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After a three-decade wait, the Kansas City Royals are once again the World Series champions thanks to their 4-1 series victory over the New York Mets.

The hard work is over, and now it’s time for the Royals and the people of Kansas City to celebrate. Unseasonably warm weather should make for a great day as the city holds its first World Series parade since 1985.

The parade will begin at noon CT and includes a 2.3-mile trek to Kansas City’s Union Station, where a “Royal Celebration” will take place at 2 p.m. CT, per VisitKC.com.

The website provides information on the route, parking, transportation and more, though information for live streaming is not available. See below for details on how to witness the parade live or watch it on television.

Royals Championship Parade Info

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Time: Noon CT

Route: Beginning on Grand Boulevard and ending at Union Station

TV: Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox 4

Live Stream: TBA

Fox Sports provided more information about the parade’s television coverage:

FOX Sports Kansas City, the TV home of the Royals, will televise the Royals’ victory parade and celebration (#RoyalCelebration) live on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 12 p.m. CT.

FOX Sports Kansas City broadcasters Ryan Lefebvre, Rex Hudler, Joel Goldberg, Jeff Montgomery and Morgan Uber will contribute to the coverage, which will be presented in partnership with WDAF-FOX 4. Lefebvre will host the victory rally in front of Union Station at approximately 2 p.m., shortly after the parade ends. FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX 4 are the official broadcast partners of the Royal Celebration.

Fans can see the telecast on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest, including DirecTV channel 671 and Dish channel 418 or 412-08.

The program will be replayed immediately after the live airing, and again Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m.

The team arrived back in town Monday afternoon amid hundreds of cheering fans, per Kansas City’s Fox 4 News:

Tuesday’s weather should not be an issue for parade-goers. Weather.com predicts the high temperature to be in the low 70s, with only a 10 percent chance of rain.

The Kansas City Star‘s Jeff Rosen provided a map of the parade on his Twitter account:

Kansas City Mayor Sly James noted that the parade is taking place Tuesday because Major League Baseball rules require the winning team to hold its parade within 48 hours of the final World Series game, per Len Jennings of KMBC.com.

The streets should still be packed for the celebration, however, because kids will have an excuse to be there, per KCTV5:

It will be a festive occasion for a city that had witnessed just two combined championships from its professional baseball and football teams: the Royals in 1985 and Chiefs in 1969.

It’s safe to say that Kansas City residents will not get a lot of work done Tuesday—unless you count the fans’ job to show their Royals how much they support them one more time.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2015 World Series is officially in the books, as the Kansas City Royals capped off an impressive postseason run with another come-from-behind victory in Game 5 on Sunday night to claim their first title in 30 years.

There will be time to reflect on the 2015 season in the months ahead, but there is no rest for MLB teams in their pursuit of a title, and with the World Series wrapping up, the offseason is officially underway.

All 30 teams have a different to-do list heading into the winter, as each team looks to shore up its roster for a run of its own in 2016.

What follows is a quick rundown of each team’s offseason shopping list as things stand here on the first day of the offseason. Things will obviously change as the weeks and months pass, but for now, this serves as a primer for what to expect from each team.

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As the Kansas City Royals celebrate their World Series victory over the New York Mets, MLB teams will waste little time preparing for the offseason.

A few notable World Series participants will quickly shift their focus to free agency. Two drastically different outfielders from each side will hit the open market this winter. While one halted his rapidly rising stock, the other may have boosted his appeal with one monumental swing.

Facing key decisions, the Royals and Mets won’t spend much time basking in their postseason accomplishments. With the offseason beginning, let’s take an early look at three prominent free-agent hitters.

Yoenis Cespedes

Poor postseason aside, Yoenis Cespedes remains one of the offseason’s top free agents. The 30-year-old hit .291/.328/.542 with a career-high 35 home runs, 17 of which he smacked through 57 games with the Mets. Before moving to center field, sensational defense in left led him to a 6.7 WAR, soaring past his previous career best of 3.3. 

His late-season power outburst led the Mets to their first National League East title since 2006, but a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman suggests Cespedes‘ status as a midseason rental hasn’t changed. 

“There is increasing belief the Mets will let Yoenis Cespedes walk for big bucks via free agency,” Heyman wrote. “Though Cespedes has played brilliantly for them, people around the game figure they will save the big bucks for their vaunted young pitching staff.”

The postseason has offered a sobering reminder of his flaws. Holding a minuscule 6.1 walk percentage over his career, the aggressive slugger will swing at anything, leading to 17 strikeouts and one walk through 55 playoff plate appearances. There’s a reason he has played on four teams over the past three years, and it’s his .319 career on-base percentage.

Of course, the Mets didn’t mind his poor plate discipline when he clobbered baseballs left and right, but his power barrage priced the outfielder out of their future plans. Playing him in center is also unsustainable over the long haul, and Michael Conforto has left field locked down for 2016 and beyond.

The Detroit Tigers—who dealt him to the Mets last July with the playoffs out of reach—will look to quickly revamp their roster for a return to October baseball. They have the money and willingness to spend big on aging stars, so look for a reunion.

Prediction: Cespedes signs five-year deal with Detroit Tigers

Alex Gordon

If not for Alex Gordon, the Royals are going back to Kansas City to close out the World Series. Instead, he pelted Jeurys Familia for a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 1, making their 14-inning victory possible. The Mets closer had not blown a save since late July before the huge blast.

ESPN Stats & Info also pointed out the rarity of such a clutch World Series dinger:

The playoff heroics can’t hurt the outfielder’s free-agent stock, but he hardly needed the boost. A decade ago, a career .269 hitter who delivers 20 homers during a good year wouldn’t net a massive payday. Now they see a stud who provides Gold Glove defense in left field and an .809 OPS since 2011. 

Veterans with keen plate discipline and gap power age better than pure sluggers, so the 31-year-old outfielder will prove a hot commodity if/when he enacts his opt-out clause for 2016 instead of accruing $12.5 million.

Along with mentioning two fitting suitors, Joel Sherman of the New York Post added another surprising candidate hunting for his services.

“Clubs such as the Astros and Cubs are mentioned in what should be a deep field,” Sherman wrote. “However, a few executives cited one team that has surprised me—the Red Sox.”

The Boston Red Sox have a lot of dough tied up to Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, who will move from left field to first base next season. Yet they still have Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rusney Castillo lined up in the outfield, and any money lying around should go to upgrading their pitching staff.

Gordon would fit well with the Houston Astros or Chicago Cubs, both up-and-coming contenders loaded with young power but in need of depth and outfield defense.

While Kyle Schwarber can rake for the Cubs, he proved a nightmare in left field during the National League Championship Series. Adding Gordon’s superb bat and glove to their young nucleus would bring the Cubs one step closer to snapping a century-long title drought.

Prediction: Gordon signs four-year deal with Chicago Cubs

Ian Desmond

Contrary to Cespedes and Gordon, Ian Desmond did himself no favors this year. Along with snapping a streak of three consecutive 20-20 campaigns, the shortstop hit a dismal .233/.290/.384 while committing 27 errors.

He rebounded from a brutal start, registering a .777 second-half OPS. Yet buyers will beware his diminishing power and rising strikeout rates, both of which have consistently veered in the wrong direction.

According to Heyman, his strong finish will keep teams interested in Desmond, who will almost certainly leave the Washington Nationals with rookie Trea Turner taking his job.

“Many think the Mets will be serious players for free-agent shortstop Ian Desmond,” Heyman wrote. “The Mariners, Padres, White Sox, Twins and others could also be in the Desmond market.” 

Wilmer Flores delivers intriguing power at shortstop, but his lack of plate discipline and defensive dependability cloud his future. Same for Daniel Murphy, who will probably parlay his seven postseason homers into a big deal elsewhere. So why in the world would the Mets replace one or both of them with a poor defender who can’t get on base?

The San Diego Padres, on the other hand, desperately targeted power last offseason at the cost of fielding. Although hungry to contend, they don’t have the resources to chase top-tier stars, which leaves them eyeing flawed, high-upside talent like Desmond.

In a dried-out market, look for Desmond to take a short deal in hopes of repairing his value.

Prediction: Desmond signs two-year deal with San Diego Padres

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs. 

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There’s plenty of blame to go around in Gotham after the Mets blew a 2-0 ninth-inning lead in Game 5 and ultimately got blown out by Kansas City, ending what had been a remarkable late-season charge to the postseason, and ultimately, the Fall Classic.

While losing the series in five games is disappointing, there’s plenty for Mets fans to be excited about heading into next season.

Michael Conforto left little doubt that he’s ready to take the next step in his development, while the heart of the team’s remarkable rotation is not only set to return, but will be getting reinforcements in the form of a healthy Rafael Montero and Zack Wheeler.

That said, changes are certainly coming to Citi Field this winter. What follows is a look at how sweeping they might be as New York’s long winter begins.

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The 2015 World Series is on the brink of being over. After falling short in last year’s Fall Classic, the Kansas City Royals have been on a mission en route to a commanding 3-1 lead over the New York Mets entering Game 5.

Despite the potential disadvantage of three straight road contests, Kansas City stole Game 4 at Citi Field to gain the inside track for the Commissioner’s Trophy. For all the big-picture implications the World Series has, there are plenty of finer details to appreciate on baseball’s grandest stage.

Odds and prop bets are always interesting to follow, but wagers can become particularly bold and lucrative at this late stage of the MLB year’s grand finale. Let’s take a look at some of the props, followed by a preview of Game 5 with some prop analysis sprinkled in.

Updated Prop Bets

Game 5 Preview

The Mets have the type of starting pitching talent that could turn this World Series around in a hurry, dire as the situation looks right now with New York facing elimination Sunday.

First up to save the day is Matt Harvey, who yielded three runs in six innings to start Game 1’s marathon that went to Kansas City 5-4 after 14 innings. He’ll be going up against Edinson Volquez, the man who matched Harvey in the opener.

In the midst of Game 4, ESPN Stats & Info referenced how the Mets’ rotation of flamethrowers hasn’t been able to whiff Kansas City’s lineup, which has been a big reason for the Royals’ prohibitive World Series edge:

Prior to Sunday’s elimination contest, Harvey lamented his inability to control his heat in Game 1 and admitted to not having his best stuff on that particular evening, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch:

I think it was just kind of how the game was worked out and how things felt. I felt like I didn’t really have the greatest control with my fastball and greatest life. So with a team who’s known to hit the fastball well, I think when you lose a little bit of confidence in that, you kind of have to try to pitch a little bit differently.

In front of the home fans and with the season on the line, it just seems as though one of New York’s supremely gifted dealers is due to for a gem. It would certainly help the cause to avert a Royals World Series celebration on the Mets’ home turf.

If the man behind the plate for Volquez, catcher Salvador Perez, calls a strong game and keeps up his roll at the plate, though, those who wager him for the World Series MVP stand to win big.

Perez is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, but he has been exceptional on offense with a .412 Fall Classic batting average. He singled home the insurance run in Game 4 to cap the Royals’ eighth-inning rally as well. MLB.com notes just how locked in Perez has been in the batter’s box:

Whenever they have a sliver of opportunity, the Royals band together, pounce on it and thrive when it matters most. Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan highlights the uncommon collective resilience K.C. has displayed this postseason:

Other than sticking it to their foes in enemy territory, if there’s any game when the Royals are bound to have a letdown, Sunday’s seems to be the place.

Kansas City will have two games still in hand even if it loses tonight. Meanwhile, New York is fighting for its playoff life—and the two-time reigning American League champions had yet another come-from-behind win in Game 4.

Then again, when K.C. has been counted out before and even during games all postseason, manager Ned Yost’s bunch has found a way to get the job done. Sunday’s showdown will be close, but expect Harvey to deliver a big performance to help keep the Mets afloat in a low-scoring, thrilling affair that will match the over-under projection dead on.

Since Johnny Cueto would likely be in line to start Game 6 at Kauffman Stadium, the bet on him as World Series MVP may be the better route to go. If the series goes back to K.C. and Cueto adds a win to his two-hit complete game from Game 2, he’d be a shoo-in for top individual honors.

And that means the Royals in six or seven is the better bet on the Fall Classic’s longevity based on the circumstances surrounding Game 5.

Game 5 Prediction: Mets 4, Royals 3

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The Kansas City Royals have three chances to end their 30-year world title drought, beginning with Sunday night’s Game 5 of the 2015 World Series.

Having trailed into the eighth inning of two of their wins this series, the Royals could just as easily be down 3-1 as opposed to up by that same margin. The New York Mets have to be kicking themselves for getting in this position, but they’ll have one last home game at Citi Field to attempt to get back into the series.

Let’s take a look at everything to know for Game 5.

Game 5 Info (Royals Lead 3-1)

Date/Time: Sunday, November 1, at 8 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Game 5 Preview and Latest Comments

It’s safe to say the Royals have become masters at the art of winning the close game. 

In the Mets’ lone victory in this series, they took it to the Royals and won by a wide margin of 9-3. Of course, Kansas City has one lopsided win as well, but its other two wins have been quite improbable.

After coming back late in Game 1 and putting together a similar effort in Game 4, the Royals added to their many wins this postseason that came in surprising fashion, as SportsCenter noted:

Coaches can teach hitting. They can teach good pitching. One thing, however, that only comes with experience—or is just hard-wired into certain players—is the ability to pull out the tight games.

Royals manager Ned Yost knows his team has that, as he told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.

“They’re as cool as cucumbers,” Yost said. “They never panic because they’ve been through it before, and they know they’re capable of doing it again. It’s just something they believe in their heart that they can accomplish.”

If the Royals are going to end their 30-year World Series drought Sunday, it will come down to the arm of Edinson Volquez—at least early on. Volquez learned of the death of his father after Game 1, but he is back with the team to pitch Game 5.

There’s nowhere Volquez would rather be than with his teammates on the biggest stage of his life, as he told the team’s Twitter account:

Volquez will take to the mound opposite the Mets’ Matt Harvey in a rematch of a Game 1 pitching duel that saw both pitchers go six innings and give up three earned runs. 

One concerning aspect for Mets fans is that Harvey has gone over the 200-inning plateau already in 2015. But while that could be seen as a disadvantage fatigue-wise, Harvey is looking at the positives, per ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin:

As a starting pitcher and being a younger guy, I think getting to that 200-innings limit is something you always look for. You kind of want to be a horse and go out there. And you look at guys who have thrown 230 innings year after year after year, that’s kind of somebody who I’ve always wanted to be. I think, obviously, after this start I’ll probably be hopefully around 215 innings or so. And that’s a good mark for me. I’m definitely happy about that.

If Harvey is going to pitch the Mets back into the series and force these teams to return to Kansas City for a Game 6, he’ll need to pitch like he’s fresher than ever against a Royals lineup that is hitting virtually everything.

The best chance that the Mets have is to get something rolling on offense in the early innings in order to allow Harvey to settle down and be comfortable enough to execute his pitches. Otherwise, the Royals’ bats could jump on him instead.

If that happens, don’t be surprised if the Royals are returning to Kansas City to celebrate a championship 30 years in the making.

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One win away from taking the 2015 World Series, the Kansas City Royals turn to a pitching rematch of the series’ opening game for Game 5 against the New York Mets.

For much of the last two games, the Mets have had Citi Field rocking and given the look that they would have this series tied up by now. But things fell apart in the eighth inning of Game 4, when the Royals put up three runs to take the lead and eventually take a 3-1 series advantage.

Both teams have to hope for similar performances from their aces that they got in Game 1, hopefully with considerably less extra-inning time. Let’s take a closer look at the pitching matchup for Game 5.

Edinson Volquez, Royals

Volquez‘s life has changed dramatically since he last stepped on the mound for the Royals in Game 1.

After pitching six innings of work in the series opener, giving up six hits and allowing three earned runs in an eventual Royals 14-inning victory, Volquez found out that his father had passed away. He’s now back with the team to pitch in a game that could clinch the Royals’ first World Series in 30 years.

Volquez has much more than just the stage of the World Series to motivate him Sunday, as Kansas City Star‘s Vahe Gregorian reported:

“I’m pretty sure my dad is going to be proud of me when I pitch tomorrow on the mound,” he said. “We’ll see.”

His father, he added, “was everything for me. He was one of the greatest men.”

Even for the most diehard Mets faithful, anyone following this World Series has to be pulling for Volquez to at least pitch well in this tough circumstance. It’s surely been a tough few days, but he’s been with the team since they arrived in New York and has had the great support of his teammates.

When it boils down to it, the 32-year-old is the Royals’ most reliable starter—and he’s shown it. The desperate Mets bats will surely get a few runs home on him in the early going and Kansas City’s bullpen will relieve him after six, but he’ll do more than enough to keep his Royals in the game.

Prediction: 6 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 3 strikeouts

Matt Harvey, Mets

One of three young aces, Mets pitcher Matt Harvey could do nothing but sit in the dugout and watch as the Royals eventually won Game 1 in one of the longest games in World Series history.

Now, the man who was once pegged as the best young pitcher in baseball has a chance to prove he’s worth all the hype by pitching his Mets into a Game 6.

Harvey did allow three runs on five hits in six innings in his Game 1 outing, but one run came on a wild inside-the-park home run. In the middle innings, he absolutely dominated, retiring a dozen batters in a row before allowing the Royals to tie it up as he left the game.

If he can get it going along with his other two aces, the Mets may have a chance after all, as Adam Rubin of ESPN.com noted:

Harvey will come out dealing hot fire and relying on his brutal fastball, one of the only ones Royals hitters have had trouble making contact with in this series. Kansas City’s opportunistic bats will find a way to ink out a run, but not much more against Harvey.

Considering the bullpen’s troubles in this postseason, the Mets will continue riding Harvey until he can pitch no longer. Expect a long outing for him in this must-win affair.

Prediction: 7.2 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts

Game Prediction: Mets 5, Royals 2

The Royals are up 3-1 in the series, but it could just as easily be 3-1 Mets. Some might argue that it should be 3-1 Mets.

Surprisingly enough, late-game errors and struggles of elite closer Jeurys Familia have allowed for the Royals to steal a pair of games—including Game 4 on Halloween night. That’s the reason why the Mets will do everything they can to keep Harvey in the game, as long as he’s pitching well.

Volquez will have the Mets struggling at the plate, but they’ll get to the Royals bullpen and put up a few more runs to ice this and force a Game 6.

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It took seven games for Kansas City to take down the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1985 World Series—the last time the Royals could call themselves world champions. Sunday night, they’ll try to dispatch the New York Mets in Game 5 at Citi Field to end that 30-year wait between titles.

But don’t expect the Mets to be gracious hosts.

The team that had one of baseball’s best home records during the regular season (49-32) has lost only one home game in the playoffs—Game 4 of the World Series, a contest the Mets led heading into the eighth inning.

What follows are the keys each team will have to hit on if it hopes to emerge victorious when things get underway at 8:07 p.m. ET Sunday night.

Edinson Volquez Must Keep His Emotions in Check

There’s no lonelier place on the field than the pitching mound, and being alone with his thoughts is probably the last thing Edinson Volquez needs right now, only five days after the death of his father, Daniel.

Nobody would have blamed Volquez had he told Royals manager Ned Yost he couldn’t take the ball in Game 5. But that’s not what his family wants for him.

“I wish [my dad] could be here right now and enjoy every game that I pitch,” Volquez told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick. “… My mom told me before I got here: ‘Go over there and enjoy the game like you always do and be proud. We are proud of you.'”

Yost said that Volquez’s father would have wanted his son to pitch.

“It was like Chris Young when his dad passed away,” Yost told USA Today‘s Jorge L. Ortiz. “Chris just knew how proud his dad was of him and that his dad would want him to carry on. His dad would want him to be on that mound and helping his team win. And I imagine that Edi’s dad would want the same thing for Edi.”

Volquez will not only be battling a formidable Mets lineup but the myriad emotions running through his head.

“It’s hard, but you know the mind controls everything you do,” Volquez told Ortiz.

Whether or not he can keep his focus and get into a rhythm will dictate how effective he is on the hill.

Nos. 3 and 4 Hitters Need To Show Up for Both Teams

Teams typically put their best hitters in the middle of their lineups to maximize production, with the hope being that they step to the plate with at least one runner on base and a chance to put a run (or more) on the board.

But through the first four games of the Fall Classic, the players hitting third and fourth haven’t come close to meeting the expectations that come with those prime lineup spots.

You could argue New York needs a productive Daniel Murphy, who powered the team through the first two rounds of the playoffs, and Yoenis Cespedes, who sparked the team to its division title, more than Kansas City needs a productive Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer.

Given the current situation, which finds the Mets facing elimination, maybe that’s a valid argument. But with that comes added pressure for Murphy and Cespedes, who both could be playing their last game as Mets.

Murphy, Cespedes and Cain are each 3-for-17, while Hosmer is 2-for-15, though he does have five RBI.

Regardless of which team needs that extra production more, if any of the aforementioned players show signs of life, they will go a long way toward determining the outcome at Citi Field.

Halloween Can’t End Just Yet for Matt Harvey

While the calendar has flipped to November and Halloween is behind us, Matt Harvey needs to show up at Citi Field in full costume. The Mets don’t need Harvey on the mound in Game 5—they need The Dark Knight.

Harvey is the guy who allowed seven baserunners and three earned runs over six innings in Game 1 while throwing his fastball less often than usual. By his own admission, he struggled to get comfortable on the mound:

The Dark Knight is the guy who tossed 7.2 innings of four-hit, two-run ball with nine strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. The guy who, during the regular season, pitched to a 2.23 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 17 starts in front of the citizens of Gotham.

If the Mets are to have any chance of forcing Game 6 in Kansas City, they need their superhero to, well, do superhero things in Game 5.

Unless otherwise noted/linked, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.

Hit me up on Twitter to talk baseball: @RickWeinerBR.

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The Kansas City Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead at home over the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series, but the Mets took Game 3 in New York with a 9-3 win. The teams will play two more games at Citi Field, so this series is far from over.

Rookie Noah Syndergaard gave the Mets six innings, during which he scattered seven hits and allowed three runs while striking out six hitters. Meanwhile, New York got hot at the plate and chased Royals starter Yordano Ventura after 3.1 innings. Ventura gave up five runs while striking out two batters.

The game started with a bit of controversy. On the first pitch, Syndergaard came high and tight on Royals leadoff man Alcides Escobar. As Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported, he knew what he was doing.

“My intent on that pitch was to make them uncomfortable, and I feel like I did just that,” Syndergaard said. “I think in every postseason game that Escobar has played in, he’s swung at the first-pitch fastball. I didn’t think he would want to swing at that one.”

The Royals were clearly unnerved though they managed to get a run across in that first inning. They got two more in the second, but then Syndergaard settled into a groove, and he and the Mets bullpen didn’t allow another run.

The team will send another rookie, this time Steven Matz, to the mound for Game 4. Kansas City will counter with Chris Young, who threw three strong innings in relief in the 14-inning Game 1 marathon. You can catch Game 4 on Fox at 8:07 p.m. ET.

If Young pitches like he did in Game 1, the Mets will be in trouble. They failed to even get a hit against Young in his three innings of work, and four batters went down on strikes.

Young’s height may have had something to do with it. At 6’10”, he has a high release point, which makes it difficult for hitters to track the pitch. Batters aren’t used to seeing the pitch come from so high, and the Mets were clearly caught off guard by him in Game 1.

However, now the Mets hitters have seen Young, so they will have a feel for his pitching style. If they can carry over their success at the plate from Game 3, the team will have a good chance to knot this series at two games apiece.

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In dire need of a win to resist falling into a seemingly insurmountable gap, the New York Mets manufactured a 9-3 statement victory over the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 of the World Series and now trail 2-1 with another pair of games at Citi Field. 

The Mets offense that stymied the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series finally awoke, putting away the Royals with a four-run sixth inning that they rode to victory.

Now, both teams turn to the back end of their respective rotations as the series hits the midway mark, creating opportunity for another offensive showing. Here is a glimpse at the Game 4 matchup.

Game 4 Info

When: Saturday, Oct. 31

Where: Citi Field

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Probable Starters: Chris Young (KC) vs. Steven Matz (NYM)

Preview

While Game 3 featured two of the three highest-velocity starters in baseball, according to Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine, Game 4 dishes out the lowest of each team’s rotation totem pole.

Steven Matz has been in the shadow of the Mets’ power trio of hurlers—Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard—but he’s been lurking more than hiding. Matz is 0-1 this postseason but anchored the Mets to a clinching 8-3 win over the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. 

He’s barely four months removed from his MLB debut, but the Mets will rely on him to pull the series even. Matz is welcoming the tall task, per Chris Fickett of the Kansas City Star.

“This is where you want to be in baseball. This is the dream,” Matz said. “This is what you write up in your backyard when you’re playing Wiffle ball.”

Matz hails from Long Island and will reportedly commute from his childhood home for the biggest start of his career, per Adam Rubin of ESPN.com.

Young, who played for the Mets in 2011-2012, is making just his second start these playoffs and third appearance overall. He came out of the bullpen in Game 1 and threw 53 pitches, yet Royals manager Ned Yost remained firm that Young will start Game 4, per Fox Sports Kansas City:

Young had been a relegated reliever for roughly half of 2015, pitching in just 123.1 innings and eclipsing 100 pitches only three times. Part of his limited use stems from various injuries over the years, as he was limited to just 24 starts in his two seasons with the Mets. He has enjoyed a bit of redemption against his former teammates, per Jeff Deters of the Topeka Capital-Journal:

“I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me,” Young said. “And certainly to see them and their success over the last few years since I last played here, it’s great. I’m happy for them. I just hope we find a way to beat them.”

Given the Mets and Royals have combined for 29 runs in three games—a surprise this late in October—the offensive trend should continue, as each team sends out the lower tier of its rotation. 

Young allowed no hits or runs in his three innings of service in Game 1, but that was the marathon that went 14 innings. Both offenses will come out sharp, particularly the momentous Mets, who are coming off a convincing Game 3 win. 

The Royals still have home-field advantage to lean on, and they’ll need it. They showed in Game 3 that they can indeed be vulnerable. This series is shaping up to be a lengthy one.

Prediction: Mets 6, Royals 4

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