:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49170943/usa-today-8887146.0.jpg)
When the Mets start the 2016 season against the Kansas City Royals a week from tomorrow night, they'll be facing the right-handed Edinson Volquez at Kauffman Staidum. Royals manager Ned Yost tabbed Volquez, who had a 3.55 ERA in 33 starts during the regular season last year, over 2015 Opening Day starter Yordano Ventura, who has been dealing with the flu lately.
Volquez will face Matt Harvey in a rematch of Games 1 and 5 of the 2015 World Series, both won by Kansas City. Harvey is scheduled to make one more spring training start on March 29 against the Marlins. His last couple of spring starts have been a bit shaky, in terms of results, though he hasn't seemed concerned about that at all.
In the second game of the season, on Tuesday, April 5, the Royals will start Ian Kennedy, who they signed over the offseason, and the Mets will start Noah Syndergaard.