The Kansas City Royals are the first team in big league history to come from behind to win six games in a single postseason. Now, they can become champions of the world for the first time since 1985 if they can take out the New York Mets in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Royals have amazingly been underdogs in every game of this series in spite of the fact that it has felt, at least for the last three games, that they're clearly the better of these two teams. That trend continues on Sunday with New York opening up as a -140 favorite along with a total of 7.
PITCHING MATCHUP
What a story it would be for Edinson Volquez to pitch the Royals to the World Series at this point! As we all know by now, Volquez pitched Game 1 of this series without the knowledge that his father had passed away earlier in the day. Volquez has been back in the Dominican Republic, but he's back with the Royals now and is ready to pitch in his normal spot in the rotation.
Whether that's truly a good thing for Kansas City or not remains to be seen. Volquez wasn't great in allowing three runs in the first game of this series, and he, like every other pitcher not named Johnny Cueto on this team, has yet to make it out of the sixth inning of any game in the playoffs.
Matt Harvey will get the ball for the final time this year as a starter in Game 5, and he has an immense amount of pressure on him. The "Dark Knight" didn't generate much in the way of missed bats in Game 1 with just three flails and misses by the Royals.
If Kansas City continues to put the bat on the ball against him, the Mets are in a lot of trouble, especially with the way Harvey had a mini-meltdown at the end of his Game 1 start when he blew a 3-1 lead.
SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Royals can play this one a little closer to the vest, knowing that there is a Game 6 and Game 7 at home to close this series out if need be. Kelvin Herrera got a much-needed day off in Game 4 and will be ready to go. It's a good thing too, after Wade Davis needed nearly 30 pitches to close out things on Saturday. Davis will be available again to win the series if need be, but he can't go two frames again for sure.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Mets have really only had one good game offensively in this series, and the Royals just keep coming at them with their powerful bats.
Home runs are really the only way New York is generating runs, and though that's a legitimate possibility off of Volquez, it's not the way to end up winning a game, especially with so few batters actually reaching base with regularity.
Losing Game 4 the way it was lost will be a tough pill for the Mets to swallow. They'll lose this game and the World Series as a result, but they should hold their heads high for all they've accomplished.
That said, these Royals will do just enough offensively against Harvey and scratch across another run or two versus New York's weak middle relief to call themselves champs for the first time in 30 years.
Kansas City 4, New York 1
The baseball betting odds for this game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The New York Mets were favored at -140 along with a total of 7. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers and adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in, and start gambling during the game now!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! Game 5 of the World Series between the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals will start at 8:07 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at Citi Field. The matchup will be televised nationally on FOX.
