The 2015 World Series is on the brink of being over. After falling short in last year's Fall Classic, the Kansas City Royals have been on a mission en route to a commanding 3-1 lead over the New York Mets entering Game 5.
Despite the potential disadvantage of three straight road contests, Kansas City stole Game 4 at Citi Field to gain the inside track for the Commissioner's Trophy. For all the big-picture implications the World Series has, there are plenty of finer details to appreciate on baseball's grandest stage.
Odds and prop bets are always interesting to follow, but wagers can become particularly bold and lucrative at this late stage of the MLB year's grand finale. Let's take a look at some of the props, followed by a preview of Game 5 with some prop analysis sprinkled in.
Updated Prop Bets
Game 5 Preview
The Mets have the type of starting pitching talent that could turn this World Series around in a hurry, dire as the situation looks right now with New York facing elimination Sunday.
First up to save the day is Matt Harvey, who yielded three runs in six innings to start Game 1's marathon that went to Kansas City 5-4 after 14 innings. He'll be going up against Edinson Volquez, the man who matched Harvey in the opener.
In the midst of Game 4, ESPN Stats & Info referenced how the Mets' rotation of flamethrowers hasn't been able to whiff Kansas City's lineup, which has been a big reason for the Royals' prohibitive World Series edge:
Prior to Sunday's elimination contest, Harvey lamented his inability to control his heat in Game 1 and admitted to not having his best stuff on that particular evening, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch:
I think it was just kind of how the game was worked out and how things felt. I felt like I didn't really have the greatest control with my fastball and greatest life. So with a team who's known to hit the fastball well, I think when you lose a little bit of confidence in that, you kind of have to try to pitch a little bit differently.
In front of the home fans and with the season on the line, it just seems as though one of New York's supremely gifted dealers is due to for a gem. It would certainly help the cause to avert a Royals World Series celebration on the Mets' home turf.
If the man behind the plate for Volquez, catcher Salvador Perez, calls a strong game and keeps up his roll at the plate, though, those who wager him for the World Series MVP stand to win big.
Perez is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, but he has been exceptional on offense with a .412 Fall Classic batting average. He singled home the insurance run in Game 4 to cap the Royals' eighth-inning rally as well. MLB.com notes just how locked in Perez has been in the batter's box:
Whenever they have a sliver of opportunity, the Royals band together, pounce on it and thrive when it matters most. Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan highlights the uncommon collective resilience K.C. has displayed this postseason:
Other than sticking it to their foes in enemy territory, if there's any game when the Royals are bound to have a letdown, Sunday's seems to be the place.
Kansas City will have two games still in hand even if it loses tonight. Meanwhile, New York is fighting for its playoff life—and the two-time reigning American League champions had yet another come-from-behind win in Game 4.
Then again, when K.C. has been counted out before and even during games all postseason, manager Ned Yost's bunch has found a way to get the job done. Sunday's showdown will be close, but expect Harvey to deliver a big performance to help keep the Mets afloat in a low-scoring, thrilling affair that will match the over-under projection dead on.
Since Johnny Cueto would likely be in line to start Game 6 at Kauffman Stadium, the bet on him as World Series MVP may be the better route to go. If the series goes back to K.C. and Cueto adds a win to his two-hit complete game from Game 2, he'd be a shoo-in for top individual honors.
And that means the Royals in six or seven is the better bet on the Fall Classic's longevity based on the circumstances surrounding Game 5.
Game 5 Prediction: Mets 4, Royals 3
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