The Kansas City Royals are into the World Series after winning over the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series and they will host Game 1 on Tuesday. The Royals are into the World Series for the second straight season and they bring playoff experience with players like Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, Wade Davis, Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar on the roster.
Here are five things to know heading into the World Series for the Royals:
Kansas City won their second straight AL pennant
The Kansas City Royals suffered a tough seven game defeat against the San Francisco Giants last year in the World Series and they now are into the championship for the second straight season. The Royals have a number of players who will be looking to make up for the loss last season. The Royals were wild card winners last year and this season they were the top team in the AL and expected to make a deep postseason run.
The Royals have a deep lineup, a high contact rate and a strong offense
The Royals lineup is deep and the team has been scoring runs through the playoffs and now the team will have to deal with the depth of the Mets in the starting rotation. The Royals have been unafraid to swing their bats and the team comes in after having the highest contact rate in the regular season. The team has not been striking out and they have been swinging early in counts and that is one way they may try and get through the Mets rotation.
Alcides Escobar is hot (almost as hot as Daniel Murphy)
Escobar comes in after winning the ALCS MVP award in the series against the Blue jays and it comes after he set records as a leadoff hitter. Escobar went 11-for-23 in the series and according to ESPN.com, he is only the second player with 10 hits and five RBIs from the leadoff spot in the LCS.
The Royals bullpen has been top notch
The Royals bullpen was one of the main reasons why Kansas City made it to the World Series last year and it is one of the reasons they are back. Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and Luke Hochevar have all been strong this postseason and overall the group has allowed just one earned run and they have put up a 0.45 ERA in 20 innings pitched.
The Royals have home field advantage for the World Series
The American League won the All-star game this year and that means the Kansas City Royals will have home field advantage in the World Series. The Royals had more wins than the NY Mets this season, so things worked out in that sense and they will host Game 1 and Game 2 and then Games 6 and 7 if they are needed.
Check here for more on the Royals and the World Series schedule.
