2015 World Series Game 4: Odds, TV, Start Time, Probables

Kansas City Royals at New York Mets

Location: Citi Field, Queens, NY

First Pitch: 8:07 p.m. ET

Over/Under: 7

TV: FOX (Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci)

Radio: ESPN (Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone)

Starting Lineups: TBA

Starting Pitchers:

Kansas City: Chris Young

New York: Steven Matz

The New York Mets‘ bats woke up on Friday night to the tune of a 9-3 World Series Game 3 victory. They got to Kansas City Royals starter Yordano Ventura early with a two-run first inning and ended up chasing him after just three and a third innings pitched. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits. He also surrendered two home runs in that span. Mets starter Noah Syndergaard, however, shined in his World Series debut, allowing three runs in six innings and striking out six.  The Mets will look to even up the series on Halloween night in front of a home crowd as they turn to rookie left-hander Steven Matz.

Keys to the Game: Kansas City Royals

It’s simple. The New York Mets outplayed the Royals in Game 3 via the long ball. The Royals, who aren’t afraid of fastball pitching, need to show it in Game 4. They need to play small ball to get on base and push runners across the plate in Game 4 if they want to win and avoid a split through the first four games.

Starting pitcher Chris Young needs to give the bullpen rest in Game 4. After Ventura lasted not even four innings in Game 3, manager Ned Yost had to go to his bullpen early and often. If Young can deal with the big game pressure as a starter, that will give the bullpen a night off to recuperate.

Eric Hosmer needs to get going with the bat as well. He has had his moments in the series thus far, but going 0-4 in Game 3 didn’t help the Royals much at all.

Keys to the Game: New York Mets

Captain and third baseman David Wright finally started swinging like he and the Mets organization know he can. He got the scoring started in Game 3 with a home run and finished with four RBI in the game. He needs to continue this hot hitting in Game 4.

Daniel Murphy hasn’t looked like the same hitter we saw in the first two rounds of the playoffs and things went from bad to worse last night as he was hitless in four at-bats. He needs to get back on track for New York in Game 4.

Will rookie pitcher Steven Matz succeed or fold under pressure? That’s the question that everyone is wondering. If he’s on his game, the Royals need to look out.

Impact Player: Kansas City Royals

The Royals’ bats were pretty silent in Game 3 after the second inning. They accumulated just seven hits in the entire game. There really isn’t one player who needs to stand out and impact Game 4; the Royals’ success is often more about an overall team effort. Kansas City needs to come out and punch the Mets in the mouth from the get-go.

Impact Player: New York Mets

The Captain came to play in Game 3 and he needs to be the same impact player in Game 4. Getting the crowd into it the way he did was dramatic and fun. David Wright could be the difference maker again for the Mets once the first pitch rolls around on Halloween.

Prediction:

The Royals won the first two games at home, outscoring the Mets 12-5, then the Mets came home and won 9-3 in Game 3 to make it a series again. If the Royals can play small ball and rattle rookie pitcher Steven Matz, I like their chances to take a stranglehold on the series and put themselves one game from a world championship. On the other hand, the Mets have some momentum now after their convincing Game 3 win. Which side will prevail in game four? We’ll see Saturday night on FOX!

KANSAS CITY – 6               NEW YORK – 4