Starter Edinson Volquez set to rejoin Royals

NEW YORK - Kansas City Royals righthander Edinson Volquez remains in line to start a potential World Series Game 5 on Sunday night, just five days after the death of his father in his native Dominican Republic.

After pitching Game 1 on Tuesday, the same day as his father's passing, Volquez returned home to the Dominican. The veteran pitcher is expected to rejoin the Royals on Saturday in New York before Game 4 at Citi Field.

"He texted [Kansas City pitching coach] Dave [Eiland] [on Thursday] that everything was going good, and hopes to see him Saturday," Royals manager Ned Yost said on Friday. "We should see Eddie [Saturday]. He'll be ready to go."

Volquez's father, Daniel, died of heart failure at the age of 63. The veteran pitcher told the Associated Press in Santo Domingo on Wednesday that he did not learn of his father's passing until after he finished his start in Game 1, in which he allowed three runs over six innings in the Royals' 14-inning win.

Mets manager Terry Collins had a decision to make with his Game 3 lineup against Royals righthander Yordano Ventura: play his offensively superior outfield with Michael Conforto in left field or his better defensive outfield with Juan Lagares in center field.

Collins opted for Conforto in left field, meaning Yoenis Cespedes started in center field, despite the fact Conforto had only one hit in his first 20 postseason at-bats. That hit came in the rookie's first postseason at-bat, a home run off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Zack Greinke, in Game 2 of the National League division series.

"This is the team we won with," Collins said in explaining his lineup decision. "This is the team that's had most success against righthanded pitching. This is the team we should go with. This guy has had very, very good at-bats, and has nothing to show for it."

The July promotion of Conforto, 22, from double A was key to the Mets' offensive revival in the second half of the season.

"The confidence is there from the coaches, and I totally agree with it," Collins said. "If you show panic now, it could spread in the clubhouse, and I'm not going to do that. I like our lineup. I like what they've done all year long."

Steven Matz, a Long Island native and lifelong Mets fans, will start Game 4 for the Mets on Saturday. "This is what you write up in your backyard when you're playing Wiffle ball," the 24-year-old rookie said on Friday. He will oppose Kansas City's Chris Young. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen was presented before Friday's game with this year's Roberto Clemente Award, awarded annually to the player who best represents the game on and off the field.