2015 World Series Game 5: Odds, TV, Start Time, Probables
By Ryan Cole
Kansas City Royals at New York Mets
Location: Citi Field, Queens, NY
First Pitch: 8:07 p.m.
Over/Under: 7
TV: FOX (Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci)
Radio: ESPN (Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone)
Starting Lineups:
Kansas City: New York:
Alcides Escobar – SS Curtis Granderson – RF
Ben Zobrist – 2B David Wright – 3B
Lorenzo Cain – CF Daniel Murphy – 2B
Eric Hosmer – 1B Yoenis Cespedes – CF
Mike Moustakas – 3B Lucas Duda – 1B
Salvador Perez – C Travis d’Arnaud – C
Alex Gordon – LF Michael Conforto – LF
Alex Rios – RF Wilmer Flores – SS
Edinson Volquez – P Matt Harvey – P
Starting Pitchers:
Kansas City: Edinson Volquez
New York: Matt Harvey
Saturday Night looked to be in the Mets favor for the majority of game four of the Fall Classic. Outfielder, Michael Conforto had hit two homeruns and they were up 3-2 going to the top of the eighth. The crowd was into the game as setup man Tyler Clippard took the mound. Then things began to unravel for New York. The Royals not only tied the game, but the Mets closer Jeurys Famili ended up coming into the game and blowing the save. This was his second blown save of the World Series and Kansas City ended up winning the game 5-3 to put themselves one game from a World Championship.
KEYS TO THE GAME: KANSAS CITY ROYALS
With a 3-1 series lead and redemption within reach, the Royals need to do what they have done all season and that is just win. They need to just play small ball, steal bases and score enough to get the “Dark Knight” Matt Harvey off his game from the get go.
A big question mark going into game five is how effective Edinson Volquez will be as he continues to mourn the death of his father. The biggest key to a Royals win tonight will be if he can give them at least six quality innings.
Catcher Salvador Perez went 3 for 4 in game four to lead the team in hitting. He has been battling through these playoffs and the Royals will need hopefully only one more strong game from him tonight. Along with his battery mate Volquez, these two guys will be the key to the Royals clinching their first World Series since 1985.
KEYS TO THE GAME: NEW YORK METS
Matt Harvey needs to be himself and shut down the Royals offense in this must win game. Getting Alcides Escobar out to start the game is the biggest key for Harvey and the Mets tonight. If Escobar reaches, he can create havoc on the base pathes. Harvey needs a shut down inning to start the game, so the Mets can attempt to get the upper hand on Edinson Volquez.
New York made a big mistake on the bases last night. Yoenis Cespedes got doubled off first base to end the game. The Mets need to limit their mistakes and play solid fundamental baseball in game five to have a chance at taking the series back to Kansas City for a game six.
After a fantastic game three on the offensive side of things, the Mets had a poor game four. They will need to come out swinging on Sunday night. Captain and third baseman David Wright needs to get the team ready for this do or die game. Curtis Granderson needs to also get on base for New York to have a chance.
IMPACT PLAYER: KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer was hitless in game four and hasn’t really done much in the 2015 postseason. That should change on Sunday night as he knows his team is within one game of being World Series Champions. Look for him to have himself a nice game five while attempting to get the Royals their first championship since 1985.
IMPACT PLAYER: NEW YORK METS
Daniel Murphy has been pretty much held in check for the first four games of the Fall Classic after surging through the first two rounds of the postseason. Daniel Murphy is my pick for impact player for the Mets in game five. If he can get hot again, the Mets very well could extend the series back to Kansas City.
PREDICTION:
All the signs are pointing to a Kansas City Royals World Series victory. I don’t necessarily see that happening yet though. The New York Mets are a very resilient team and find ways to win with their backs against the wall. The Royals will end up winning the series but the Mets will live to fight another day on Sunday Night with a game five victory.
KANSAS CITY – 4 NEW YORK – 5