Both the Mets and Yankees have Monday off, as they prepare to square off for the first Subway Series of the year. A two game set that will feature the Mets as the home team taking place at Citi Field. As of now I am expected to be in attendance for the game, and with how the Yankees have been playing since Aaron Judge has gone on the IL, and with Anthony Volpe struggling at the dish, I may even be asked to suit up and play shortstop for this series. I have reached out to my close personal friend, Brian Cashman, but have not heard back yet.
Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso are both out, but even in a down year for the Mets (still too early to tell), two games against the Yankees provide heightened tension. The Mets (31-35) are not having nearly as good a season as the Yankees (38-29). But then the series experienced a huge power outage: Aaron Judge (toe) and Pete Alonso (wrist), who are leading their respective leagues in home runs, will both miss the series with injuries. With all that said, there is no love lost between these two teams. It isn't a surprise both games will be nationally broadcasted, despite their records and division standings, however Tuesday and Wednesdays pitching match ups bring some fire power.
TUESDAY: Luis Severino vs. Max Scherzer
Luis Severino (0-1, 5.75 E.R.A.) has made four starts for the Yankees after starting the season on the injured list. He looked great in the first two, striking out 10 batters in 11⅓ innings while allowing only two earned runs. But he has struggled in his last two starts. Like the majority of Yankee pitchers, Severino has been hurt by the long ball so far this year. Hopefully a start at Citi field can turn that around.
The results have also been mixed for Max Scherzer (5-2, 3.71 E.R.A.), who has had three starts in which he pitched at least six innings while allowing one or zero earned runs, and three other starts in which he allowed five or more earned runs. He also missed time for cheating (10-game suspension for violations of Major League Baseball’s rules against sticky substances).
WEDNESDAY: Gerrit Cole vs. Justin Verlander
Gerrit Cole (7-1, 2.84 E.R.A.) has had a great year in all regards, but has been particularly impressive when starting after a Yankees loss. Took his first official loss of the season this past Friday against the Boston Red Sox. In the six starts he has made this year in which his team lost the previous game, Cole has a 2.00 E.R.A. and the Yankees have won all six times. If Sevy can’t beat the Mets on Tuesday, Cole would be in line to get the Yanks back on track.
Justin Verlander (2-3, 4.85 E.R.A.), who has flashed some of the tenacity and talent that has him tied with Scherzer as the game’s highest paid pitcher, but has also been lit up in three of his seven starts. At 40, it is reasonable to consider if expectations for him should be changed going forward, though Verlander has proved such doubts wrong many times in the past. Keep in mind....his brother (Ben) is a loser.
Unsung heroes: Yankees bullpen
Heading into Sunday night, the Yankees' relief corps had posted a big-league best 2.78 ERA, while holding opponents to an MLB-low .209 batting average. No other bullpen in baseball had a collective ERA lower than 3.00, on a club where seven different pitchers have collected at least one save.
This is a good time for a little New York-New York madness to kick things up a notch.