1. Keep utilizing the bullpen
The Royals showed us last year that having your starter go seven-plus innings isn’t essential to victory when you have a solid bullpen. Kansas City’s bullpen this year is so solid that manager Ned Yost can be comfortable knowing he might only get five innings from his starter.
The Royals have a power quadruplet of Luke Hochevar, Ryan Madson, Kelvin Herrera, and Wade Davis. The core four together accumulated 13 2/3 innings, allowing only two runs, and an ERA of 1.32 over the course of the ALCS alone. Kelvin Herrera himself pitched 5 2/3 innings, and allowing only three hits. With the Mets own core four of Daniel Murphy, Yoenis Cespedes, Lucas Duda, and Travis d’Arnaud all being heavy hitters the Royals may be inclined to go to their bullpen in tough spots, but the staff is more than up to it and Ned Yost is surely confident in them by now.
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