This historic series dates back to the New York Giants – Brooklyn Dodgers era, earning its name as each game was easily accessible by taking the subway.
Since interleague play began in 1997, the Yankees have held a 75-52 record, including postseason games, with an impressive 11-3 Subway Series record and 11 series ties.
Game 1 of this series pits Yankees starter Luis Severino vs. Mets ace Max Scherzer. First pitch at Citi Field is slated for Tuesday night at 7:15 pm and carried nationally on TBS.
Wednesday’s probable starter for Game 2 is Gerrit Cole, while the Mets plan on countering with Justin Verlander. First pitch is set for 7:00 pm and televised by ESPN.
Yankees Running Cold
The Yankees are 9.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East standings and have lost four of their last 10. New York is fresh off a series loss to the Boston Red Sox and, before that, suffered a series loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Injuries have taken their toll on the Bronx Bombers: MVP candidate Aaron Judge won’t play in this series, and OFs Harrison Bader and Greg Allen, along with SP Nestor Cortes, have also been ruled out.
Overall, the Yankees’ offense is seventh in the American League but is second in home runs. The starting rotation ranks sixth in team ERA, but the bullpen leads the American League in team ERA while issuing the fifth most walks.
2023 Yankees at a Glance
- 1B Anthony Rizzo leads the Yankees in hits and second in RBI
- 2B Gleybor Torres is batting .253 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI
- Rookie SS Anthony Volpe leads the team in steals with nine jacks but is batting .186
- 3B DJ LeMahieu is batting .236 with 61 strikeouts
- OF Giancarlo Stanton has missed over 50% of the season thus far
- SP Domingo German leads the staff in WHIP with four quality starts
- SP Gerrit Cole leads New York in wins, quality starts, and strikeouts
- RP Clay Holmes leads the Yankees in saves and blown saves
- RP Wandy Peralta is the Yankees holds leader with four saves
- RP Ron Maranaccio is the Bullpens’ strikeout leader with six holds and four saves
Mets are a Mess
The Mets are 9.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, and they enter the Subway Series having dropped eight of their past 10 games in the MLB. The Metropolitans lost two of three this past weekend to Pittsburgh, and before that, the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays swept the Mets in their respective three-game series.
Injuries have riddled New York: Closer Edwin Diaz suffered a freak season-ending injury during the World Baseball Classic. Verlander and Scherzer have both missed time as well. 1B Pete Alonzo has been ruled out for this series.
The Mets’ offense is eighth in the National League and No. 13 in batting average, with pedestrian numbers across the board. The starting rotation ranks 14th in team ERA, and the bullpen leads the National League in holds but ranks 11th in strikeouts.
New York Mets at a Glance
- CF Brandon Nimmo leads the club in batting average, hits, and OBP but tops in strikeouts
- SS Francisco Lindor is second on the team in home runs but batting .216 with a team-high 64 strikeouts
- OF Starling Marte leads New York with 18 stolen bases
- 2B Jeff McNeil is second on the team in hits and batting average
- DH Daniel Vogelbach has struggled, batting .206 with two bombs and 14 RBI
- SP Kodai Senga leads the Mets’ starting rotation with six wins, but the most walks allowed
- SP Tyler McGill is second in victories but has allowed the most hits and walks
- RP Brooks Raley leads the bullpen with 13 holds
- RP David Robertson leads the bullpen in saves and strikeouts
New York Yankees vs. New York Mets Subway Series Preview
The Subway Series is always a national draw, and this season is no different, as both contests are nationally televised.
Neither team is playing well right now. The Yankees have dropped six of their last 10, and the Mets are playing awful baseball, dropping eight of their last 10 ball games.
The pitching matchups are stellar; Game 1 pits Yankees starter Luis Severino against Mets ace Max Scherzer while Game 2 features American League Cy Young Award favorite Gerrit Cole against five-time American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.
Severino has allowed 11 earned runs over his past nine innings of work. Scherzer has allowed six earned runs over the previous 12.2 frames on the bump but allowed five of those runs in his last start against the Atlanta Braves.
Cole has been phenomenal this season. He’s allowed three earned runs over his last 12.2 frames. Verlander started the season on the IL and has struggled, allowing 11 earned runs over his last 14 innings (3 starts).
New York Yankees vs. New York Mets Subway Series Prediction
The pitchers certainly have the edge, as both clubs struggle to score runs.
Scherzer is coming off a horrible outing in Atlanta, and we should expect him to bounce back against the Yankees as a -134 favorite. The Mets’ offense hasn’t been good, but they should be able to score enough against a struggling Severino and the Mets sneak out a much-needed win.
Cole has allowed one earned run in his past 12 away frames, and besting the man who edged him out of the 2019 Cy Young Award is probably something he’d like to do. The Mets offense will likely accommodate him, and Verlander is struggling to regain his 2022 form. Look for the Yankees to pull that one out.
