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New York Mets should prefer to play Kansas City Royals in World Series

By Nick Ziegler

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The New York Mets have returned to the World Series for the first time since the 2000 season against the New York Yankees.

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After sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS, the Mets now are playing the waiting game to see who they will have to play in the World Series. While the Mets are celebrating, the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays are still battling for the American League title.

The Royals are no strangers to the big games of October, as they faced the San Francisco Giants in the World Series last year. The Royals were unable to win the World Series after an all-time great performance from Madison Bumgarner, who carried the Giants to a title.

The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are new to the postseason this year after a long hiatus. In recent years, the Blue Jays have had a talented lineup, but this season has seen one of the best lineups in recent memory created.

In the offseason, the Blue Jays were persistent in trying to acquire Josh Donaldson from the Oakland Athletics, and that that has paid great dividends this season. Donaldson is an MVP candidate in the American League, as his great season has helped the turn round in Toronto.

The addition of Donaldson was a great move for the Blue Jays in the offseason, but even with them tearing the cover off the ball in the first part of the season, they still need some help to jump the New York Yankees in the AL East standings. At the trade deadline, the Blue Jays made two huge moves to propel themselves into meaningful baseball in October. The first move the Blue Jays made was a shocking one, as they swapped shortstops with the Colorado Rockies to bring in Troy Tulowitzki.

An already great lineup saw an instant improvement with the talented Tulowitzki in it, but the move was also a big boost to their defense, as Jose Reyes’ defensive abilities were regressing. The Tulowitzki trade was a great one for the Blue Jays, but what they really needed was to get an ace to headline their rotation.

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At the trade deadline, the Blue Jays went all in to acquire David Price from the Detroit Tigers and the former Cy Young award winner instantly made their rotation better.

The Blue Jays were one of the best teams in the second half of the season along with the Mets, but Toronto has seen themselves pushed in the playoffs by the Texas Rangers and the Royals. The Mets have the advantage of setting their rotation up the way they want it with the extra days rest.

New York can’t pick their opponent for the fall classic, but they should have a team that they would prefer to play. While the Royals had the best record in the American League this season, they seem to be a far less scary team to face than the Blue Jays. Toronto’s ability to crush any pitcher has to be concerning for the Mets, as there is no easy way to navigate that lineup.

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We may know as soon as Friday night who the Mets will be facing, as the Royals can win the series at home in Game 6.

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