Under-the-Radar 2015 World Series Storylines That Will Make Big Impact

Between now and the start of the 2015 World Series, there's going to be a lot of talk about the layoff, and for good reason.

The New York Mets haven't played since last Wednesday, and extended breaks have not been kind to Fall Classic participants. Five of the last six teams that had five or more days off before the World Series ended up losing, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

While it will be worth watching out to see if the Mets can buck that trend, it's far from the only narrative to keep an eye on as the World Series approaches.

From the emergence of Bartolo Colon as a middle reliever to the potential disappearance of Kendrys Morales, here are a few of the under-the-radar storylines that will make a major impact in this matchup between the Mets and the Kansas City Royals.

Bartolo Colon, Super-Reliever

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Everyone knows about the Mets' nasty rotation, headlined by the likes of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

This postseason, electric closer Jeurys Familia is also making his mark. In eight playoff appearances, the righty is 5-for-5 in save opportunities and has given up zero runs and just two hits in 9.2 innings of work.

But for the Mets, successfully bridging the gap from the starters to the ninth inning will be vital—especially since the Kansas City Royals' relief crew is downright stingy in the late frames.

Based on the way the postseason has played out, Bartolo Colon is the first middle reliever whom manager Terry Collins should call on when big outs are needed.

The 42-year-old right-hander delivered in the decisive Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, punching out Kris Bryant to end the fifth inning before working a clean sixth.

“Bartolo came in and did what he’s been doing all year for us,” David Wright said, per Dan Martin of the New York Post. “He stopped the bleeding and got us out of a big jam.”

With the Royals making a habit of stringing together late rallies, more big jams are on tap. The Mets will need the always-composed veteran to safely navigate through those messes.

Who Wins the Battle of Power?

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard throw flat-out gas. That could be a problem against the Royals.

According to the Associated Press, via USA Today, Kansas City clocked in with a .300 average against pitches of 95 mph or more, which was the best mark in the bigs.

While that average would appear to favor the Royals in this power battle, it's worth noting that the Mets' top three starters all utilize a wide arsenal of pitches. According to BrooksBaseball.net, Harvey, deGrom and Syndergaard have all been relying on five different pitches during the postseason.

Due to the Royals' knack for raking against the fast stuff, the shrewd move for these rising aces would be to lean heavily on their breaking balls and off-speed pitches in the upcoming clashes.

What Happens to Kendrys Morales?

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

With Games 3, 4 and 5 slated to be played at Citi Field, it looks like designated hitter Kendrys Morales could be spending a lot of time on the bench.

That's a major bummer for the Royals, as the switch-hitter has mashed four home runs and driven in 10 during the club's postseason surge.

Shifting Morales to first base when the series moves to the NL park is a non-starter. After all, regular first baseman Eric Hosmer is rapidly becoming an October legend. In his first two trips to the postseason, the lefty has racked up 23 RBI in 26 games. That ties George Brett for the most in franchise history, according to the MLB Stat of the Day Twitter account.

One bold idea would be to send Morales to right field to step in for Alex Rios. According to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star, manager Ned Yost had Morales in the outfield during batting practice back in September. While the skipper was skeptical at first, he came away impressed with what he saw.

“What makes you question it is you watch him run the bases and his foot speed isn’t great,” Yost said. “But he gets great jumps on the ball. And his routes to the ball are good. And he handles the ball. Like, when [Hosmer] gets out there, it’s awkward. With him, it’s not awkward. It’s natural.”

Even if the lumbering DH looked like a natural during BP, it would be awfully risky to throw him out at a position that he hasn't played in the majors since 2008 on baseball's biggest stage.

The Running Game

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

As Lorenzo Cain proved when he dashed from first to home in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, heads-up baserunning makes all the difference.

While Cain and the rest of the Royals have a reputation for being aggressive on the bases, the squad has been surprisingly quiet on the stolen-base front this October. In 11 games, the Royals are just 7-for-10 in steal attempts. But that could change at any moment. During the regular season, the Royals tallied the second-most steals in the majors.

The Mets have also demonstrated that they have the potential to make game-changing plays with their legs. During the NLCS, New York swiped seven bags in four games in the process of sweeping aside the Chicago Cubs. Against Chicago, Curtis Granderson was the most dangerous Met on the bases, as the leadoff man was 3-for-4 in steal attempts.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.