The last time we saw the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets playing meaningful baseball, a five-run 12th inning gave the Royals a 5-2 victory in Game 5 of the World Series, securing the team’s first championship in 30 years.
So it’s only fitting that a rematch of Game 5 starters Edinson Volquez and Matt Harvey kick the 2016 regular season off for both pennant-winning clubs. Volquez tossed six innings of two-hit, one-run ball in that deciding game, while Harvey’s insistence on finishing what he started led to the Royals’ comeback.
With the Royals reportedly still looking for payback, per Newsday’s Marc Carig, after New York’s Noah Syndergaard fired a fastball high and tight to Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar in Game 3, things could escalate, even without the man known as Thor actively participating in the festivities.
While both teams return the bulk of their respective rosters from last season, some new faces on both sides will get to experience this budding rivalry for the first time when the first pitch arrives at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Keep it right here for live updates and analysis of all the action from Kauffman Stadium, and hit me up on Twitter (@RickWeinerBR) and in the comments with your take on tonight’s game.
FINAL
Royals 4, Mets 3
- Bot 1: Eric Hosmer RBI single
- Bot 4: Kendrys Morales sac fly
- Bot 6: Alex Gordon RBI single
- Bot 6: Omar Infante RBI single
- Top 8: Lucas Duda two-run single
- Top 8: Neil Walker fielder’s choice
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