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Baseball is finally back with players preparing for the season, but a whole host of teams still have plenty of work to do.

A number of quality free agents remain available for squads hoping to improve before Opening Day in April. For those who can’t find the right fit on the open market, there are also plenty of trade possibilities across the league.

Here are the latest rumors to watch out for heading into spring training.

Rangers Looking for Outfielders

Josh Hamilton has spent much of his career on the disabled list, and it seems like it will be a challenge to avoid it yet again. He had offseason knee surgery and is now feeling discomfort, as he told T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. 

“It was good for about two-and-a-half weeks,” Hamilton said of his knee. “But it has started to creep back a little bit, so we’ll see how it responds to being active every day.”

If he is forced to miss time, the Texas Rangers need to be ready with some alternatives in the outfield. As JP Morosi of Fox Sports reported, they are keeping tabs on potential options:

Although sources say the Rangers aren’t close to adding a full-time left fielder, they’re nonetheless keeping tabs on the trade market for New York Mets outfielder Alejandro De Aza, as well as maintaining contact with free agents David Murphy and Will Venable, both of whom have prior experience with the team.

Alejandro De Aza might be the most intriguing option after just signing with the New York Mets this offseason. It’s certainly rare for a player to sign with a new team before being immediately traded, and if it does happen before June 15, that player has to agree to the move. With that said, the situation is not usual.

The Mets surprisingly re-signed Yoenis Cespedes late in the offseason, resulting in a logjam in the outfield. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that De Aza “almost certainly would consent to a deal if he was projected to receive minimal playing time with New York, damaging his future value.”

This type of deal would actually work out for all parties while giving the Rangers some insurance.

Mets Need Bullpen Help

While the Mets might have too many players in the outfield, they still need some help in the bullpen. When Jenrry Mejia received a lifetime ban for a third failed drug test, it exacerbated a lack of pitching depth.

Although Mejia was expected to miss time because of his prior ban, the former closer could have made a valuable contribution toward the end of the year if all had gone to plan. That will no longer be the case, and the team is now forced to look for more options.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported the team is currently searching for bullpen help:

ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin added that a trade is more likely than a free-agent signing at this stage:

Outside of Jeurys Familia at closer, there are few trustworthy options for New York to use late in games this season. Last year’s setup man, Tyler Clippard, left in free agency, and the rest of the unit lacks too much big-game experience. Considering the team already has one of the top rotations in baseball, however, any upgrades could make this squad difficult to score against.

James Shields on the Move?

Before the start of last season, James Shields signed a four-year deal with a fifth-year team option. According to Baseball-Reference.com, he only made $10 million last season, but that will jump to $21 million for each of the next three years. 

The problem is his play does not live up to this salary.

Shields reached 200 innings for the ninth straight year, although his ERA+ of 93 implied he was actually below average on the mound. His walks were way up (81), and he wasn’t able to take advantage of spending his home games in a great pitcher’s park.

To make matters worse, ESPN’s Jim Bowden told Darren Smith of Mighty 1090AM that it’s unlikely Shields uses his chance to opt out of his current deal:

On the plus side for the San Diego Padres, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe believes they could deal the ace at the trade deadline:

The feeling among a few executives is that Shields could become a trade deadline option. The Padres weren’t able to move him this offseason because teams were scared by the number of home runs he allows, even at spacious Petco Park. But Shields, who pitched 200 innings for the ninth straight year, was by no means a disaster, and if he starts well, his experience will be attractive to contenders.

A move could happen even before that with the Baltimore Orioles inquiring about both Shields and Andrew Cashner, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN. He explained the holdup was second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who is unavailable for trades.

The good news for the Padres is there is some interest that could potentially get them out of this contract.

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The 2015 MLB offseason is just getting started, but already a number of teams are circling the free agents they want and doing what they can to pursue them.

This year’s class is littered with high-profile players, especially with starting pitching, which could lead to a lot of different storylines over the course of the winter. Some pursuits will drag out over a few months, while others could wrap up in the first week of free agency.

A lot is still left to be decided, but here is a look at a few potential fits based on early rumors.

David Price to the Red Sox

This is a loaded class of free-agent pitchers, including Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and others, but David Price could be the top option available. The former Cy Young Award winner had arguably the best season of his career in 2015, finishing with an AL-best 2.45 ERA and 18 wins between the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays.

In 11 starts with Toronto, the lefty went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 74.1 innings.

That is exactly the type of pitcher the Boston Red Sox could be looking to add this winter. According to Sean McAdam of CSN New England, general manager Dave Dombrowski described the need for an ace:

I don’t think the back end of our rotation is going to be the difficult part. When I say ‘back end,’ I mean (Nos.) 3-4-5 — Porcello, Miley, Kelly. We saw Owens, he pitched well. We had Rodriguez and he can take that step forward at any point. 

So I don’t think it’s the depth, as much as you’re looking for that one guy who can maybe be your horse, if you can get him.

Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald noted the belief is that Price will be the answer to this problem:

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski hasn’t been shy about saying he plans to land an ace this winter. And assuming he’s able to talk principal owner John Henry into relaxing his aversion to long-term contracts for pitchers in their 30s, the widespread belief within the industry is Dombrowski will make a strong push for free agent David Price. 

Because the Price trade happened midseason, the Tigers can’t give a qualifying offer, and therefore a team that signs him won’t have to give up a draft pick. This makes the elite pitcher even more valuable.

As a five-time All-Star who has proved his ability to succeed in the AL East, Price would be right at home with the Red Sox and could be a missing piece for the team to get back into the playoffs next season. The cost will be great, but it might be worth it for this big-market franchise.

Daniel Murphy to the Baltimore Orioles

No player improved his stock in October more than Daniel Murphy. The New York Mets infielder was a man possessed during first two rounds of the playoffs, hitting .333 in the National League Division Series, .529 in the National League Championship Series and a combined seven home runs in nine games.

He didn’t hit as well in the World Series, but the 30-year-old hitter showed what he is capable of when things are going right. His value also increases with the ability to play multiple positions within the infield.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted that while the Mets aren’t guaranteed to re-sign him, they are likely to provide a qualifying offer:

This will likely limit the teams interested in signing Murphy, but the Baltimore Orioles are one squad that “like him and could enter the bidding over the winter,” according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. 

Although Murphy has never been much of a power hitter, this season’s career high of 14 home runs and his surge in the playoffs showed he definitely has that ability. Putting him in a hitter-friendly park like Camden Yards, especially for lefties, could allow him to reach his potential.

There are certainly issues for him with a lack of defensive range and a low on-base percentage, but an American League team like this would be a perfect fit.

Jeff Samardzija to the Yankees

The New York Yankees want to add pitching, although it doesn’t seem like they will enter the race for the biggest names on the market. Instead, they might go after a mid-tier reclamation project to fill the position.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, “a Yankees person says he’s heard the name Jeff Samardzija as a pitching possibility.”

Jeff Samardzija is coming off an awful year with the Chicago White Sox in which he posted a 4.96 ERA while allowing the most hits, earned runs and home runs in the American League.

On the other hand, he did still pitch 214 innings, topping 200 for the third year in a row. He also has shown in the past he could be an elite starter. You only have to look back to 2014, when he totaled a 2.99 ERA and 1.065 WHIP, to prove his upside.

The problem is the location might not be a great fit, as noted by ESPN’s Buster Olney:

Using FanGraphs, Olney noted Samardzija had the 11th-lowest ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio in the majors this past season, and a smaller park like Yankee Stadium might lead to more home runs and fewer outs. Still, that could all be part of his down year, and the team could be betting on a brighter future.

While this signing would represent a big risk, it would also provide a lot of upside for a relatively cheap cost.

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The Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets to win the 2015 World Series, which means these two teams can now join the rest of the league in figuring out their future plans.

While the Royals might take a little bit of time to celebrate, the reality is the offseason has officially started. With 29 teams looking to improve upon their performance from this past season, Kansas City doesn’t have a lot of time to rest on its laurels. 

At the same time, the Mets have a young team with many returning players but still have a lot of question marks going forward.

Here is a look at the biggest questions each World Series team faces in the upcoming winter.

New York Mets

1. Can Mets keep middle-of-the-order hitters?

Yoenis Cespedes came to the Mets at the trade deadline and exceeded all expectations. In 57 games, he hit 17 home runs with 44 RBI and posted a .941 OPS. He also helped jump-start what was a stagnant offense at the time into a legitimate playoff contender.

Daniel Murphy has been with the team his entire career, although his best was saved for the very end when he hit seven postseason home runs while earning MVP of the National League Championship Series. He didn’t have a great World Series, but he still was a major reason the team got to that point in the first place.

Despite these two key hitters in the lineup, Marc Carig of Newsday thinks they will each end up elsewhere:

ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin recently reported New York is only going to “modestly pursue” the Cuban outfielder and likely won’t match his six-year asking price.

Meanwhile, Murphy will likely be too expensive to keep as well when you consider the Mets have cheaper alternatives in Wilmer Flores and Dilson Herrera currently in the system.

Both young players would also represent defensive upgrades over Murphy at second base. Not only did the veteran make costly mistakes in the World Series, but Baseball-Reference.com rated him as a below-replacement-level infielder in each of the past four seasons.

After the Game 5 loss, Murphy was grateful to the organization but still didn’t seem like someone planning on staying:

These players were important at the plate this past season but don’t necessarily fit into future plans.

2. How will the team fix the bullpen?

Looking back at this World Series, it will be remembered for the Royals’ ability to score late.

Closer Jeurys Familia set a major league record with three blown saves in the series, although he didn’t allow a hit in two of them. The rest of the bullpen could barely be trusted to pitch most games, with starters Bartolo Colon and Jonathan Niese getting a lot of work in the playoffs. 

Ron Darling discussed this being a smart move with John Harper of the New York Daily News:

Still, this strategy is difficult to trust in big moments and certainly won’t be available for the duration of the regular season. The Mets need to add a few pitchers they can trust in the late innings before getting to Familia. This includes a lefty specialist, which was missing from the organization after Jerry Blevins broke his arm early on.

After seeing how valuable the bullpen was to Kansas City, you can be certain the Mets and other teams will start being more aggressive looking for these types of assets.

Kansas City Royals

1. Will Alex Gordon find more money elsewhere?

No matter what happens this offseason, Alex Gordon will be remembered fondly in Royals history thanks to this huge home run in Game 1:

This shot tied the game in the ninth inning and gave Kansas City a chance to win the opening game of the World Series. Despite hitting out of the No. 8 hole, he showed just how valuable he could be at the plate.

Of course, Gordon has been an elite player for some time. The three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove player is a consistent producer who helps the team win in many ways. Although injuries limited him to just 104 games this season, he did finish 12th in the MVP race in 2014.

The outfielder is expected to decline his $12.5 million player option, and then, as ESPN’s Jim Bowden reported, the Royals will “make it a priority” to re-sign both Gordon and Ben Zobrist. That said, there is likely going to be a big market for a five-tool player who now has a ring.

Even at 31 years old, Gordon should get a nice contract this offseason. The question is whether that is in Kansas City or somewhere else.

2. What free-agent pitchers might be available?

One of the only question marks heading into the World Series for the Royals was their starting pitching. Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto had been terrible in their postseason careers, while Yordano Ventura and Chris Young were extremely hit-or-miss. 

Despite these issues, all four players came through as needed in the final round, especially Cueto with his complete-game win in Game 2.

The problem is the ace likely won’t be back next season and will need to be replaced.

“The Royals already know they will not be trying to retain Johnny Cueto,” Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported. “They expect his free-agent price tag to go beyond their comfort level and, also, they have seen enough of his inconsistency to be worried about trying to keep him long term anyway.”

David Price and Jordan Zimmermann are also on the market, although Kansas City seems unlikely to get to that cost, either.

Instead, the Royals might continue to go after the less-heralded players who could provide much value. Volquez was a relative steal last offseason, and the team might be able to find a similar player in John Lackey, Mike Leake or others.

After seemingly every move has worked out for this organization in recent years, the front office will try to keep it going with some sleeper picks on the free-agent market.

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The Kansas City Royals have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series, but the New York Mets will get a chance to turn things around with three games in a row at home.

After sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, the Mets have seen their bats go cold and their young pitchers struggle through the first two games. Based on the way the Royals have played so far, this could lead to a sweep if things don’t change in a hurry.

Still, the Mets were 49-32 at Citi Field this season and should get a momentum boost from their return and the home fans. You can be certain that after getting this far they won’t just give up now.

That could lead to an exciting Game 3 of the World Series.

World Series Game 3

When: Friday, Oct. 30

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

Where: Citi Field, Queens, New York

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Probable Pitchers: Yordano Ventura (Royals) vs. Noah Syndergaard (Mets)

Preview

The Mets’ biggest strength during the season and in the playoffs has been the depth of their rotation. While other teams might have an ace they can count on followed by mediocre starters, this team can send out a top pitcher every night.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer, who has worked as an analyst during the playoffs, discussed the Mets starters favorably:

After Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom failed to get the job done, it’s now Noah Syndergaard‘s turn. The rookie has looked good all season with a 3.24 ERA, which has improved to 2.77 in three postseason appearances (two starts). Considering he also has a 7-2 record with a 2.46 ERA at home this season, there is reason for the Mets to be excited about another shutdown performance.

The problem is that Syndergaard‘s strength—a fastball that reaches 100 mph with regularity—doesn’t seem to faze the Royals.

Kansas City has an incredibly deep lineup that features contact hitters at every spot of the batting order. No matter what you throw at them, the Royals find a way to get the bat on the ball and wait for good things to happen.

Alec Dopp of Gammons Daily provided a look at what the Royals have done against the other Mets starters in this series:

Both managers had similar thoughts after Game 2:

It might sound simple, but putting the ball in play is enough to start rallies and win games. With the Mets infielders lacking range defensively, the balls are going to find more holes than usual.

Syndergaard doesn’t have as good of secondary stuff as Harvey and deGrom, which doesn’t bode well for his chances of success in Game 3.

On the other side, Yordano Ventura has pitched just well enough to help his team win in each of his last three starts. He hasn’t completed six innings yet in the postseason, but he also hasn’t given up more than three runs in any appearance. With a well-rested bullpen that can be dominant at times, this should be enough.

The Mets offense hasn’t really shown up as expected after the long layoff from the NLCS. The red-hot Daniel Murphy is just 2-for-9 with no extra-base hits in two games, while the team as a whole is batting just .165, thanks mostly to the great work of Johnny Cueto.

If this lineup can’t get to Ventura early, the trio of Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and Wade Davis will do the rest and prevent any chance of comeback.

The New York fans will be excited for their first World Series home game since 2000, but the excitement will wear off quickly as the Royals take Game 3.

Prediction: Royals 4, Mets 2

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While two teams spend the next week battling for the 2015 World Series title, 28 other organizations are focused on finding ways to get to that point next season.

The good news for those looking to improve their rosters is the upcoming class of free agents features a bunch of impact players who can instantly turn around fortunes. The challenge will be getting those stars to sign with plenty other competition for their services.

There is a lot of time for negotiations, and a lot can change over the next few weeks and months. But here is an early look at some top free agents and the latest buzz surrounding them.

David Price, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

He was a key cog for the Toronto Blue Jays’ surge to the postseason, but the future is unclear for David Price. General manager Alex Anthopoulos, who acquired the ace at the trade deadline, said he wants to keep him north of the border:

However, Anthopoulos could be departing Toronto, with ESPN‘s Buster Olney reporting he has the GM has turned down an extension with the club.

While both sides have said the right things, it seems the chances of Price actually staying in Toronto are not high, at least according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

“No matter how many times someone with the Blue Jays says David price may return, sorry, I’m having a hard time seeing Price and the Jays getting back together,” Heyman wrote. “The smart money has the Cubs and Dodgers as the most likely teams for Price.”

ESPN Insider Jim Bowden noted the Los Angeles Dodgers would be interested in signing either Price or Jordan Zimmermann if Zack Greinke were to opt out of his current contract. Meanwhile, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago also predicted the Chicago Cubs will be interested in adding another top-level pitcher this offseason.

There will likely be a lot of interested teams in Price after he posted a league-leading 2.45 ERA this season. Playoff question marks aside, he is a perennial Cy Young Award candidate who eats up innings and strikes out a ton of batters.

With big-market teams like Chicago and Los Angeles in a bidding war, Price could end up with a huge payday.

Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles were hoping Matt Wieters would be behind the plate with the team for 15-20 years, but it seems like he is now on his way out after six.

Although the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner has obviously shown in the past he can be an elite backstop, he missed about a year with Tommy John surgery and only played in 75 games this season. In that time, he only hit .267 with eight home runs with a caught-stealing rate that was below league average, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Despite the down year, there is still interest from around the league. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, “The Braves, Dodgers, Rays, Astros and Mariners could bid for Wieters.”

One of the big questions will be whether the Orioles want to give him a qualifying offer (one year for $15.8 million) and whether Wieters will accept it. Steve Melewski of MASN broke down why he might consider it:

Some believe there is no way that Wieters – a Scott Boras client – would accept a qualifying offer. No player has yet accepted one. But Wieters could be a unique case. If he took the offer, he could then use the 2016 season to re-establish himself as a top catcher and, if he can do that, he would hit the market after next year with potentially much more bargaining power than he has right now.

Most players will choose more guaranteed money and future pay over a one-year risk, but this makes a lot of sense for Wieters as he tries to get back to his old form. At least he knows there is interest on the open market if he does test the waters.

Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Chicago White Sox

Another player looking to bounce back from a bad year is Jeff Samardzija. The former Cubs ace came to the Chicago White Sox on a one-year deal that turned out to be a disaster.

Samardzija finished the season 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA, allowing the most hits, earned runs and home runs in the American League. Despite these struggles, he still has interest from teams that don’t want to spend big on a pitcher. Surprisingly, this includes the New York Yankees.

According to Heyman, “The Yankees are interested in a right-handed bat, middle-relief help and perhaps one starter. Jeff Samardzija could be that guy, though apparently not Price, Johnny Cueto or Greinke. They aren’t high at the moment on $200 million deals for pitchers.”

New York isn’t known for being thrifty on the free-agent market, but this could make a lot of sense as a low-risk, high-reward deal for a team already spending money in other places.

For all of his problems in 2015, Samardzija did pitch 214 innings, marking the third year in a row he reached 210 for a season. He also had two complete-game shutouts and has shown plenty of brilliance throughout his early career.

The potential for a big season is there, with a worst case being a solid end-of-the-rotation starter who gives a team a lot of innings. The Yankees—or any team—would be smart to sign him at the right price.

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Playoff baseball often comes down to pitching, which means both teams in the World Series will hope for a big performance from their starters in Game 1.

The Kansas City Royals waited until the last minute to announce Tuesday’s starter, but it will be veteran Edinson Volquez. He will battle Matt Harvey of the New York Mets in the important first game of the best-of-seven series. There are a lot of factors at play, but the performances of these two men could make a huge difference in the first contest of the series.

With that in mind, here is a look at what to expect from each pitcher in Game 1.

Edinson Volquez, Royals

While he did have one shutdown performance against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series, Volquez has not been great in his postseason career. In five starts, he has a 1-4 record with a 6.56 ERA, including 17 walks in 23.1 innings.

He explained to reporters that the key is to stay mentally composed, via Thomas Harding of MLB.com:

It’s another game. I don’t have to do anything different than what I’ve been doing. I’ve got to stay focused in what I’m doing, especially this game, because this is a World Series game. You don’t have too many chances to make a lot of mistakes in those games. So I’ve got to stay under control and pitch my game.

One thing he does have going for him is the extended layoff the Mets have had since last playing. Thanks to their four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs, they will go six days between games. This is a major gap for players who haven’t gone this long without seeing live pitching since March.

Volquez does have obvious talent, and while New York should be able to get some runs on the board, it won’t have the consistent hitting it has shown throughout the playoffs to this point. As long as the walks don’t get out of control, the Royals starter should at least be able to keep his team in the game.

With a dominant bullpen behind him, just going five or six innings should be more than enough for the 32-year-old starter.

Prediction: 5 innings, 3 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

Matt Harvey, Mets

Most of the discussion surrounding Harvey this season has been what has happened off the field. Agent Scott Boras wanted to shut him down due to an innings limit. He missed a postseason workout while stuck in traffic.

There weren’t many complaints about his actual pitching, however. Harvey finished the year ranked sixth in the National League with a 2.71 ERA and seventh with a 1.02 WHIP. Although he was sometimes overshadowed by teammate Jacob deGrom, the 26-year-old pitcher has outstanding stuff and can shut down any lineup.

With a fastball that can reach the upper 90s and breaking balls he can locate for strikes, Harvey was able to keep the Cubs lineup in check for 7.2 innings, allowing just two runs in his most recent start.

The problem is the Royals have a much more experienced lineup than the Cubs with a better approach at the plate. As Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports notes, they know how to handle hard pitching:

Kansas City might not have one terrifying hitter in the middle of the order, but it has a deep lineup full of hitters who can all get the ball in play. Even if Harvey is at his best, this is a batting order that could scratch a few runs across with multiple singles in a row and eventually get to the talented pitcher.

Look for him to have a great start to the day before giving up a few runs at the end of his outing.

Prediction: 6.2 innings, 3 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

Game Prediction

Harvey has the clear edge in this matchup when it comes to pure ability. However, there are multiple other factors at play, most notably the Royals bullpen and the offense’s knack for scoring late.

Mets manager Terry Collins knows the opposing bullpen combination of Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and Wade Davis could be tough to beat late in games:

The problem is even if this plan works out, a close lead also isn’t safe. This is more of an issue with the Mets lacking faith in setup men Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed. If Harvey can’t go seven or eight innings, the bridge to closer Jeurys Familia will feature plenty of drama.

New York has the hitters to get an early lead, but the Royals will eventually get to Harvey and tie up the game. In a battle of bullpens, the edge will go to Kansas City, and the home team will pull out a Game 1 win.

Prediction: Royals 4, Mets 3

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This might not have been the World Series matchup everyone was expecting, but the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals should create an interesting series.

The Royals entered the playoffs with the best record in the American League, although the Toronto Blue Jays offense and the Houston Astros’ young talent led many to predict an upset. Meanwhile, the Mets pulled off the surprise, winning the National League pennant despite having the league’s fifth-best record during the regular season.

Of course, none of that matters heading into the upcoming best-of-seven series. It will all start with both sides trying to get the edge in Tuesday’s all-important Game 1.

Game 1 Info

When: Tuesday, Oct. 27

Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Probable Pitchers: Matt Harvey (Mets) vs. Edinson Volquez (Royals)

Preview

The Mets were dominant in their National League Championship Series sweep of the Chicago Cubs, winning all four games without trailing for a moment. While the focus has been on the team’s young pitching, the hitting has been just as impressive.

Daniel Murphy has earned all of the headlines in the postseason thanks to his .421 batting average and seven home runs in nine games. Meanwhile, Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes have played well, too, with seven RBI apiece in the same stretch. David Wright, Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud have also showed they are capable of picking up big hits.

The problem is that sweeps don’t always lead to success in the next round, as MLB Stat of the Day noted:

As hot as Murphy and the rest of the Mets hitters have been in the playoffs, a six-day break is not going to help them sustain their strong play.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports looked at a positive side of the long layoff:

Of course, nine days off for Matt Harvey might be too long for him to stay in a rhythm, as well. The 26-year-old pitcher was excellent against the Cubs, allowing just two runs in 7.2 innings, but a long layoff and a road game in a hostile atmosphere could make things tougher.

Opposing starter Edinson Volquez has been inconsistent in the playoffs, giving up five runs against the Blue Jays in his most recent start after tossing six shutout innings in Game 1. Throughout his career, the 32-year-old veteran is 1-4 with a 6.56 ERA in the postseason.

One of the big differences, however, is that Volquez does not need to go deep into the game to be effective. If he throws five solid innings, the bullpen—led by Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and especially Wade Davis—can take care of business.

This mindset also helps the Royals hitters, who know they can come from behind late. Alcides Escobar and Ben Zobrist were excellent in the American League Championship Series, but Kansas City will trot out a deep lineup featuring quality hitters such as Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and others who are all capable of coming through with an RBI when the opportunity presents itself.

Manager Ned Yost discussed his confidence going into the series, which stems from the disappointment of last year’s heartbreaking World Series loss, per Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:

Last year, we hadn’t been there – and we were one historic performance from Madison Bumgarner away from winning the World Series. Now, the experience definitely helps us a little bit on our side because we’ve been there before, we know what it’s like. The confidence that these guys have, and our abilities, they knew from the first day of spring training that we’d be back here, and here we are.

Nerves will not be a problem for the Royals, and you can expect them to keep fighting inning after inning.

Look for the Mets to build an early lead in Game 1 against Volquez before surrendering a few runs in the middle innings. It will be a long series, but the home team will come away with the opening victory.

Prediction: Royals win 4-3.

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The National League Championship Series has been all about the New York Mets to this point, but the Chicago Cubs aren’t going to let this one get away from them that easily.

While the Mets took care of business at home to grab a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, the Cubs now get a chance to utilize some home cooking as the teams travel to Wrigley Field. Chicago is 2-0 at home this postseason, and fans hoping to see the organization’s first World Series berth since 1945 will certainly be loud.

Game 3 will either give the Cubs a chance to get right back in the series or fall behind a devastating 3-0. This battle won’t necessarily decide the series, but it will be a major turning point in either direction.

Here is a look at what you need to know to help you follow along in this important game.

NLCS Game 3

Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago

When: Tuesday, Oct. 20

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

TV: TBS

Live Stream: TBS.com

Probable Pitchers: Jacob deGrom (Mets) vs. Kyle Hendricks (Cubs)

The Cubs will hope their offense, which carried them to 97 wins this season, will pick up again at home. Buster Olney of ESPN broke down the numbers, showing the team’s struggles in the past two games compared to earlier in the playoffs:

One of the biggest culprits has been Anthony Rizzo, a legitimate MVP candidate who had 31 home runs and 101 RBI during the regular season. In the playoffs, the first baseman is batting only .167, including just 1-for-6 in the NLCS.

Kyle Schwarber did have one long hit in Game 1, but that was his only hit in eight at-bats to go with four strikeouts. While this is obviously a small sample size, the Cubs do need major improvement from their stars to start winning.

On the plus side, the return to Wrigley Field could do wonders for transforming the offense. The Cubs scored 14 runs in two games at home this postseason, compared to just 13 in five combined games on the road.

The problem is doing it against Jacob deGrom, who is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts this postseason. After shutting down the Los Angeles Dodgers for seven scoreless innings in Game 1, he needed to grind his way without his best stuff in Game 5, yet he ended up with six innings of two-run ball.

Marc Carig of Newsday was more impressed by the latter performance:

Fully rested going into Game 3, deGrom should come through with yet another dominant showing.

Meanwhile, Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks couldn’t even get through five innings in his only playoff start this season. While he was better at home throughout the year (3.38 ERA), the young pitcher was wildly inconsistent throughout the season and allowed four or more runs on 10 different occasions.

He could also struggle to contain Daniel Murphy, who has now homered in four games in a row against some of the best pitching in baseball.

“Very rarely do you see somebody get this hot against average pitching,” teammate David Wright said after Sunday’s game, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “Throw in that it’s Kershaw, Greinke twice each, Lester, Arrieta—I mean, that’s impressive. He’s about as locked in as I’ve seen a hitter, and he’s carried that out now for seven games. That’s quite a feat.”

The rest of the lineup hasn’t quite been as hot, but Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes have had big hits this postseason, and the rest of the lineup is more than capable of coming through in key moments.

Although Chicago has the better offense from top to bottom, it is facing a much tougher matchup in Game 3 and will be limited once again. This game won’t necessarily clinch the series, but the Mets will be in good shape after earning a road win.

Prediction: Mets 5, Cubs 3

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for more year-round sports analysis. 

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The two lovable losers of baseball will face off with a chance to go to the World Series as the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs battle in the National League Championship Series.

While both teams entered the year with promising young talent, few actually believed either would reach this stage so soon. But they both kept winning in the regular season and reached the playoffs, where they pulled off impressive upsets in the division series.

Many have come to expect some form of choking from both organizations, but one of them will have to advance in what should be an exciting series from start to finish.

NLCS Coverage Guide

Matchup: New York Mets (90-72) vs. Chicago Cubs (97-65)

Series Odds (via Oddschecker): Cubs (-140), Mets (+120)

TV Coverage: TBS

Live Stream: TBS.com

Preview

Early in the season, trade speculation swirled around the Cubs and Mets, as they were the perfect match for each other. Chicago had an abundance of young hitters, while New York had a seemingly endless supply of pitchers.

They never made a deal, though, which makes those two factors one of the big storylines of this series.

The Mets come into Game 1 with truly impressive depth in the rotation. Jacob deGrom stepped up as a true ace in the NLDS, putting up great numbers even when he didn’t necessarily have his best stuff:

Of course, the most impressive part is the fact that he earned wins in games against Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. As good as Jake Arrieta has been in the second half of the season, deGrom clearly won’t fear the Cy Young contender this time around.

Beyond that, the Mets have Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Game 1 starter Matt Harvey, all of whom can throw in the upper 90s with deadly breaking stuff. 

“They have power pitching across the board,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the Mets, via Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com.

Arrieta and Jon Lester form a nice 1-2 punch, but the ability to bring out a new ace-level starter every night gives the Mets an advantage in this area.

On the other hand, the battle of the lineups is a clear win for the Cubs. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo deservedly got most of the publicity during the regular season, but other top players like Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler have come through with big-time performances in the postseason.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today described one major offensive explosion during the NLDS:

The Cubs have a lot of players who can change the game with one swing and it could lead to a stressful series for all of the Mets pitchers.

Daniel Murphy had an outstanding offensive series for New York, but a few other key hitters haven’t exactly been carrying their weight in the 2015 postseason:

Chicago did win all seven games against the Mets this season, although even Maddon admits that was basically a different team, via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Of course, we had a good record against the Mets this year, but they’re a pretty different team than we had seen earlier. The Mets have a lot of power pitching across the board. … On the field, I don’t know what the Mets look like right now. I know what they looked like a couple of months ago.

With Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto added to the roster and David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud healthy, this is a much better lineup than Chicago saw before the All-Star break. At the same time, however, the Cubs have gotten big contributions from Schwarber, Javier Baez and others.

The early-season success doesn’t mean much at this point, but it doesn’t take away from what the Cubs lineup has done all year long. With Arrieta and Lester capable of matching if not exceeding the performances of the young Mets starters, Chicago should have the overall advantage in this series.

This will be a great battle to watch for both diehard and casual fans, and it could go the distance. But on paper, it seems like the Cubs will advance and get back to the World Series.

Prediction: Cubs win in six.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for more year-round sports analysis. 

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If you wanted drama in the MLB playoffs, you got it.

Wednesday will feature two winner-take-all battles with both American League Division Series going to Game 5. The four teams all took different paths to get to this point, but now they know any pitch could be the difference between going to the American League Championship Series and going home.

Look for all hands to be on deck, as every player and coach will do whatever it takes to extend the season just a little longer.

Both games will likely feature plenty of excitement from start to finish, so here is a guide to ensure you don’t miss a second of the action.

Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays

When: Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 4:07 p.m. ET

Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Odds (via Odds Shark): Toronto 20-21, Texas 4-5

The Texas Rangers have to feel good about getting ace Cole Hamels back on the mound for Game 5, but he won’t have an easy time facing a rejuvenated Toronto Blue Jays offense.

Although the top offense in the majors during the regular season went quiet in the first couple of games of this series, Toronto’s bats have awoken. A Troy Tulowitzki three-run home run helped the Blue Jays pull away in Game 3, while seven runs scored in the first three innings effectively sealed the fate of Game 4.

Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer joked about what was on display:

Even though Hamels had a solid effort in Game 2 with only two earned runs allowed (four runs total) in seven innings, the Blue Jays offense playing to its ability is much scarier. The right-handed-heavy lineup especially crushed lefties with an .818 OPS to lead all of baseball.

The veteran pitcher could struggle to contain Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and others one after another.

This could take the pressure off Marcus Stroman, who pitched well in his postseason debut once he got settled in. He finished with three earned runs allowed (four total) in seven innings, although he did have a stretch of 14 straight retired hitters during the middle innings.

If he can put up anywhere near a similar performance, Toronto should be in good shape to win the deciding game at home.

Prediction: Blue Jays 7, Rangers 3

Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals

When: Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8:07 p.m. ET

Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Odds (via Odds Shark): Kansas City 3-2, Houston 5-9

The Houston Astros were ready to celebrate their ALDS title after going up 2-1 in the series and 6-2 in the seventh inning of Game 4. Carlos Correa was having a breakout game, while Colby Rasmus remained impossible to slow down, and the last couple of innings were just a formality.

Well, that was until the Kansas City Royals did what the Kansas City Royals do. Last year’s pennant winners found some magic once again and scored five runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. Eric Hosmer added to the lead with a two-run home run in the ninth, and Wade Davis did the rest with a two-inning save.

Hosmer discussed the mindset for the Royals after the game:

Manager Ned Yost also noted the resolve of the squad after being so close to elimination:

The Royals have showcased an energy and confidence that cannot be beaten even with their backs against the wall. They have also swung the momentum heavily in their favor, and they believe they can get that final win at home.

As long as Johnny Cueto pitches more like he did in the second half of Game 2 rather than the first (four runs allowed in first three innings, no runs in last three innings).

Meanwhile, it will be extremely difficult for the Astros to bounce back from the latest loss. The young squad was close to moving on to the next round but saw its bullpen implode and cost the team the game. The team will now have to travel to Kansas City and regain its positive energy, which is not an easy task.

Collin McHugh, who had a 4.05 road ERA this season, will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders as Houston’s starter. Even if he posts good numbers, however, the Royals know they can come from behind late. The mindset is all that matters in this decisive game.

Prediction: Royals 6, Astros 4

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for more year-round sports analysis. 

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