World Series 2015: Schedule of Dates and Matchup Predictions

The 2015 World Series matchup will be set soon enough. After Wednesday's Championship Series action, one participant for the Fall Classic has been determined.

A lopsided NLCS saw the New York Mets sweep the upstart Chicago Cubs, clinch a World Series bid at Wrigley Field and dash the Cubs' hopes of breaking their lengthy championship drought. And, of course, disproved the Back to the Future Part II prophecy.

Similar dominance is being exacted by the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, though the Toronto Blue Jays showed grit in bouncing back with a 7-1 victory on Wednesday to cut their series deficit to 3-2. Toronto still has its work cut out with the ALCS headed back to Kauffman Stadium, though.

Continue on for a complete schedule of the MLB's grand postseason finale, along with analysis on the projected Fall Classic matchup.

Game	Date	Matchup	TV
1	Tuesday, Oct. 27	NL Champion at AL Champion	Fox
2	Wednesday, Oct. 28	NL Champion at AL Champion	Fox
3	Friday, Oct. 30	AL Champion at NL Champion	Fox
4	Saturday, Oct. 31	AL Champion at NL Champion	Fox
5*	Sunday, Nov. 1	AL Champion at NL Champion	Fox
6*	Tuesday, Nov. 3	NL Champion at AL Champion	Fox
7*	Wednesday, Nov. 4	NL Champion at AL Champion	Fox

Predicted Matchup and Preview: New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals

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As talented and deep as the Blue Jays are, it would be quite a shock to see Kansas City blow two home games in a row and miss out on a return trip to the World Series.

Appearing on baseball's biggest stage two years in a row is a remarkable feat. The Royals have all the makings of getting there and are only one win away. Let no one other than CNN's Larry King describe why K.C. and the Mets figure to wage an epic battle for the Commissioner's Trophy:

New York ace Jacob deGrom has lived up to the hype in the postseason en route to a 3-0 record. Between deGrom, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard, the Mets have a legitimate three-man punch in their pitching rotation to win most any best-of-seven series.

Former Mets pitcher Al Leiter has extremely high praise for New York's marquee trio:

A superior bullpen headlined by Wade Davis is what allows Kansas City to overcome its inferior starting pitching. That weakness has been exposed against the Blue Jays when struggling Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez have taken the hill in the ALCS, however.

The Mets staff creates such an advantage, but the Royals' experience from 2014 and the vengeance factor to get the job done in the World Series this time around neutralizes that to a degree.

Ever the little brother among the Big Apple's MLB franchises, though, one can bet New York will be playing with a chip on its shoulder even after eliminating the Cubs in such convincing fashion.

Led by Daniel Murphy's penchant for the long ball, the current National League champions have been jacking home runs at a stunning pace, per the New York Times' Tim Rohan:

Between the power the Mets currently boast and their pitching, they appear almost indefatigable no matter who their impending opponent is. Even rookie Steven Matz got in on the act in going 4.2 innings and yielding just one run to a dangerous Cubs lineup in the Mets' close-out Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Matz has proven capable of going into a hostile environment against a desperate, high-quality team and shutting it down. The 24-year-old's 4-0 mark with a 2.27 ERA in the regular season evidently wasn't a fluke.

If called upon in the World Series, it seems Matz can take the ball and thrive. He may not have to, but the fact that the Mets have him as a fallback plan simply makes them too tough for Kansas City to conquer—even with the home-field edge, thanks to the American League's All-Star Game win.

The Commissioner's Trophy will return to New York this year—but this time, the Mets are going to headline the victory parade.

Prediction: Mets win World Series in five games.