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It’s finally here, baseball fans: The 2015 MLB World Series starts Tuesday night. 

Over the following days, the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals will take part in the latest installment of the Fall Classic.” Before the first pitch of Game 1 is thrown, let’s dive into some head-to-head matchups that could decide which team raises the trophy. 

Obviously, both the Mets and Royals have deep and talented rosters. New York’s run through October has been behind an elite starting rotation, while Kansas City has returned to the World Series behind a similar formula that gave it success last season. 

Both teams will be aware of the other team’s strengths and will key on countering them down throughout the course of the series.

Will Travis d’Arnaud be able to shut down the Kansas City running game? Which matters more: Johnny Cueto’s recent struggles or his career success over a good chunk of the Mets order? Will an overly aggressive Royals lineup play right into the hands of a strikeout-heavy Mets rotation?

We’ll take a closer look at those questions and try to determine which team may have the upper hand. Let us know what you think in the comments section below. What’s the key matchup in this series? What are some weaknesses that each team can exploit? 

Matchups matter in a seven-game series. Over the course of this slideshow, we’ll identify a handful of key aspects that will determine the World Series champion. 

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Although the World Series is right around the corner, it’s never too early to look ahead to free agency. 

That’s especially true this season, as some of the game’s biggest names will hit the market in pursuit of hefty paydays. Over the next few slides, we’ll take a look at what types of contracts those top MLB free agents might command this winter. 

Multiple factors affect a player’s value on the market:

• 2015 Production: It’s not everything, but obviously players who performed well this past season have more bargaining power. Think Zack Greinke and Yoenis Cespedes. 
• Track Record: A player who’s proved to be a dependable major leaguer has little risk attached to him. Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmermann are examples of consistent free-agents-to-be. 
• Position Depth on the Market: Ian Desmond and Matt Wieters have their warts, but both should benefit from weak free-agent classes at shortstop and catcher. 
• Past Contracts: We can draw conclusions from contracts dished out over the last few seasons. 

Using that mix of factors, we’ll try to give a ballpark estimate of what each of the top 15 free agents will make over the coming months. Will David Price or Zack Greinke exceed $200 million? Out of Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton, which outfielder deserves the best contract? How should teams value Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija after subpar seasons? 

Let us know what you think in the comment section below. How much would you want your team to pay for an elite free agent? Which players on this list do you consider hidden gems?

Oftentimes, MLB free agency is as riveting as the regular season. Let’s dive into some of the big names who will be on the move this winter. 

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Both the National League and American League Championship Series have given us plenty of memorable moments to talk about for years and years to come. 

Many of those moments have been provided by some of the unlikeliest candidates. Over the next few slides, we’ll rank a few of those surprise impact players. 

Surprises come in different shapes and sizes.

Take Daniel Murphy for example. Nobody is shocked that the New York Mets infielder made an impact on the NLCS. What has surprised people is the fact that Murphy has done so in historic fashion, hitting a homer in six straight postseason games. 

Think about Marco Estrada. The right-hander had never logged over 180 innings in a season before 2015, yet he has pitched like the Toronto Blue Jays ace in the ALCS. 

What about Alcides Escobar and Ryan Goins? The two light-hitting middle infielders are known more for their glovework, but each has provided production at the plate, as well. 

Let us know what you think about our selections in the comment section below. Can you believe what these players have done during the championship series? What has been the biggest reason for their success? Who else has surprised you? 

Players make names for themselves every year with special October performances. Let’s dive into a few who have really stood out in the championship series. 

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It may be a small sample size, but slumps in October are often magnified. In the 2015 postseason, there are a handful of struggling MLB stars who must play better before their teams face an abrupt exit from the festivities. 

Obviously, an unattractive stat line will always catch the eye of fans and pundits alike. But the players on this list have more in common than a bad start to the postseason. Each player is crucial to his team’s success, which makes his struggles an even bigger issue. 

Josh Hamilton and Prince Fielder have yet to contribute to a Texas Rangers team in the midst of a back-and-forth series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Without production from the middle of the lineup, the Rangers may not last past Game 5 of the American League Division Series. 

Speaking of Toronto, David Price has been surprisingly bad in two postseason appearances. If the Blue Jays are able to advance to the American League Championship Series, they won’t reach the World Series without a return to form from their ace. 

In the other AL series, Jose Altuve hasn’t been the same spark plug for the Houston Astros as he’s been for the majority of his career. Without his speed on the bases, Houston’s reliance on the long ball could catch up to it. 

Let us know what you think in the comments section below. What other players need to step it up in the postseason? What are some problems the players on this list are facing so far in October? 

Baseball is a fickle game, but postseason failures can stick with a player for his entire career. Here are a few names trying to shed any negative connotations. 

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The Toronto Blue Jays will look to push the American League Divisional Series back home for a decisive Game 5 with a second consecutive win Monday afternoon against the Texas Rangers in Game 4.

As R.A. Dickey and Derek Holland prepare to take the ball in such a pivotal game, both the Blue Jays and Rangers will feel good about their chances of scoring runs. There’s also the potential of a David Price bullpen sighting that could alter the landscape of the series.

There are plenty of keys to discuss before the first pitch, so let’s identify a handful of factors that could directly affect Game 4.

Playoff Knuckleball

With the season hanging in the balance, Toronto has chosen to go with knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey in Game 4. The right-hander posted a 3.91 ERA in 33 starts this season.

Dickey will bring his knuckleball into October for the first time. In 2015, that pitch ranged from 66-82 mph and resulted in pretty even batted-ball data across the board. Dickey did lower his walk rate to right around 6 percent when using it, which proves that while unpredictable, he has elite command of the pitch.

In the video below, the elusiveness of Dickey’s knuckleball is on full display. Baltimore Orioles hitters had no idea where it was going throughout the game, leading to a frustrating night at the dish. 

As always, hitters must be patient when facing Dickey. The Rangers were exactly that during the regular season, ranking 24th in baseball with a 30.2 percent chase rate. It’s understandable for players like Prince Fielder to be a bit more aggressive, but Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus and Delino Deshields Jr. won’t be bothered with pitches dancing out of the strike zone.

If Dickey is on, he’ll test even the most patient of hitters. But Texas has the disciplined lineup to counter what can be a frustrating pitch.

The Price Effect

David Price didn’t have the finest of starts in Game 1, but the southpaw remains one of the best pitchers in baseball.

A best-case scenario for the Blue Jays is to get plenty of runs early in Game 4 and coast to a comfortable victory. That way, Price can be used as the starter in a decisive Game 5.

But if Dickey gets into trouble, don’t be surprised to see Price enter Game 4 out of the bullpen.

Price hasn’t been much different as a reliever in a small sample size during his major league career. The 30-year-old has a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings and has held opponents to a .147 average.

With Brett Cecil out of action after tearing his calf earlier in the series, Price gives Toronto a short-term option to combat left-handed hitters in the late innings. A competent Marcus Stroman waits in the wings for a potential Game 5, so a lengthy relief stint from Price out of the bullpen might be the way to go.

Holland vs. Toronto Lineup

It’s been a long road, but Derek Holland will return to the place where he made a name for himself earlier in his career: October. 

Holland has missed the majority of the last two seasons with injuries, but he came back at the end of 2015 to earn a spot on the postseason roster. Those 10 starts were a mixed bag, as the left-hander posted a 4.91 ERA and allowed 11 homers.

But Holland has enjoyed success in the postseason. He boasts a 3.79 ERA in 35.2 October innings. In 2011, Holland made six appearances in the playoffs and recorded a 3.38 ERA in those outings.

Unfortunately for Holland, he’ll take on a Toronto lineup that crushes left-handed pitching. The Blue Jays ranked first in MLB in slugging percentage, OPS, isolated power and weighted runs created plus and second in batting average and on-base percentage against southpaws this season.

Holland has positive playoff experience to draw from, and he’ll need to do so against Toronto. On paper, there’s not a more unappealing matchup for the left-hander.

Defense Matters

Shaky defensive work already cost Toronto dearly in Game 2, but there will be even more chances for defensive miscues with Dickey and Holland pitching. 

Dickey posted one of the lowest strikeout-per-nine-inning totals of his career in 2015 while allowing an 81.5 percent contact rate. Holland had similar numbers, striking out less than 17 percent of the batters he faced and allowing an 83.9 percent contact rate. 

The Blue Jays were the better defensive team during the regular season, but both clubs have liabilities. When the lineups are released, don’t be surprised to see both managers think defense first with two contact-heavy pitchers on the mound. 

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Oct. 12. 

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The Los Angeles Dodgers evened the NLDS at 1-1 with a 5-2 victory over the New York Mets. L.A. scored four runs in the seventh inning for the comeback victory. After a questionable Chase Utley slide, Adrian Gonzalez delivered for the Dodgers with a two-RBI double to put the Dodgers ahead. 

Game 3 will take place in New York Sunday night at 8:37 p.m. ET. 

SCORE UPDATE: Dodgers 5 – Mets 2, FINAL

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The Houston Astros continued to prove they belong in October by taking Game 1 of the American League Division Series from the defending AL champion Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Thursday night. The Astros hit two homers in the victory, while Collin McHugh allowed just two earned runs in six innings of work. 

After finishing up Game 1 late, both teams will have a quick turnaround for Game 2 on Friday afternoon. With Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir set to take the mound, let’s look at a few keys that could decide the outcome.

Patience Against Kazmir 

With the crafty Kazmir on the mound, K.C. must stay patient in order to have success. 

Kansas City hitters ranked sixth in MLB with a 33.3 percent chase rate in 2015. Salvador Perez (43.3 percent), Alcides Escobar (36.2 percent), Lorenzo Cain (36.1 percent), Mike Moustakas (34 percent), Kendrys Morales (32.7 percent) and Eric Hosmer (32.7 percent) all finished in the top 70 in baseball in that category.  

If a starter attacks the Royals with a focused approach, Kansas City hitters can beat themselves. Lee Judge of the Kansas City Star touched on this weakness in a recent article: 

Royals hitters are not patient. If a pitcher gets strike one on a KC hitter, that hitter isn’t likely to take a called strike two. So if an Astros pitcher can locate a first-pitch borderline fastball or throw a get me-over-curve for a strike, after that Royals hitters will go into swing mode. Once the hitters are in swing mode, throw pitches just off the plate and Royals hitters will tend to chase those pitches.

Kazmir is the type of pitcher who can frustrate the aggressive Kansas City lineup. The southpaw teases hitters with an assortment of offerings, throwing pitches that look like strikes but wind up being balls. Kazmir has caused hitters to chase outside the zone 30 percent of the time in three straight seasons. 

The Royals are aggressive in nature, and that style of play has yielded success over the last two seasons. But if Kazmir can get ahead with his fastball, he can take advantage of Kansas City’s desire to come up with that big hit.

Keeping the Astros in the Yard

So far in these playoffs, Houston has done what it does best: hit the long ball.

Over the course of the season, Astros hitters ranked second in homers with 230. A whopping 11 players reached double figures, including Evan Gattis (27), Colby Rasmus (25), Luis Valbuena (25), Chris Carter (24) and Carlos Correa (22). 

With Cueto on the mound, Houston will have opportunities to drive the baseball. After posting a 2.62 ERA with the Cincinnati Reds, the right-hander’s ERA has ballooned to a 4.76 mark. Cueto allowed 10 homers in just 81.1 innings for the Royals. 

Houston is capable of going deep at any spot in the lineup, but home runs seem to mean more to the young roster. For momentum’s sake, Cueto must make the strikeout-prone Astros play station-to-station baseball in order to score runs.

If he can keep Houston in the ballpark, there are strikeouts to be had throughout the lineup that can stifle potential rallies.

Stay out of the Kansas City Bullpen 

The Royals have one of the deepest rosters in MLB, but their bullpen is undoubtedly their biggest weapon. 

Last October, K.C. stormed to the postseason in large part because nobody could hit its late-inning options. That bullpen excelled again during the regular season, as Kansas City ranked second in MLB with a 2.72 ERA. 

Even without closer Greg Holland, Houston doesn’t want to have to come back against Kansas City’s bullpen. Wade Davis (0.94 ERA, 10.43 K/9) and Kelvin Herrera (2.71 ERA) are just as nasty as they were a season ago, while Ryan Madson (2.13 ERA) has finally returned to his previous best after multiple injuries.

Kansas City’s one glaring weakness is its starting pitching. Royals starters posted a 4.34 ERA in 2015, which was the worst total among playoff teams. If Houston can get on the board early once again in Game 2, it’ll go a long way toward cementing a 2-0 lead. 

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Oct. 9. 

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After 162 games, the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will meet in a National League Division Series comprised of NL Central foes.

On paper, both the Cardinals and Cubs have what it takes to advance to the National League Championship Series. Over the next few slides, we’ll break down the upcoming series position by position to try to determine which team has the upper hand. 

Both rosters are loaded with pitching talent. The Cardinals achieved the best record in baseball behind a starting rotation that posted the lowest ERA in MLB and a bullpen full of reliable arms. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta dominated like we’ve never seen before in the second half to push the Cubs into the postseason. 

Offensively, the Cubs have the advantage in the infield with the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Addison Russell manning their positions. In the outfield, St. Louis has multiple difference-makers in Jason Heyward, Matt Holliday, Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty. 

Before Game 1 on Friday, let’s talk about the series in the comments section below. Which positions do you think your team has an advantage in? Who are the most important players in the series? What will ultimately prove to be the deciding factor? 

Picking between these two teams was no easy task. Regardless of your allegiance, the following slideshow should at least give you a better idea of how each team stacks up with the other. 

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In the second of MLB’s Wild Card Games, the Chicago Cubs will face the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night for the right to move on to meet the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.

Both teams will trot out big-time starters in Jake Arrieta and Gerrit Cole. A premier pitching matchup is receiving plenty of publicity, but what are some other factors that will determine the outcome of such a pivotal game?

After taking a look at both rosters, we’ve identified a few keys to the do-or-die elimination game. 

Small ball and Arrieta 

It’s no secret that Arrieta put together one of the all-time great seasons in 2015. The likely NL Cy Young winner was even better in the second half, posting a 0.75 ERA in 107.1 innings. Against Pittsburgh, he went 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA, 0.639 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 36 innings of work.

Needless to say, the Pirates have their work cut out for them. Pittsburgh can’t sit around and wait for a three-run homer, which is why manager Clint Hurdle alluded to playing small ball against the talented right-hander in a recent interview.  

“Without saying so directly, Hurdle implied that small ball – bunts, moving runners, hit-and-runs – might work better against the tough right-hander,” said Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

The Pirates have the personnel to pull off such a game plan. Pittsburgh ranked seventh in MLB with 140 infield hits, with Starling Marte finishing second with 34. The Pirates weren’t as successful bunting for base hits, but Gregory Polanco did manage to reach base six times. 

Kris Bryant made 17 errors on the season, so don’t be surprised to see Marte, Polanco, Josh Harrison and even Andrew McCutchen test him if Arrieta‘s stuff is on point. 

Forgot about Cole? 

Arrieta has been the talk of MLB, and rightfully so, but it’s not as if the Pirates won’t counter with an elite starter of their own. 

Cole put together a career year in 2015, posting a 2.60 ERA in over 200 innings. The right-hander has also enjoyed success against the projected Cubs lineup during his career: 

Castro’s torrid September combined with an impressive sample size against Cole should give him the nod over Javier Baez. Anthony Rizzo and Miguel Montero have also had some success against the 25-year-old. 

However, the Cubs led MLB in strikeout percentage this season. Cole is capable of racking up the K’s if his stuff is right, which bodes well against a team of young free-swingers. Arrieta will be tough, but Cole should be able to take advantage of Chicago’s lack of contact. 

Who has the edge defensively? 

We touched on Bryant above, but defense could ultimately decide this game. With Arrieta and Cole going, any extra bases will be much appreciated.

During 2015, both the Cubs and Pirates excelled defensively. Chicago ranked 11th in MLB in defensive runs saved with 10, while the Pirates were 12th with seven. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo are extremely sure-handed, while Pittsburgh’s outfield trio combined to save 28 runs.

There are still some holes to be found for both teams. For Pittsburgh, Pedro Alvarez (-12) is a liability if he’s included in the lineup. Dexter Fowler (-12 DRS), Starlin Castro (-4 DRS) and Kyle Schwarber (-3 DRS as on OF) can also be unreliable defenders.

Schwarber is particularly concerning, considering he’s played just 14 innings in right field in his career.

“But you know what, he’s played the outfield well [in both spots],” manager Joe Maddon told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times regarding Schwarber‘s recent performance in right. “He’s played well out there. He played well behind the plate. The whole point is just to maximize what we’re able to do at any one particular moment. And I don’t want to just throw guys into situations without giving them some kind of work in advance of the moment.”

Maddon has options. He can put Javier Baez at third and place the more athletic Bryant in left so Schwarber can handle the less treacherous right field at PNC Park. No matter the lineup, both teams must be sound defensively when runs figure to be at a premium. 

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Oct. 6. 

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The Houston Astros and New York Yankees will kick off the 2015 MLB postseason with the American League Wild Card Game Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. 

In a one-game, do-or-die contest, the little details are magnified. Let’s identify a handful of keys for each team in its pursuit of victory. After the dust settles, any of these storylines are likely to be determining factors in which team advances on to the ALDS. 

Keuchel‘s Road Woes

Dallas Keuchel may very well win the AL Cy Young after the season, but he hasn’t been nearly as dominant on the road as he has at Minute Maid Park:

As shown above, Keuchel‘s ERA is over two full runs higher as a visitor. There are also significant drop-offs in strikeout and ground-ball rate, while hitters are generating hard contact more frequently. 

Considering how Minute Maid Park usually behooves hitters, Keuchel‘s dominance at home is tough to comprehend. 

“It’s honestly something I never really expected because this is a so-called hitter’s park, with the dimensions and everything,” Keuchel told ESPN.com. “It feels like I am at home home here this year. I have steadily improved over the years.”

The Yankees aren’t a noticeably different offensive team at Yankee Stadium—New York has an OPS of .759 at home, .729 on the road—but how Keuchel looks in the first few innings will be something to keep an eye on.

Oliver Perez vs. Yankees Lefties 

Houston’s return to the postseason in 2015 is due to many factors, but none have been as instrumental as an improved bullpen.

After ranking dead last with a 4.80 ERA last season, the Astros finished sixth with a 3.27 ERA. Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, Chad Qualls and Will Harris give the Astros plenty of right-handed options, but Houston relies heavily on veteran Oliver Perez to handle left-handed hitters.

Against the left-handed-heavy Yankees, Perez will be crucial if the game is close in the later innings. Don’t let his 4.17 ERA fool you — Perez still dominates lefties: 

• Against lefties in 2015: .194/.242/.290, 33.3 K percentage, 16.7 hard contact percentage
• Against righties in 2015: .296/.410/.457, 21.4 K percentage, 30.2 hard contact percentage 

Perez could be used against Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner at the top of the lineup or to turn around Carlos Beltran before facing Brian McCann and Greg Bird. With Keuchel on the mound and Perez looming as a late-inning threat, expect Girardi to stagger his lineup more than he would for a regular-season game.

Can the Yankees Shut Down Houston’s Running Game?

The Astros ranked second in MLB in homers this season and finished third in stolen bases. Houston’s success is often contingent on the long ball, but if runners can reach base, manager A.J. Hinch won’t hesitate to put them in motion. 

Brian McCann has had troubles in the past throwing out baserunners, but he’s been much better as a Yankee. His two highest caught-stealing percentages have come in the Bronx, including a 36 percent rate this season. 

Adding to that encouraging stat is Masahiro Tanaka’s ability to hold runners to modest leads. The right-hander allowed just one stolen base all season and ranked third in MLB in pickoff percentage. 

Game 163 isn’t the time to alter your identity if you’re Houston, but the Yankees have the right battery in place to slow down a potent running game. 

Experience Over Youth?

Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn’t, but the Yankees will have a substantial advantage in terms of postseason experience. 

Take each team’s starting lineup from the final game of the season (Note: we added Evan Gattis, as he’s likely to DH but didn’t in Houston’s final game due to National League rules):

Even for the biggest sabermetric advocates that scoff at things like team chemistry and clutch hitting, a 209-25 discrepancy in postseason games has to be an advantage for the Yankees. Four probable starters have more experience in October by themselves than the entire Astros starting lineup.

October baseball in Yankee Stadium isn’t just another game. The Yankees will be able to draw from theirs, while the Astros will hope their youthful exuberance blinds them from the magnitude of the moment.  

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