Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets Opening Day Preview

Lineups

The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets return most of the key players from the previous October.

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Rental second baseman Ben Zobrist and starting pitcher Johnny Cueto left the Kansas City Royals in free-agency, along with right fielder Alex Rios. Former starter Omar Infante takes over at second to open the 2016 season, with free-agent Ian Kennedy coming over from Arizona to join the KC Royals rotation in place of Cueto. The Royals intend to fill right field with a combination of bench players Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando from the 2015 squad, along with 25-year-old prospect Reymond Fuentes.

For the Mets, 2015 playoff hero Daniel Murphy and shortstop Ruben Tejada departed in favor of second baseman Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera at short, who were acquired in off-season trades. Rental Yoenis Cespedes re-signed and will play center on most days, but Juan Lagares will play center in Kansas City with the DH rule in effect.

Kansas City Expected Lineup

SS Alcides Escobar

3B Mike Moustakas

CF Lorenzo Cain

1B Eric Hosmer

DH Kendrys Morales

LF Alex Gordon

C Salvador Perez

2B Omar Infante

RF Reymond Fuentes

New York Mets Expected Lineup

RF Curtis Granderson

3B David Wright

LF Yoenis Cespedes

1B Lucas Duda

2B Neil Walker

LF Michael Conforto

SS Asdrubal Cabrera

C Travis d’Arnaud

CF Juan Lagares

Next: Bullpens And Conclusion