The first chapter of this year’s Subway Series is set to unfold under contrasting circumstances, as the New York Yankees and New York Mets prepare to face off. The Yankees, consistently among the American League’s elite, find themselves up against a Mets team struggling at the bottom of the standings—a scenario marked by high expectations but disappointing results.
However, when these crosstown rivals collide, past performances often take a backseat. The Yankees are currently navigating a challenging road trip, experiencing a slump that could be their toughest of the season. Meanwhile, the Mets have recently shown signs of life, achieving their first series sweep this past Thursday.
Fans at Citi Field will be eager to rally behind their team as the series kicks off on Friday night. The energy in the stadium promises to be electric, as supporters look for any glimmer of hope to cheer for.
At the plate
Getting on base
The struggles of the Mets’ offense have been noteworthy, particularly as they entered Thursday with the lowest on-base percentage in the league. Outside of Juan Soto, who has endured a difficult May and nearly suffered an injury scare on Wednesday after fouling a ball off his ankle, consistent on-base contributions have been scarce. The Mets are hopeful that rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing can ignite their lineup, but so far, established players like Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien have struggled in this aspect. In contrast, the Yankees, though not prolific in hitting, have made up for it by drawing walks. Key players such as Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger have maintained positions in the top 20 for much of the year, while Bichette, Semien, and Brett Baty have languished in the bottom 30. The Mets’ woes have been compounded by Francisco Lindor’s absence due to a strained calf, while the Yankees are dealing with Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s underperformance.