Royals know the Mets won't be easy
KANSAS CITY -- Next up for the World Series-bound Royals are the Mets, this year's "cool" story in baseball, much like Kansas City was last season.
"We know they're going to be tough," center fielder Lorenzo Cain said after his mad dash from first to home in the eighth on Eric Hosmer's long single gave the Royals the American League Championship Series-clinching 4-3 win on Friday. "They've got those big-time pitchers who throw hard. Not going to be easy. But it's not supposed to be when you get this far. We'll be ready."
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Kansas City is expected to turn to right-hander Edinson Volquez to start Game 1 on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, game time 8 p.m.). Volquez is 1-2 in the postseason, with a 4.32 ERA. He did have one fantastic outing, throwing six innings of shutout ball against Toronto in Game 1 of the ALCS.
:: World Series: Mets vs. Royals -- Tune-in info ::
Volquez likely will be opposed by right-hander Matt Harvey.
Manager Ned Yost hasn't announced his rotation, but it is assumed he would go with right-hander Yordano Ventura in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
After that is where it gets interesting. Will Yost turn to Johnny Cueto or Chris Young for Game 3 at Citi Field on Friday night? Cueto did not pitch well in his previous outing -- allowing eight runs in two innings in Game 3 of the ALCS. Young was solid in Game 4, giving up just two runs in 4 2/3 innings at Rogers Centre.
The Mets also have not announced their starters, but after Harvey, they could go with right-handers Noah Syndergaard in Game 2 and Jacob deGrom in Game 3.
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"They've got those power arms," Hosmer said. "We'll have to be ready."
The Royals once again will be facing a team that has more collective power -- the Mets hit 38 more homers than the Royals this season -- but Kansas City has more speed (104 steals, compared with New York's 51) and superior defense.
"It's going to be pretty evenly matched," Hosmer said. "Should be a good series."
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Following are the dates and times of the Series:
Game 1, Oct. 27: Mets at Royals, 7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch
Game 2, Oct. 28: Mets at Royals, 7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch
Game 3, Oct. 30: Royals at Mets, 7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch
Game 4, Oct. 31; Royals at Mets, 7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch
Game 5 *, Nov. 1: Royals at Mets, 8:00 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:15 p.m. ET first pitch
Game 6 *, Nov. 3: Mets at Royals, 7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch
Game 7 *, Nov. 4: Mets at Royals, 7:30 p.m. ET air time on FOX, 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch
* -- if necessary