2015 World Series: Mets down, but pitching means they're not out
The Mets are down three games to one in the World Series. They're in a tough spot, but their pitching staff means they're not totally out of it.
By
Mike Axisa
•
3 min read
NEW YORK -- Saturday night's Game 4 loss was a gut punch for the Mets. They had the lead in the eighth inning, but poor bullpen decisions and a critical error by Daniel Murphy opened the door for the Royals. Give the Royals an inch, and they'll take a mile. They've done it all postseason.
"That's just what our team does. We feel like if we can keep the game close, we're going to find a way to win it," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "It's a team that just looks for a little crack. If we find a little crack, they're going to make something happen."
The Royals are back where they were last season: one win away from a World Series championship. The difference now is they have three chances to win that one game. Last year they had just one. After falling short in Game 7 last year, you can be sure the Royals know the fourth win is the hardest.
The Mets, meanwhile, are in desperation mode. They have no margin for error. It's a very tough position -- the last team to come back from down three games to one in the World Series was the 1985 Royals, who needed help from Don Denkinger -- and you don't need to be a baseball diehard to know the odds are stacked against them.
That said, not all hope is lost. The Mets have one thing going for them these next three games, the same thing they've had going for them all season and postseason: their pitching. Matt Harvey will start Game 5 Sunday, Jacob deGrom is lined up start a potential Game 6 Tuesday, and Noah Syndergaard is ready for a potential Game 7 Sunday.
"Every game is a must-win game; it's the World Series. You have to win every single game," said Mike Moustakas. "And like you said, they have four stud pitchers. (Steven) Matz is a stud, Harvey and deGrom and Syndergaard, those guys are phenomenal pitchers."
Here are the pitching matchups for the next three games, of which only the first is guaranteed to be played:
Sunday, Game 5: Harvey vs. Edinson Volquez
Monday: Off-day
Tuesday, Game 6: deGrom vs. Johnny Cueto
Wednesday, Game 7: Syndergaard vs. Yordano Ventura
It's not hard to look at all three of those pitching matchups and think the Mets have an advantage. Volquez had an emotionally draining week following the death of his father -- he returned from the Dominican Republic and rejoined the team Saturday -- and is perpetually enigmatic on the mound anyway. He can be great, or he can struggle to throw strikes.
Cueto has been hit-or-miss since joining the Royals. The hits can be very good. Look at Game 2 of the World Series last week. But the misses? Boy, they can be bad. He allowed eight runs in two innings in Game 3 of the ALCS. Ventura has a 6.43 ERA and opponents are hitting .303/.367/.502 against him in five starts this October.
Harvey and deGrom did not pitch well in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, but they were also working with a lot of extra rest, which may have thrown off their routines. It's a Catch 22 -- the extra rest is good this time of year but pitchers are creatures of habit, and if you disrupt their routines, it can impact their performance.
"Regarding the innings stuff, I think that's kind of all taken care of. And obviously completely thrown out of the window," said Harvey prior to Game 4. "So as far as tomorrow goes, I know obviously I'm excited about that it's a normal day's rest."
The Mets are in a very bad spot. There's no way to sugarcoat it. That Game 4 loss was devastating. Their only real ray of hope at this point is their pitching staff and the fact that they have three truly excellent pitchers lined up for Games 5-7. The rotation has the been foundation of their success all year and it will be the key to their World Series comeback attempt.
"We're in a tough situation, but we're not dead yet," said manager Terry Collins. "And we've got our three guys that we've turned to. Seems like each and every time we've had a big series, those are the three guys that we run out there, and we've just got to keep getting all three of them."
