How the Royals and Mets players match up in World Series

This is how the Royals and Mets match up at each position as they prepare to face off in the 111th World Series.

Catcher

Travis d’Arnaud vs. Salvador Perez

Neither player’s offense is going to make a fan’s heart flutter, but d’Arnaud had 12 homers in 67 games and clubbed three more in the playoffs. That included a shot off the Home Run Apple at Citi Field. It was a tough regular season for d’Arnaud, who missed time because of a hyperextended elbow and broken hand. Perez’s defensive rating at FanGraphs is significantly better than d’Arnaud’s, and while Perez doesn’t have a great average, he has four homers this postseason.

d’Arnaud’s playoff slash line: .206/.222/.471

Perez’s playoff slash line: .194/.293/.556

Edge: Royals

First base

Luca Duda vs. Eric Hosmer

That .234 on-base percentage for Hosmer in the postseason is frightening, but he has 11 RBIs and seems to have a knack for the big hit. Hosmer was a finalist for a Gold Glove a year ago. Duda is the hottest hitter in the postseason right now, if you consider only the last game played. He had five RBIs, two doubles and a homer in the clincher against the Cubs. It lifted his average considerably. Duda gets the edge in nicknames: It’s The Dude or The Big Lebowski.

Duda’s playoff slash line: .214/.290/.393

Hosmer’s playoff slash line: .222/.234/.311

Edge: Royals

Second base

Daniel Murphy vs. Ben Zobrist

It’s tough to get everyone to agree on roster moves, but Royals fans everywhere would love for Zobrist to return next season. He’s been excellent in the playoffs, hitting .326 with four doubles, two homers and six RBIs. Throw in some solid defensive plays, and it’s hard not to give the Royals the edge here. But you may have heard of Mets’ second baseman Daniel Murphy. He’s hit a home run in six straight playoff games (seven overall) and has an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 1.462. It’s one of the best postseason performances ever.

Murphy’s playoff slash line: .421/.436/1.026

Zobrist’s playoff slash line: .326/.375/.558

Edge: Mets

Third base

David Wright vs. Mike Moustakas

It’s not been a very good postseason for either player, as neither is hitting .200. Wright, the Mets’ captain, played just 38 games this season. In May, he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal. He hit .280 with 12 RBIs in 24 games after Aug. 31. Moustakas had a home run and five RBIs in the ALCS after hitting .111 in the ALDS.

Wright’s playoff slash line: .167/.359/.233

Moustakas’ playoff slash line: .167/.217/.262

Edge: Push

Shortstop

Wilmer Flores vs. Alcides Escobar

What a season it’s been for Flores. He wept on the field when he thought he’d been traded in July. In the NLDS, he didn’t start the first two games but took over when Ruben Tejada was injured by the Dodgers’ Chase Utley. Flores has done fine, hitting .292 in the postseason. Escobar has been on a terrific streak for the Royals. He’s hit in 10 straight games and his 17 hits overall are the most of any player in the postseason. He’s also scored nine runs in 11 games. Should that pace continue, the Royals will be on the right track. Even if Juan Uribe returns from injury and plays, Escobar gets the edge.

Flores’ slash line: .292/.370/.458

Escobar’s slash line: .386/.408/.545

Edge: Royals

Left field

Michael Conforto vs. Alex Gordon

While Conforto hit .270 with nine homers and 26 RBIs in 56 games this season after being brought up from the minors, he’s had a dreadful time in the playoffs, hitting below. 100. The Mets could opt to play Yoenis Cespedes in left field and Juan Lagares in center field if they are unhappy with Conforto’s production. Alex Gordon hasn’t been at his best at the plate, hitting .250 with three walks in the playoffs. But his defense is unparalleled.

Conforto’s playoff slash line: .067/.167/.267

Gordon’s playoff slash line: .250/.325/.417

Edge: Royals

Center field

Yoenis Cespedes vs. Lorenzo Cain

The one thing Royals fans haven’t seen this postseason is one of Cain’s jaw-dropping catches. That may come in the World Series. But everything else is typical Cain: sparking rallies, providing key hits and going from first to home on a single, which he’s done twice this postseason. Cespedes’ power can turn a game around, but he’s been dealing with a left shoulder injury.

Cespedes’ playoff slash line: .265/.286/.471

Cain’s playoff slash line: .275/.375/.375

Edge: Royals

Right field

Curtis Granderson vs. Alex Rios

Granderson is enjoying a renaissance this season. After a rough 2013-14, Granderson’s OPS jumped by more than 100 points in 2015. In the playoffs, he’s batted .303 with seven RBIs, five walks and four stolen bases. Rios has performed well in the playoffs with a .333 average, five RBIs and a home run. That includes a .400 average in his last eight playoff games. Neither player has had a particularly great season on defense.

Granderson’s playoff slash line: .303/.385/.364

Rios’ playoff slash line: .333/.389/.485

Edge: Mets

Designated hitter

Kendrys Morales vs. Michael Cuddyer

The Mets haven’t announced who will start at DH, but here’s guessing it’ll be Cuddyer (other options are Kelly Johnson and Lagares). Cuddyer has nine of his 10 home runs this season against right-handers, and the Royals won’t have a lefty in the starting lineup. No one else in the Royals’ lineup possesses the ability to change the course of a game with one swing like Morales. He’s a threat to go deep at any time. He has four home runs and 10 RBIs in the Royals’ 11 playoff games.

Cuddyer’s playoff slash line: .125/.222/.125

Morales’ playoff slash line: .268/.311/.561

Edge: Royals

Starting pitching

As good a postseason as Daniel Murphy has had, the Mets wouldn’t have advanced to this stage without their young guns in the rotation. Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz have been sensational. Opponents hit just .217 against Mets starters in the playoffs. The biggest question for the Royals is which Johnny Cueto will show up. By keeping Cueto out of a road start, the thinking is he should perform better at home. That’s the thinking. Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez and Chris Young have all had excellent stretches.

Mets playoff statistics as a group: 2.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 1.27 SO/IP, 0.33 BB/IP

Royals playoffs statistics as a group: 5.56 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 1.00 SO/IP, 0.52 BB/IP

Edge: Mets

Bullpen

Jeurys Familia has five saves in the postseason and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 9  2/3 innings. He’s been excellent. But would anyone take Familia over Wade Davis if given the choice? Nope. Kelvin Herrera shook off a bit of trouble in September and is dominating. He has 16 strikeouts and two walks in 8  2/3 innings. Luke Hochevar didn’t allow a run in three outings against the Blue Jays. The Mets counter with Tyler Clippard (5.79 ERA in the playoffs) and Addison Reed (2.70 ERA in playoffs).

Mets playoff statistics as a group: 3.16 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 0.86 SO/IP, 0.16 BB/IP

Royals playoffs statistics as a group: 2.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 1.44 SO/IP, 0.27 BB/IP

Edge: Royals

The Bench

The Royals haven’t used their bench nearly as much this postseason compared to 2014. But Paulo Orlando is a defensive upgrade in right, and Terrance Gore and Jarrod Dyson have speed that can’t be matched. The Mets’ hitters on the bench are fine, but if they stood out, there would be no question on who will be DH.

Edge: Royals

The pick

The Mets’ rotation thrives on fastballs that overmatch most teams. The Royals shouldn’t be one of those teams. Look for the Royals’ bullpen and ability to manufacture runs to make the difference.

Royals in 5

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "How the Royals and Mets players match up in World Series."