14 maddeningly exasperating innings of unpredictability and relentless zealousness from two well-playing teams? Wow! I certainly didn’t see that type of Game 1 coming on MLB lines. But I guess that’s the price we have to pay when you have two equally solid teams facing each in quest for MLB Gold.
The New York Mets had an epic performance in Game 1 of the 2015 World Series, pushing the Kansas City Royals all the way to the 14th inning, but they could not muster a victory, with the >Royals securing an exhilarating 5-4 win. With all the jitters, excitements and fried nerves from playing Game 1 of the 111th World Series now relatively settled, which of the two teams will rise up to the occasion in Tuesday’s MLB odds to emerge victorious in Game 2?
Here is a succinct online betting guide of this Game 2, which alluringly features two of the best arms in the Major Leagues in Jacob deGrom vs. Johnny Cueto.
Inside Scoop at the NY Mets at Kansas City Royals World Series Game 2 Online Betting & Game Info
We’ll leap at the chance to even things up tonight. #WorldSeries #Mets #LGM pic.twitter.com/vR9EsNaGI9
— New York Mets (@Mets) October 28, 2015
Series Standing: Royals lead series 1-0
Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Johnny Cueto
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Time: 8:07 PM ET
TV: FOX
If the bizarre and wildly unpredictable Game 1 on Tuesday night is anything to go by, then we are definitely in for another tough contest in tonight’s Game 2.
Making things interesting is that KC’s free agent signee Cueto (12-14,3.75 ERA) will start Game 2 in an enticing pitching showdown against NY’s ace deGrom (17-8, 2.47 ERA).
Cueto has struggled to find consistency in a Royal-blue uniform, but Kansas City’s manager Ned Yost said he felt confident that the prized pitcher was the right man for the job on Wednesday.
“I feel like he’s pitched great games here. He really draws on the energy of our fans. And again, I felt like you try to put everybody in a position where they can be successful,” said the manager. “We just felt it was the best move.”
True to Yost’s words, the righty has been at his best when pitching at Kauffman Stadium, owning a 6-4 record with a respectable 2.94 ERA, a .220 opponents’ batting average and a 1.04 WHIP. Still, it’s hard to trust that the 29-year-old Cueto will light it up tonight, considering he is worryingly just 1-1 with an abysmal 7.88 ERA in this year’s playoffs. Not to mention, Cueto has seen plenty of the Mets from his days with Cincinnati, and has posted a 3-4 record with a 4.02 ERA in 11 career starts against the Mets, which brings a lot of concern.
Even so, KC fans can take comfort in the fact that Alcides Escobar and Ben Zobrist have been steaming hot with some important runs on offense. Escobar is batting 17-of-40 in an on-going 11-game hitting streak, while Zobrist has gone 11-of-31 with five doubles, four RBIs and two homers in his last seven outings. This offense should be able to test NY’s pitching staff.
Needless to say, it is not going to be an easy task for Escobar and Co., as they will be facing an in-form deGrom, who is enjoying a great debut season in the playoffs. The 2014 Rookie of the Year is meticulously 3-0 with a solid 1.80 ERA in his three postseason outings—all of them coming away from home.
“I just like pitching,” said deGrom. “On the road, it doesn’t really matter. I’ve actually enjoyed pitching on the road in the postseason. You go out there and you’re getting booed and it’s fun to try to silence the crowd.”
During the regular season, deGrom was just as impressive on the road, bragging of an 8-4 win-loss record, a 3.09 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, along with a .219 batting average against his opponents. The fact that KC’s top batters (Escobar and Zobrist) have yet to face Jacob deGrom means that it remains to be seen how they’ll perform against him, but having downed many quality batters in his playoffs so far, handling KC should be within the solid realms of possibility.
Plus, deGrom won’t be shouldering the burden alone. The offensive duo of Daniel Murphy and Curtis Granderson have been amazing in this year’s playoffs, owning batting averages of .400 and .289, respectively, while combining for 19 RBIs and eight homers. And, of course, having Yoenis Cespedes in the team means that there is enough star power in the Mets team to give the deGrom the much-needed support.
