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.
So while all the American League champions technically did was hold serve at home, it still feels like the Mets return to New York with their backs against the wall. They desperately need a win in Game 3 to avoid the dreaded 0-3 deficit and start rebuilding the positive vibes they had coming out of the National League Championship Series.
Let's check all of the important viewing information for Friday's contest. That's followed by a preview and prediction for Game 3 of the Fall Classic.
Game 3 Details
Where: Citi Field in Queens, New York
When: Friday, Oct. 30, at 8:07 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Preview
The Mets gave up just eight runs in their four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the last round. They have allowed 12 runs over the first two games against the Royals. And when you neutralize New York's usual advantage on the mound, the NL champs are far more beatable.
Noah Syndergaard will become the latest member of the team's outstanding young rotation to make an effort to slow down the red-hot Royals. He posted a 3.24 ERA with 166 strikeouts in 150 innings during the regular season and has carried that success into the playoffs (2.77 ERA in three games).
He's slated to face off with Yordano Ventura. One of Kansas City's breakout stars last season, the 24-year-old right-hander has struggled so far this postseason. He sports a 5.09 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in four starts, though his team ultimately won three of those games.
That said, Syndergaard can't be concerned about what Ventura will do. His hands are full with trying to navigate a Royals lineup that provides a unique challenge by going against the conventional wisdom on how to build a team.
In an era where front offices are increasingly willing to accept high strikeout totals in the never-ending search for power, the Royals are still leaning on an old-school approach. They put the ball in play, which forces defenses to make plays and pitchers to work out of jams.
Kansas City ranked 24th in homers during the regular season, but it was also the only team to strike out less than 1,000 times (973). The Atlanta Braves were the next lowest at 1,107.
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com passed along comments from Royals hitting coach Dale Sveum about the group of batters he works with.
"When we get to crunch time, we can't strike out, because we're not going to walk very much," Sveum said. "It's a mindset, and to everybody's credit, everybody buys into it—just to battle and see if we can hit outfield grass with men in scoring position."
The approach is having a clear impact on the series, as ESPN Stats and Info highlighted:
Along with more typical performances from their pitchers, the Mets also need the offense to wake up if they are going to turn this series around. The quartet of Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes is 6-for-38 (.158) so far.
At the start of the series, it felt like there would be a lot of close, hard-fought games. That hasn't changed despite the Royals' convincing win in Game 2. It would still be a surprise if Kansas City just runs away with the title given how well the Mets played to get this far.
So expect a narrow New York victory Friday night to add some more drama to the equation heading into Game 4 and beyond.
Prediction: Mets 3, Royals 2
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