The Yankees will be heading to Citi Field to begin this year’s Subway Series playing great baseball with another sweep on their mind against the struggling Mets.
- New York Yankees (40-18)
- New York Mets (27-32)
- 6/8-6/10, Start times: (7:10 PM, 7:15 PM, 8:05 PM) ET
- Citi Field, Queens, NY
The Yankees will begin a series with their cross-town rival Mets on Friday night with both teams heading in completely opposite directions at this point in the season. The Mets started off hot and have fallen off while the Yankees started off slow, but have become red-hot.
The Bronx Bombers are coming fresh off a two-game series sweep against the Blue Jays in Toronto. They were propelled by some clutch hitting and solid pitching performances.
Sonny Gray looked fantastic on Wednesday night pitching eight shutout innings in what was potentially his best start since arriving in New York.
Regardless, the Yankees will be heading towards Citi Field looking to tear the Mets apart, who recently got swept by the last-place Orioles. However, the Mets will be sending two of their best pitchers to the mound this series which will give the Bombers a bit of a challenge.
Pitching Matchups
Friday (6/8)
Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.79 ERA) vs. Jacob deGrom (4-0, 1.49 ERA)
The Subway Series will begin on Friday night with an intriguing pitching matchup between Masahiro Tanaka and Jacob deGrom.
Tanaka has won five consecutive decisions despite not really pitching all that well. He has allowed three or more runs in four out of his last five starts and has allowed at least one homer in each of those games as well.
deGrom has been the definition of dominant as of late and could take advantage of a Yankees lineup that has scuffled in the past few games. In his last eight starts, deGrom is sporting a 0.57 ERA.
However, the Yankees have been able to tag the right-hander over his career. He has only won one out of his four starts against the Bronx Bombers while sporting a 4.10 ERA.
Saturday (6/9)
Domingo German (0-4, 5.44 ERA) vs. Steven Matz (2-4, 3.42 ERA)
Since joining the Yankees rotation in place of injured Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German has struggled to find consistency. He showed improvements in his last start against the Tigers only surrendering four runs, but he still has to become more comfortable on the mound.
Taking the mound for the Mets will be left-hander Steven Matz, who has been solid since starting off the first month of the season a bit rocky. Since the beginning of May, Matz is sporting an impressive 2.32 ERA.
Much like deGrom, Matz has lacked success so far in his career against the Yanks. In three career starts, the left-hander is 1-2 with a 7.63 ERA.
Sunday (6/10)
Luis Severino (9-1, 2.20 ERA) vs. Noah Syndergaard (4-1, 3.06 ERA)
Sunday night will certainly be the best pitching matchup of the series with Luis Severino going head to head with Noah Syndergaard, two of MLB’s hardest-throwing starting pitchers.
Severino has been the best pitcher in the Yankees rotation by far this season and potentially one of the best in the league. The right-hander has won seven straight starts and struck out 10 batters in his last outing in Detroit.
Going up against Severino will be the Mets hard-throwing right-hander, Noah Syndergaard. This will be Syndergaard’s first start since May 25 due to a right index finger injury and will be looking to keep up his solid start to the season.
Predictions
The Yankees will sweep their cross-town rival Mets, it only makes sense. The only thing that would prevent the Yankees from doing so is if the Mets starters pitch good enough to shut the Yankees lineup down.
It is evident the Mets really want to win this series, judging by how they chose to pitch their best starters this weekend rather than next week against the Braves, who they are chasing in the National League East.