.

If Victor Martinez or Jason Varitek can handle those baserunners, it's over. In other words, if the Red Sox can beat the Angels with one of their weaknesses, there's nothing Los Angeles can do.

The first game is in Anaheim, but that won't make a difference. The Angels have yet to prove they can beat the Red Sox. If Boston jumps out early, for example -- let's say Ellsbury leads off with a hit, steals a base and scores a run -- don't be surprised if some of the L.A. players look at each other and say, "Oh no, here they come."

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For the complete postseason schedule, click here.