The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets are set to square off in what should be one of the most intriguing and exciting World Series matchups in recent memory. The Mets have used dominant pitching to cruise past the Dodgers and Cubs, while the Royals have used their great bullpen and solid all-around lineup to get past the Astros and Blue Jays.
So who will come out on top in this series? Here's our series preview & prediction:
Pitching Matchups (NY vs KC)
Game 1: Matt Harvey (13-8) vs. Edinson Volquez (13-9)
Game 2: Jacob deGrom (14-8) vs. Johnny Cueto (4-7)
Game 3: Noah Syndergaard (9-7) vs. Yordano Ventura (13-8)
Game 4: Stephen Matz (4-0) vs. Chris Young (11-6)
Game 5*: Harvey vs. Volquez
Game 6*: deGrom vs. Cueto
Game 7*: Syndergaard vs. Ventura
How New York Wins The Series
Lean on Harvey, Syndergaard, DeGrom.
To be perfectly frank, New York becomes the favorite in this series if they get out of Games 1 & 2 in KC with a split. Taking down either Volquez or Cueto will provide a massive boost of confidence and swing the series in favor of New York's startling cache of starting pitching depth. All the Mets have to do is bleed a couple runs out of the opposing starter, hand the ball over to a streaking bullpen, set it and forget it.
It sounds simple. It's not, but it's the key to this series for New York.
How Kansas City Wins The Series
String together singles. Give the ball to the bullpen.
Repeat.
Remember how Kansas City saved their season in Game 4 of the ALDS, singling five straight times to open the top of the 8th en route to erasing a 6-2 Houston lead. The offensive attack of the Royals is built primarily on traditional small ball tactics. KC can hit the long ball, but they're not a bludgeoning force. The key to a Royals series win is putting together dink-and-dunk rallies, allowing them to shorten the game with their top-tier bullpen. If KC gets into a six innings-then-bullpen groove, it's lights out.
What They're Saying About New York
TALE OF THE TAPE: 2000 Mets vs. 2015 Mets
Veteran Infielder Juan Uribe Added To Mets World Series Roster
What They're Saying About Kansas City
Murphy stays at 3-hole; No changes for KC
Why KC chose Mondesi for World Series roster
Who wins Game 1?
Harvey and Volquez should engage in a pitchers duel, meaning the bullpens will decide this game. Kansas City has the best bullpen in baseball, and since they're playing at home, I expect them to pull out a 4-2 victory. Also, don't be surprised to see the Mets make some nervous mistakes in the field early in this one.
Prediction: Royals in six
This one will be back and forth throughout as no one team appears to have a definite advantage over the other. However, I find it hard to believe the Royals will lose two straight World Series on their home field. Their bullpen and ability to hit fast pitching (batting over .300 against pitches 95+ MPH) will be the keys to their victory.
Back to the MLB Newsfeed