Game one of the much anticipated 2009 World Series is tomorrow night at 7:57 p.m. on FOX. The series will feature last year’s World Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies, against the New York Yankees.

The Phillies got to this game with a 4-1 NLCS victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Yankees earned their spot by taking out the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 in the ALCS.

The Yankees have home field advantage because the American League won the All-Star Game. Game one will feature two former teammates with the Cleveland Indians. Cliff Lee, who has a 2-0 record in three postseason starts this year with a 0.74 ERA will face off against C.C. Sabathia who is 3-0 in three starts with a 1.19 ERA.

Both pitchers have been the driving force of their teams’ pitching staff this postseason and something will have to give between the two in game one. Most likely the two will meet again in game four of the World Series and if necessary might be going head-to-head a third time in game seven if necessary.

The Phillies have announced that Pedro Martinez will pitch game two against A.J. Burnett of the Yankees. Martinez pitched one game this postseason, and it was a seven inning shutout effort against the Dodgers where he only allowed two hits in a no-decision. Burnett has seen more work, starting three games this postseason where he pitched all no-decisions. He has a 4.42 ERA in those three games.

The game three matchup in Philadelphia will feature Cole Hamels against Andy Pettitte. Hamels is 1-1 in three starts with a high ERA of 6.75, as he has struggled a bit. Pettitte is 2-0 in three starts and has a 2.37 ERA. He also holds the MLB record for postseason wins and series clinching wins for a pitcher.

The bullpens have been up and down at times this postseason but have come through when needed to close enough games to advance.

Brad Lidge has not allowed a run in five appearances and has three saves to lead the Philadelphia bullpen. Chad Durbin also has not allowed a run in five games this postseason.

Other key members of the bullpen for the Phillies will be Scott Eyre, who has pitched in five games and has a 3.86 ERA, and Ryan Madson, who has seen the most work, pitching in seven games with a 4.50 ERA. Chan Ho Park has seen some key moments but has an 8.10 ERA in four appearances.

J.A. Happ has pitched in five games including one start but has a 7.36 ERA and Joe Blanton has pitched in three games, one start, with a 4.66 ERA.

The Yankees bullpen is anchored by Mariano Rivera. He has pitched in eight of the nine games the Yankees have played and has three saves with a 0.84 ERA. Joba Chamberlain has pitched in seven games with a 2.70 ERA and Phil Hughes has seen action in six games with a 5.79 ERA.

Other important members of the New York bullpen are Phil Coke, Damaso Marte, and David Robertson, who have not allowed a run in a combined 11 appearances this postseason.

Both lineups have been strong throughout the season and in the playoffs.

First for the Phillies, they are led by Ryan Howard’s 14 RBI’s in nine games. He is also hitting .355 with two home runs and four doubles. Shane Victorino is leading Philadelphia with a .361 average and is second on the team this postseason with three home runs.

Jayson Werth leads the Phillies with five home runs and he is hitting .281 with 10 RBI’s. Carlos Ruiz is hitting .346 and Chase Utley is at .303.

Even with Jimmy Rollins (.244), Raul Ibanez (.226), and Pedro Feliz (.161), the Phillies are still hitting .261 in the postseason.

Now for the Yankees, who are led by Alex Rodriguez’s five home runs and 12 RBI’s. A-Rod is hitting .438 in his nine postseason games. Melky Cabrera is hitting .314 and Derek Jeter is at .297.

The rest of the lineup is hitting low, Jorge Posada (.258), Johnny Damon (.238), Hideki Matsui (.233), Robinson Cano (.229), Mark Teixeira (.205), and Nick Swisher (.125) but the team is hitting .262, a fraction better than the Phillies entering the series.

The Phillies will look to be the first team to repeat as World Series Champions since their opponent, the Yankees, did it in 1999 and 2000. The Yankees will look to win their first championship since that 2000 season.

My Prediction: I think this will be a back-and-forth series that will eventually end in a 4-2 series win for the Yankees. I think the Yankees lineup will eventually get to the Philadelphia bullpen and without Hamels pitching up to par I don’t see the Phillies winning the series. It should be a classic though, and neither team is done in any game until the 27th out is recorded.