The season’s first installment of the Subway Series begins Tuesday at Citi Field with both teams looking capable of making a postseason run, the Mets having shaken off an abysmal May.
Aaron Judge (99) congratulates New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) on his 2-run home run during the third inning when the New York Yankees played the Seattle Mariners Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY
The Yankees are in the middle of their first rough patch of the season, so this two-game series is important for both teams.
At the plate
Getting on base
Among the reasons for the Yankees’ first-inning success this season is the trio of Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge at the top of the lineup.
No one has gotten on base more often than Soto and Judge, but the Yankees lack consistency through the rest of the lineup and have gotten little from Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu.
Jose Trevino #39, tags out Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon #14, as he tried to score on a single to right, but Juan Soto threw him out on a close play in the 9th inning
For the Mets, J.D. Martinez has been excellent in getting the offense going and Brandon Nimmo has come on of late.
Former batting champ Jeff McNeil, though, has continued to struggle.
Edge: Yankees
Power
Even more than creating traffic, the tandem of Judge and Soto made the Yankees perhaps the most feared offense in the American League so far this season thanks to their might.
They are 1-2 in the American League in OPS and only the Orioles have hit more homers than the Yankees in the majors this season.
The loss of Giancarlo Stanton to a hamstring injury takes away another powerful bat.
Luis Gil #81 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during the first inning against the Orioles
Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 16 homers and has shown signs of heating up of late, while Francisco Lindor has been excellent over the past month and Mark Vientos has provided the offense the Mets had hoped for when they gave him the job at third base over Brett Baty.
Edge: Yankees
On the basepaths
Neither team was built around burners on the bases, but the Mets have three players with double-digit steals (Lindor, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte, although Marte has been battling a knee injury) and Volpe is the only one in that category for the Yankees.
Edge: Mets
In the field
Infield
This series won’t feature too much infield wizardry, although Lindor and Volpe are terrific at shortstop, with Volpe looking better defensively than he did as a rookie when he won the AL Gold Glove at the spot.
And while Jose Trevino went through a rough patch with throwing out base stealers, he and Wells still have been among the best in overall defense behind the plate, while Alvarez has been better than he was a year ago.
Edge: Yankees
Outfield
In addition to bringing more energy and personality — as well as a left-handed bat — to the Yankees, Alex Verdugo has navigated left field well, while Nimmo has been just OK in shifting to left.
Bader has been as advertised as one of the best in the game in center and Judge has been average in moving over from right to accommodate Soto, who has made some misplays lately, but has been solid overall.
Edge: Even
Bench
Jose Iglesias has provided a much-needed spark for the Mets after not having played in the majors since 2022.
The Yankees haven’t gotten much from Wells or bench players Cabrera and Jahmai Jones.
Trent Grisham has yet to discover a defined role, while DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor have contributed in Queens.
Ex-Met J.D. Davis, just acquired by the Yankees, should help from the right side as lefty-swinging rookie Ben Rice fills in for Anthony Rizzo at first.
Edge: Mets
On the mound
Rotation
For this short series, the Yankees are scheduled to go with last year’s AL Cy Young winner, Gerrit Cole, followed by Luis Gil, who — until his last start — was considered a front-runner for this year’s award.
Cole will be making just his second start since coming back from an elbow injury, while Gil will try to bounce back from his worst outing of the season.
Clay Holmes throws in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, June 23, 2024
The Mets will go with David Peterson and Sean Manaea, who have been decent but are not in any awards conversations.
Edge: Yankees
Bullpen
Both ’pens are a bit of a mess now. The Mets will be without closer Edwin Diaz, who is set to begin a 10-game suspension after being ruled to have used a sticky substance Sunday.
Without Diaz, they could turn to Reed Garrett to close, while other relievers, like the emerging Dedniel Nunez, will likely be put in more high-leverage situations.
For the Yankees, they’ve made a flurry of moves in an effort to shore up the ’pen, with varying levels of success.
New York Mets at London Stadium: Carlos Mendoza #64 of the New York Mets signals for a new pitcher during the fourth inning
Closer Clay Holmes also struggled in three straight appearances before a stellar outing against Atlanta.
Edge: Yankees
Manager
This will be Carlos Mendoza’s first Subway Series as a manager after spending the previous six years on Aaron Boone’s coaching staff with the Yankees.
In his first season in Queens, Mendoza has navigated a lot of ups and downs and has the Mets in the wild-card race.
Boone had the Yankees flying high until this month, but they remain in first place.
Edge: Yankees
Intangibles
The Yankees have lost six of their last eight games, but remain in first place in the AL East over Baltimore. They’re still trying to solidify the bullpen and their corner infield spots and will be without Stanton for a month.
The Mets have dropped just two of their last 11 games and have shaken off an abysmal May. Still, the Mets enter the series under .500.
Edge: Yankees
