The Kansas City Royals outlasted the New York Mets in a World Series Game 1 for the ages last night, 5-4 in 14 innings. Eric Hosmer played the hero with an RBI sac fly to end things late at Kaufmann Stadium -- a walkoff hit made possible by a MASSIVE Eric Gordon game-tying solo shot with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
With last night's craziness taking a toll on both teams' bullpens and overall energy reserves, who's got enough left to seize Game 2 tonight? Can the Mets steal home-field advantage away from KC? Will the Royals take their flight to the Big Apple with a 2-0 stranglehold on the series? Here's our Mets vs. Royals: World Series Game 2 Preview & Prediction.
Where To Watch:
FOX, first pitch slated for 8:07pm EST
Starting Lineups:
New York Mets
RF Curtis Granderson
3B David Wright
2B Daniel Murphy
LF Yoenis Cespedes
1B Lucas Duda
C Travis d'Arnaud
DH Michael Conforto
SS Wilmer Flores
CF Juan Lagares
SP Jacob deGrom
Kansas City Royals
SS Alcides Escobar
2B Ben Zobrist
CF Lorenzo Cain
1B Eric Hosmer
DH Kendrys Morales
3B Mike Moustakas
C Salvador Perez
LF Alex Gordon
RF Alex Rios
SP Johnny Cueto
What They Are Saying About The Mets:
Juan Lagares Earns Spot In Game 2 Lineup
Travis d'Arnaud, Key To A World Series Title?
What They Are Saying About The Royals:
Royals Family Rallies Around Grieving Volquez
Kansas City Overcomes Miscues To Win Opener
Hosmer, Zobrist Bust Brett Playoff Records
Key To The Game:
The Royals have won five games this postseason after trailing by multiple runs. That ties them with the 1996 New York Yankees for the most such wins in a single postseason, per Elias Sports Bureau. With a rare Eric Hosmer miscue in the eighth inning looming large after it resulted in a Mets go-ahead run, Alex Gordon saved his teammate with a ninth-inning solo shot off of Mets closer Jeurys Familia, marking Familia's first blown save in 22 chances. The Royals keep doing damage late, regardless of who they're facing and how dominant they've been.
Where does all this leave us tonight? Firstly, it's imperative for the New York Mets to take an aggressive tact with Royals SP Johnny Cueto who has played hide-and-seek all playoffs long consistency-wise. If they can ring Cueto's bell early and take a big lead headed into the middle innings, New York can a) decrease the chances for a miracle Royals comeback and b) escape the teeth of the Kansas City bullpen with the game either tied or the Mets trailing. The longer this game stays close, the more it favors the Cardiac Royals.
Prediction: Mets win 5-2
We've gone this far without talking about Mets starter Jacob deGrom, but he's the X-factor here. Other than his fantastic ALDS Game 5 against the Houston Astros, Johnny Cueto has hardly looked like an ace this postseason. deGrom is in full form right now, and he's the right guy at the right time to stifle this Royals team. Cueto gives up a crooked number early, the Mets hold on thanks to seven strong by deGrom, and New York heads back to Flushing with a tie series in hand.
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