5 things we know entering World Series Game 4

Here are five things we know about the World Series heading into Game 4 on Saturday in New York:

--The captain's bat might have returned for the Mets. Third baseman David Wright's second foray into postseason play had not gone well until Friday when he hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs. He had three RBIs in the postseason before Friday and seven hits in 41 at-bats. Wright seemed aggressive in his at-bats, driving a 0-1 fastball from right-hander Yordano Ventura into the left-center field seats with nobody out in the first. In the sixth, with the Mets already up 6-3, Wright stroked a first-pitch fastball from right-hander Kelvin Herrera. Wright's performance were the most RBIs by a Met in a World Series game since Rusty Staub in Game Four in 1973 against Oakland.

-- The Mets may have the advantage on the bench. With the series shifting to New York and the pitcher having to bat, the benches figured to be more prominent. The Mets had Juan Uribe on their bench in a key spot and he continued his knack for big World Series hits by getting an RBI single during New York's four-run sixth inning. Uribe batted .219 during the regular season after being acquired from Atlanta on July 24, but his reputation got him a standing ovation from the fans before lining a 2-2 pitch into right field. The Royals could have used regular DH Kendrys Morales to bat in the pitcher's spot when it came up in the fifth, but manager Ned Yost opted to keep him on the bench when it was a two-run game. He likely did it because that spot was leading off and he wanted to have Morales up with runners on. Instead, Yost went to infielder Raul Mondesi Jr, who struck out swinging.

-- Two games to one is significantly better than three games to none: This is the 54th time a team has won the first two games in the World Series. In the previous 53 instances, the team winning the first two games has won the series 42 times. Twenty-four of those teams have won Game 3, and unlike the ALCS, no team has ever blown a 3-0 lead. Should the Mets manage to get it to 2-2 and win the fifth game, their chances may increase for winning the series. In 44 instances, the series has been tied after four games and 26 times the home team has won the fifth game in that situation.

-- Youth will either help or hinder the Mets' chances of evening the series. The Mets have had uneven performances from their youthful rotation in the series and will turn to another youngster in left-hander Steven Matz on Saturday. Matz made six regular-season starts and the Long Island native started the NLCS clincher in Chicago when he allowed a run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Like Noah Syndergaard in Game 3, Matz will have to pitch without getting phased by adversity. Syndergaard gave the Mets six innings and ended his outing by getting a groundout with the bases loaded when it was a two-run game. He also will have to make adjustments if the Royals are able to hit fastballs like they did in the early innings Friday.

-- How much will Chris Young have? It is a valid question for the Royals after Young threw 53 pitches in three innings in Game 1. Young hit 90 mph on a few of his pitches but will be starting on three days' rest, which might put the Royals at a pitching disadvantage. A short outing could also hinder the Royals because right-hander Yordano Ventura lasted 3 1/3 innings on Friday and manager Ned Yost used six relievers.