The New York Mets have advanced to the World Series for the first time in over a decade and the team did it with strong pitching and a hot bat from Daniel Murphy in the postseason. The Mets rotation was the best among the teams in the playoffs and now New York will try and knock off the top team in the AL with Yoenis Cespedes, Murphy, David Wright, Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom.
Here are five things to know about the Mets heading into the World Series
The Mets rotation could pitch them to a World Series
The Mets rotation was the deepest of any team in the playoffs and that helped push New York into the World Series. The team showed that off in the first series by defeating the Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke and they showed it in the NLCS by sweeping the Chicago Cubs. The team has Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz to start in the World Series and the team has been putting up an ERA under 3.00 for the starters.
Matt Harvey is starting Game 1 and should start Game 5 (if needed)
Matt Harvey is getting the nod for the Mets in Game 1 on the road against the Royals in Kansas City and that slots him for Game 5 if necessary at Citi Field. The Mets would love to sweep this series as well, but the Royals may be a better matchup than the Cubs. Harvey has been pitching well for the Mets and he has a .229 opponents' batting average and a 2.84 ERA. Harvey has also comes in having been hitting high on the gun with a 95 mph average on his fastball during the regular season.
Daniel Murphy has been super-hot in the playoffs
Daniel Murphy comes into the World Series after setting records in the NLCS and winning MVP in the series against the Cubs. Murphy had four home runs in four games and he hit for a .529 average with nine hits in 17 at-bats for the Mets. Murphy has hit a home run in six straight games for the Mets to set a record and he will be looking to keep things up on Tuesday when the World Series starts.
Yoenis Cespedes is healthy after dealing with a sore shoulder
Yoenis Cespedes had to leave the Game 4 win against the Cubs with a shoulder issue, but the outfielder said that he will be ready to play in the World Series. Cespedes did not participate in the Saturday workout for the Mets and on Saturday while speaking to the media Cespedes said that the injury shouldn't "limit" him heading into Game 1.
Terry Collins can make a difference
Collins has been making all of the right moves through the playoffs and his decisions could be the difference for the Mets if they win this year. Collins has been pushing the team on the base paths and that was not something the team did during the season. Collins has shown a willingness to go against what the team did during the regular season based on what the postseason has given him and the Mets have nine steals in nine games after finishing second lowest in the majors in steals during the season. The lineup and the bullpen decisions have worked out and now Collins will try and make it happen in the World Series.
Check here for more on the Mets and the World Series schedule.
