KC Royals Face New York Mets Power Arms for World Series Title

For the second straight season, our KC Royals are back in the Fall Classic, a year ago after losing last season’s World Series. They’ll be facing the team that replaced San Francisco in New York, the New York Mets.

This series looks extremely interesting with NY’s starting rotation and hot hitter against our boys in blue who don’t strike out and the stellar back of the bullpen. New York also has been sitting around a week like KC did last season, while the Royals were in a tough ALCS.

Probable Pitching Match-Ups:
Tuesday, 7:07 pm – Matt Harvey/RHP (13-8, 2.71) v. Edinson Volquez/RHP (13-9, 3.55)
Wednesday, 7:07 pm – Jacob deGrom/RHP (14-8, 2.54) v. Johnny Cueto/RHP (11-13, 3.44)
Friday, 7:07 pm – Yordano Ventura/RHP (13-8, 4.08) v. Noah Syndergaard/RHP (9-7, 3.24)
Saturday, 7:07 pm – Chris Young/RHP (11-6, 3.06) v. Steven Matz/LHP (4-0, 2.27)
Sunday, 7:07 pm* – Volquez/RHP v. Harvey/RHP
Tuesday, 7:07 pm* – Cueto/RHP v. deGrom/RHP
Wednesday, 7:07 pm* – Ventura/RHP v. Syndergaard/RHP

* = Games 5-7 if necessary

Comments on Pitching Match-Ups – Young power arms against an odd collection of arms is probably the best way to describe these announced starters.

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Game 1: Ah yes, the Dark Knight rises at the K on Tuesday night in his first World Series start. Volquez has made three postseason starts with varying results.
Game 2: deGrom is much more than his beautiful mane of hair; he’s another young pitcher who’s been real good this season. Which Cueto will show up on Wednesday night? The ALDS game five edition or ALDS game two or ALCS game three? Heck, hopefully one of the good regular season versions.
Game 3: Let’s throw fire in Queens! Ventura hasn’t picked up a win this postseason, yet his team is 3-1 when he starts. They call Syndergaard Thor given he must wield a hammer or nasty change-up, but he’s much better at Citi Field than on the road.
Game 4: Young was impressive in his lone start in Toronto and will be facing one of his former teams when he makes this start. Come on over and meet the Matz! This young southpaw from Long Island will pitch in front of the home crowd.
Game 5*: What adjustments will be made from each team seeing the game one starters a second time?
Game 6*: Much like game five, got to think the same will be on display here in game six with deGrom and Cueto schedule to go.
Game 7*: While Syndergaard and Ventura are scheduled to start as we know game seven is all hands on deck to get that commissioners trophy.

* = Games 5-7 if necessary

Series Prediction – I don’t foresee this series going 4-5 games, both teams just seem to good to sweep the other. This match-up has me feeling like 6-7 games will be what likely occurs. Let meet the Mets: Daniel Murphy has been doing his Barry Bonds impersonation so far, or, for Royals fans, his Carlos Beltran. Yoenis Cespedes has transformed this team since being acquired at the deadline, but how is his shoulder? Franchise third basemen David Wright will finally play in a World Series after a few bitter NLCS defeats. Curtis Granderson is returning to the series after playing with Detroit in 2006. What about New York’s bullpen? Jeurys Familia is their closer and he’s been real good this season, so look out if he gets into the game. Eleven Royals have experience from last season: Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Alex Gordon, Jarrod Dyson, Danny Duffy, Yordano Ventura, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis. New guys like Ben Zobrist (played in the 2008 WS with Tampa Bay) and Kendrys Morales were brought over to change last year’s results. Ryan Madson will return to the big stage after reaching it a couple times with the Phillies. The contrast between these teams is incredible and will make for a fun way to end this 2015 season. Prediction: KC Royals in seven

2013 Meeting:
This teams met at Citi Field in 2013 with Kansas City winning two of three games between these teams. KC lost the opener 4-2 but won 4-2 and 6-2 to take the series, interestingly Herrera got the win and Greg Holland a save in game two.

Franchise History:
This World Series features two expansion teams for the first time in Fall Classic history as the Mets came in 1962 and Royals 1969. That said they’ve met nine times all-time with New York taking two of three in 2002, Kansas City then winning series in 2004 and 2013.

TV/Radio Coverage:
FOX Sports Kansas City will have postgame coverage from their usual location after each home game with Joel Goldberg, Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery joined by Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler. Road games will see Goldberg and Hudler live from the KCP&L while Montgomery/Lefebvre wiil be live from Toronto.

Every game can be heard on the Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in KC) with Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews who’s joined in the booth by Lefebvre, Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart.

FOX will broadcast game one and FOX Sports 1 has games three-seven with Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds, Tom Verducci and Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews.

ESPN Radio’s national broadcast will include Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone.

All-Time Series Schedule/Results v. Mets (KC 5-4):
June 21-23, 2002 Shea Stadium: L 4-3, W 5-1, L 5-4
June 11-13, 2004 Kauffman Stadium: W 7-5, W 4-3, L 5-2
August 2-4, 2013 Citi Field: L 4-2, W 4-3, W 6-2

Game Notes:
New York Mets
Kansas City Royals

Next: Five Reasons the Royals Will Defeat the Mets in the World Series