Mets World Series: Lineups announced for Mets and Royals for Game 5

If tonight is the last Mets game of the season, manager Terry Collins can't be accused of changing anything drastically to induce a spark from his offense. The Mets will feature the same lineup as the previous two games, hoping many of his slumping bats can awaken just in time to save the season.

The Mets haven't been dominated in this series, but the Royals have been better enough often enough to hold a 3-1 lead and put the Mets in an uncomfortable spot. Apart from Friday night's offensive outburst, the Mets' bats have struggled against the Royals almost since the first pitch of Game 1 last Tuesday. The Mets don't need an explosion from their lineup, they just need a few more key hits in a few more big spots.

The real shakeup—which may come too late, and possibly not at all—is due in their bullpen, where Tyler Clippard has done much to warrant a demotion from the eighth inning, but so far Collins isn't listening. While Clippard is hardly the team's only problem, his two walks last night—to a team that doesn't walk much to begin with—both game around to score, and he's been among the Mets' least trustworthy relievers for two months now.

Whatever happens this evening—if indeed this is the last Mets game of 2015—let's try to enjoy it as much as we can.