MLB.com staff predicts the 2015 World Series

The 111th World Series is almost ready to begin, with the Mets and Royals set to get things going with Game 1 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8 p.m. game time).

The Mets are hoping to end a 29-year championship drought, while the Royals -- who lost the 2014 World Series in seven games -- are trying to win their first title in 30 years.

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As we await first pitch, a collection of MLB.com analysts, columnists and reporters shared their thoughts on who will come out on top.

:: World Series: Mets vs. Royals -- Tune-in info ::

Mike Bauman: Royals in 7
The contact-hitting Royals will not be overwhelmed by the Mets' pitching in the way that the young Cubs were. Those terrific young Mets pitchers will make this a highly competitive series, but the Royals, who do the little things better than any team in baseball, should prevail.

Barry Bloom: Mets in 6
New York's elite pitching (and pitching depth) will be too much for the Royals to handle.

Hal Bodley: Royals in 7
Kansas City will use experience, momentum and their ability to put the ball in play to stop the Mets' young pitchers. "Love is lovelier the second time around" -- and for the Royals, that means winning, not just making it to the World Series as they did last year before losing to the Giants.

Anthony Castrovince: Royals in 6
An offense that puts the ball in play and doesn't strike itself out of innings. Dynamic defense. A bullish bullpen. The Royals have some susceptibility in their rotation, but their formula works in this environment. They've been saying from the beginning that they were going to get back to the Series and win it, and I find it difficult to doubt them.

Alyson Footer: Mets in six 
This is one of the toughest series to predict, as each team is so different yet has what it takes to win a championship. I'm giving the slight edge to the Mets because of their starting pitching. The long layoff may hurt hitters like Daniel Murphy, but the big four starters should be strong, rested and ready. 

Paul Hagen: Mets in 6
Top to bottom, the Royals look like the more solid team on paper. But if good pitching beats good hitting in the postseason, you've got to think Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz tip the scales.

Terence Moore: Mets in 7
I want so badly to pick the Royals, especially since they look ready to finish what they started last season. It's just that the Mets have all of that starting pitching, along with possibly the new Mr. November in Murphy.

Marty Noble: Royals in 6
The Royals make a lot of contact and the Mets' so-so defense will be tested. The ideal formula for the Mets is to score early and often to reduce the impact of the Royals' bullpen. The Royals will score against the Mets' middle relief.

Tracy Ringolsby: Royals in 5
The Royals are on a mission. They came up short a year ago and the focus since the start of spring was to take that next step. Their bullpen makes it a six-inning game.

Phil Rogers: Mets in 6
There are no weak links in the Mets' starting rotation, as the Cubs saw in the National League Championship Series. While the Royals know this drill, it becomes more difficult to win after you've been the previous year, or at least that's my theory.

Lyle Spencer: Royals in 7
Kansas City should thank Angels outfielder and 2015 All-Star Game MVP Mike Trout (again) for home-field advantage in the World Series. Speed is slump-proof, and the Royals know how to use it. Defense, situational hitting and bullpen depth can overcome the Mets' brilliant starting pitching in a thrilling Fall Classic.

Jeff Nelson: Royals in 5
The Royals don't rely on the home run. They make a lot of things happen -- they don't swing and miss, they have a lot of speed, they play great defense. If those starters can last and go deep in the game, cut those games to six innings and let that bullpen play a part.

Jack Morris: Royals in 6 or 7
I don't think this series is going to be a quick one … I really have a tough time calling it. But I think the Royals might have the ingredient, they're just a team that grinds it out, they play solid baseball every single day and they find ways to win.

Bob Ojeda:
If it's a quick series, I give it to the Mets. If it goes 7, I'm giving it to the Royals.

Marlon Anderson: Mets in 7
I think it's gonna be a long series ... I think it's gonna go 7 games, and the Mets are gonna take it. if Jon Niese and Bartolo Colon can bridge the gap to Jeurys Familia, the Mets will take it.