WHO'S UP -- Facing elimination, the New York Mets have aces Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard lined up for the remainder of the World Series.
Is it an uphill battle trailing the Kansas City Royals three games to one? Of course. Eighty-five percent of teams facing that deficit in postseason history in a best-of-seven series have gone on to lose the series, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Still, the Mets had that precise rotation order for a three-game series against the Washington Nationals from July 31 through Aug. 2. The Amazin's swept that critical series to pull even for first place in the division. So pulling off three straight wins is not impossible, even if the Royals are more complete than the Nats -- or any team the Mets faced in the National League this season.
Harvey opposes Edinson Volquez at 8:15 p.m. ET on Sunday in a repeat of the Game 1 matchup. Volquez had been in the Dominican Republic between starts mourning his father's death. He rejoined the Royals on Saturday afternoon.
A career-low 37.5 percent of Harvey's pitches in the World Series opener were fastballs. That was partly a function of erratic command and partly respect for how well Kansas City batters handle the heater. Harvey expects to be sharper this time because he is working on regular rest.
Barring the Mets getting to a Game 7 and Harvey pitching in relief, this will be his final appearance of a drama-filled first season back from Tommy John surgery. He currently sits at 208 innings -- 28 innings over the level agent Scott Boras preferred he not exceed.
"As a starting pitcher and being a younger guy, I think getting to that 200-innings limit is something you always look for," Harvey said Saturday. "You kind of want to be a horse and go out there. And you look at guys who have thrown 230 innings year after year after year, that's kind of somebody who I've always wanted to be. I think, obviously, after this start I'll probably be hopefully around 215 innings or so. And that's a good mark for me. I'm definitely happy about that."
WHO'S HOT -- All right, one game maybe doesn't make you hot. But manager Terry Collins stuck with Michael Conforto through an 0-for-20 drought this postseason, insisting it would be a panic move to bench the rookie. Conforto, who had been hitting into some bad luck with line drives, rewarded his manager in Game 4 by becoming the second player in franchise history with a two-homer game in the World Series, joining Gary Carter.
WHO'S NOT -- Jeurys Familia officially suffered his second blown save of the World Series on Saturday, but it was Tyler Clippard who put the closer in an unenviable position by walking two batters with one out in the eighth. After struggling down the stretch in the regular season, Clippard has a 6.75 ERA this postseason. Collins has stuck with Clippard in the eighth inning. Maybe there isn't a better option (other than maybe trying Bartolo Colon), but the loyalty to Clippard has cost the Mets.
Yoenis Cespedes also has been quiet in the Fall Classic, except for kicking balls in the outfield. He's hitting only .176 with six strikeouts in 17 at-bats.
WHAT'S AT STAKE -- It's win or go home for the Mets. Enough said.
