Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets Opening Day Preview

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Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A Kansas City Royals fans shows support while waiting on players to arrive at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets will do something on Sunday that major league baseball has never seen before: open the season against their World Series rival from the previous season.

The KC Royals (95-67 in 2015) and NY Mets (90-72 in 2015) will face off in the third game of ESPN’s opening day triple header to kick off the 2016 season on April 3, 2016. The game is scheduled to start 7:37 PM CST at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium.

The day’s marquee matchup will follow the Cardinals at Pirates (12:05 CST) and Blue Jays at Rays (4:05 CST) on ESPN2.

Starting Pitchers

KC Royals: Edinson Volquez (13-9, 3.55 ERA, 2.5 bWAR in 2015)

NY Mets: Matt Harvey (13-8, 2.71 ERA, 4.3 bWAR in 2015)

The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets will reprise the pitching matchup from Game 5 of the World Series from the previous October. In that game, starter Matt Harvey took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning after throwing a now-famous fit when Mets manager Terry Collins considered pulling him for closer Jeurys Familia.

Harvey then gave up a single to Lorenzo Cain and a double to Eric Hosmer to bring the KC Royals within one run. Jeurys Familia then relieved Harvey, but it was already too lake. Hosmer scored from third on Salvador Perez‘s grounder to David Wright.

Eric Hosmer’s mad dash has become the signature play of the 2015 World Series, and is certain to be discussed by baseball fans for decades to come.

The Kansas City Royals went on to win the 2015 title by scoring five runs in the top of the 12th inning.

Next: Expected Lineups

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