The 111th World Series gets underway tonight in Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium with the American League Champion Royals hosting the NL’s best, the New York Mets. The Royals are returning to the Fall Classic for the second consecutive year, having lost in seven games in 2014 to the San Francisco Giants. The last time the Royals won the World Series was in 1985, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The New York Mets are making their first trip to the Series since 2000 when they lost to the New York Yankees in five. The Mets were last World Champions in 1986 when they defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games.
A quick review of the Royals’
season to date begins with a regular season record of 95-67. They won the AL
Central easily, struggled in the ALDS against the Houston Astros and had to
comeback in Games 4 and 5 but were able to squeak through. Next up were the
Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS and the Royals managed to send the birds home
after six games.
Despite the talent that the
Royals have in the regular line-up and the starting rotation, it is the bullpen
that is their strongest asset. KC starters are asked to keep the game close for
six innings and if the Royals have the lead going into the seventh, the four-headed
monster comes out. Kelvin Herrera usually comes out first and is almost
unhittable, throwing pitches regularly over a hundred miles an hour. So far
this post season, Herrera has pitched eight and two/thirds innings, has allowed
only one run and struck out 16 batters in eight innings.
At the back end is closer Wade
Davis. He’s saved three games in the playoffs, and has not allowed a run in his
six and two/thirds innings pitched and he’s struck out ten. Then you have Luke
Hochevar who hasn’t been scored on in his five relief appearances. The only
question mark is Ryan Madson who has struggled a bit in the post season,
allowing four home runs in his six games, including blowing a save in Game 6
against Toronto when he gave up the long ball to Jose Bautista.
If the Royals are to win the
World Series, it will be up to the starters to hold a lead going into the late
innings. Once the ball is handed over to the bullpen, Kansas City is looking
strong.
As for the Mets, they finished
the regular season as champions of the National League East for the first time
since 2006. Their regular season record was 90-72. In the NLDS they defeated
the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, winning the fifth and deciding game on
the road in LA. In the NLCS, they easily swept the Cubs, again winning the
series-clinching game on the road in Chicago.
I point out the fact that they
clinched both series on the road, because they will have to win some games in
Kansas City to win the World Series. KC has the home field advantage but I
don’t think that matters to the Mets.
If the New Yorkers are to win
the Series, they will have to rely on their starting pitching. Matt Harvey will
pitch Game 1. In the NLDS against LA, Harvey won his only start, pitching five
innings and giving up three runs, two of them earned. He struck out seven
batters. In his only start in the NLCS, he pitched seven and two/thirds
innings, giving up two runs while striking out nine Cubs while picking up the
win.
Jacob deGrom will be the Game 2
starter for the Mets. In the NLDS, he was 2-0, allowing two runs in thirteen
innings while striking out twenty. As for the NLCS, he won his only start,
pitching seven innings, striking out seven batters while allowing two runs.
The third starter will be Noah
Snydergaard, who lost his start in the Division Series, but rebounded with a
win in his Championship Series start. In his three post-season appearances (two
starts), Snydergaard is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in thirteen innings while striking
out twenty.
Steven Matz will be up for Game
4. Matz lost his start against LA and picked up a no-decision against the Cubs.
In 9 2/3 innings, he has an ERA of 3.72 and has struck out eight.
If the Mets are to win the World
Series, they will need all four of these pitchers to be on their game and hold
the Royals hitters at bay and try not to go into the later innings behind.
Otherwise the Mets’ hitters will have a tough time against the KC bullpen.
All things considered, I am
looking forward to a long Series, to be decided in six games. And while I would
like to see the Mets win the Championship, I am predicting the Royals to take
the crown.
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