This year’s World Series has not disappointed thus far as the Kansas City Royals needed 14 innings to capture the thrilling 5-4 triumph over the New York Mets in Game 1. Now, the Royals will put their trust on Johnny Cueto to lead them on the mound for the second game later tonight at Kauffman Stadium. The Mets, meanwhile, will counter with their own ace, Jacob deGrom, and hope to even the series up at one game apiece with a much-needed win. Which club will emerge victorious in this one?
Read on below for a comprehensive breakdown of this promising matchup. And if you’re craving for some basketball action, you can checkout our preview for the Pacers vs. Raptors game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals World Series Game 2 Preview
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City
When: Wednesday, October 28, 8:07 PM ET
Line: New York Mets at Kansas City Royals – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the New York Mets
The New York Mets have to feel good about Jacob deGrom (3-0, 1.80 ERA) heading to the mound for this evening’s pivotal Game 2 at Kauffman Stadium. He’s beginning to develop into a postseason horse after three impressive starts, during which the Mets went a perfect 3-0. deGrom will definitely be trying to sustain this momentum.
[sc:MLB240banner ]That may just be the case, as the 2014 Rookie of the Year knows what it takes to win under pressure and especially on the road. He proved that in the regular season, where he owned an 8-4 win-loss record, a 3.09 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while holding is opponents to a .219 batting average. But deGrom has never faced the Royals in his career.
On offense, look to the pair of Daniel Murphy and Curtis Granderson to continue providing some timely runs at the plate. Both batters have been sizzling in throughout the playoffs, owning a .400 and .289 batting average, while combining for 19 RBIs and eight homers to lead the Mets.
Also, Yoenis Cespedes is bound to join the hitting party later. Cespedes has been solid on the road in the regular season, holding a solid triple-slash line of .320/.353/.623 across 80 appearances but is 0-of-2 lifetime off the Royals’ ace in Johnny Cueto.
New York is 6-1 in deGrom’s previous seven turns.
Betting on the Kansas City Royals
This is the perfect chance for Johnny Cueto (1-1, 7.88 ERA) to remind the Kansas City Royals why they decided to trade for him in the regular season. He’ll get the nod for Game 2 of the World Series later and will be trying to redeem himself from a forgettable start in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Blue Jays, wherein he was rocked for eight earned runs and six hits through two innings of work.
Cueto barely has any momentum to build on for tonight’s pivotal game; however, it’s worth noting that he had a solid start prior to that game. The 29-year-old righty surrendered just two runs and two hits across eight frames in Game 5 of the ALDS opposite the Astros.
Furthermore, Cueto has been at his best when pitching at Kauffman Stadium, where he carries a 6-4 record with a respectable 2.94 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and .220 opponents’ batting average. Against the Mets, though, he is just 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA throughout 11 career starts.
If Cueto struggles in this one, the onus is on Alcides Escobar and Ben Zobrist to make up for it with some crucial runs on offense. Escobar is on an 11-game hitting streak, during which he is batting 17-of-40. Zobrist, meanwhile, has been holding a hot bat as well, going 11-of-31 with five doubles, two homers and four RBIs in his last seven outings.
Both Escobar and Zobrist have yet to face Jacob deGrom, however. It’ll certainly be interesting how the two will fare against the 27-year-old southpaw.
Kansas City is 3-2 in its past five home games with Cueto starting.
Writer’s Prediction
New York evens the series with in another thriller.
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