After a long, tenuous 162 game schedule concluded, the Postseason slate was set with 20 teams heading home and 10 looking to fight for their right to play in the Fall Classic. After the Wild Card games, Division series', and Championship series', we have our two teams set to square off in the World Series looking to become World Champions.
Those two teams will be the Kansas City Royals making their second straight World Series appearance as the American League representative and the New York Mets representing the National League for the first time since 2000. The Mets haven't won a championship since 1986 while the Royals haven't won since 1985.
These two teams had some different routes to this Fall Classic, however. The Mets made quick work of the Cubs in the NLCS completing the four-game sweep, while the Royals had a little bit more work to do disposing of the Blue Jays, but ultimately got it done in six-games.
This is the first World Series ever that at least one of the teams is not one of the original 16 franchises.
Both of these teams fortified their squads by acquiring big pieces at the deadline to boost their chances at competing for a championship, and it looks like that has worked. Ben Zobrist and Yoenis Cespedes for the Royals and Mets respectively, were both acquired and have helped their teams tremendously thus far.
The Mets are led by their pitching staff and their fire arms with Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz. When matched up against the Royals rotation of Johnny Cueto, Yordano Ventura, Edison Volquez and Chris Young, the Mets definitely have the upper hand.
When it comes to the bullpen though, that is the Royals bread and butter with Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson, and Wade Davis closing it out. The Mets are no slouch in the later innings, however with Jeurys Familia posting tremendous postseason numbers thus far.
The interesting matchup comes against the Royals offense which struck out the least amount of times among the four teams to make the Championship Series. One through nine, the Kansas City order might be the deepest in baseball which makes the matchup of the Mets starters versus this Royals lineup must see baseball.
The one thing that will hurt the Royals in this series will be playing in a National League park with no DH. Royals manager Ned Yost will have to make a big decision with who will be on the chopping block. Most likely it will be Kendrys Morales who has been a big contributor for the Royals this season at the plate.
For the Mets, how could we talk about the World Series and not talk about Daniel Murphy. He has been on fire as he has hit a home run in an MLB record six consecutive postseason games. He has been the Mets go to player on offense and he could be poised for a big series against the Royals.
Both of these teams have a significant amount of time off before this series gets going on Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see how these teams respond. Most of the champagne should have worn off by Tuesday. The Mets last played on Wednesday while the Royals last played Friday.
With the American League winning the All Star Game, they will have home field advantage which means games one, two, six* and seven* will be played in Kansas City while games three, four, and five* will be played at Citi Field in New York. (* if necessary). All games start at 8:00 p.m. EST and will all be aired on FOX.
Prediction: Mets in 6