Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost named right-hander Edinson Volquez as their Opening Day starter when they’ll play the New York Mets in a historic World Series rematch at Kauffman Stadium.
“He had a phenomenal year last year,” Yost told reporters. “He’s the veteran guy of our staff. He deserved it.”
Volquez will of course face Mets right-hander Matt Harvey on Sunday, April 3, reenacting their dramatic Game 1 and Game 5 confrontations of last season’s Fall Classic.
“It’ll be like a video we’re watching over and over,” Volquez said after learning he would pitch the season opener. “I’m going to face Harvey again. It’s going to be a great game. He’s a great pitcher too.”
When these two pitchers last faced each other, Volquez surrendered two runs in six innings, while Harvey threw eight scoreless innings before allowing two runs in a stunning ninth inning that led to the Mets’ defeat.
In the second game of the two-game series, the Royals will start right-hander Ian Kennedy while the Mets are expected to start their young hard-throwing righty Noah Syndergaard. The Royals signed Kennedy to a five-year, $70 million deal during the offseason.
It all begins is seven days.
