Mets Are Going to Hit
So far in the playoffs, the Mets have faced the top two 1-2 starting pitching tandems in a of baseball. I didn’t forget the Mets here. They’re a trio, but I digress. In the games started by those pitchers, the Mets are 4-2. In all other games, they are 3-0.
In the NLDS, the Mets had to face Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke four out of five games. In those games, the Mets averaged 1.5 runs per game and 5 hits per game. Despite this, the Mets still advanced in the NLDS behind their own terrific pitching.
In the NLCS, the Mets faced Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta just one game each due to the sweep. In those two games, the Mets averaged 4 runs per game and 6.5 hits per game. Keep in mind Greinke, Kershaw, and Arrieta are going to finish 1-3 in the Cy Young voting. The Mets were 3-2 against them. When you beat good pitching you advance in the postseason.
In the World Series, the Mets won’t face a Greinke, Kershaw, or Arrieta. In the playoff games not started by those pitchers, the Mets average 7.5 runs per game and 10.8 hits per game. While the Mets may not have the greatest numbers against some of the Royals starters, they are still facing a starting staff who is struggling in the postseason:
Royals starters: 5.56 ERA this postseason, 3rd-highest rotation ERA by a team to reach the World Series in Wild Card era (1995) @EliasSports
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 27, 2015
Furthermore, the Royals are allowing 4 runs per game and 8.5 hits per game. This shows us what we know. The Royals started haven’t been good, but their bullpen has been terrific. This means the Mets must jump on the starters early and often.
Ultimately, the Mets have been teeing off on inferior pitching. If this continues, we may see an unexpectedly offensive series. If that’s the case, the Mets will be scoring runs at a much higher rate. Hopefully, it’s a high enough rate that the Royals can’t keep up.
In any event, I don’t care how the Mets do it. I just care that they win.