Opinion

If the saying goes that a playoff series doesn't really begin until both teams have played a home game, the New York Mets loudly announced their presence in the World Series with an impressive victory over the Kansas City Royals in Game 3. 

The New York Mets picked up a much-needed victory in Game 3 of the 2015 World Series on Friday night. Not only did they cut the Kansas City Royals' series lead to 2-1, but their offense's signs of life bode well for the rest of the Fall Classic.

NEW YORK — Measured against the New York Mets’ staff of flamethrowers, Chris Young’s fastball can be timed with a sundial.

His fastball is soooo slow, Kansas City infielders often excuse themselves for dinner as he winds up and then return to their positions before the ball crosses the plate.

In order to keep breathing, the New York Mets needed Noah Syndergaard.

In about the worst possible way imaginable before the very real threat of elimination would set in, the Mets needed Noah Syndergaard.

On Friday night at Citi Field, David Wright's bat woke up. Then the rest of the New York Mets offense stirred from its slumber. And just like that, we have ourselves a World Series.

Even though the New York Mets are returning home for the World Series in a 2-0 hole against the Kansas City Royals, they have lost just one playoff game at Citi Field in 2015. 

Odds are not in New York's favor to win the World Series, as no team has won the Fall Classic after dropping the first two games since the 1996 New York Yankees. 

The Kansas City Royals are just two wins away from capturing the 2015 World Series title, but to pad their lead, they must now leave the comforting confines of Kauffman Stadium for the hostile stronghold that is the New York Mets' Citi

The Kansas City Royals won Game 1 by orchestrating another comeback. They won Game 2 by slowly and methodically wearing out New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom with patience and constant contact at the plate while Johnny Cueto threw a complete-game gem.

The Kansas City Royals may have found the blueprint to counter the New York Mets' strong pitching: Hit the ball anywhere and hope for the best.

Through two games of the 2015 World Series, the Royals have done just that. After a thrilling Game 1 that went late into the Kansas City night, the Royals' bats came alive in Game 2 as the American League champs took a 2-0 lead with a 7-1 win on Wednesday.

The New York Mets were within two outs of winning Game 1 of the World Series on the road. Instead, an Alex Gordon ninth-inning home run highlighted a Kansas City Royals comeback victory, and they followed it with a blowout triumph in Game 2.