Series Preview: Series 27 vs. Mets
Photo Via: Brad Penner — USA TODAY SportsThe Subway Series is back, with fans this time! Both teams badly need a series victory. This Fourth of July weekend will not feature the deGrom-Cole matchup we wanted, but some really good pitchers will take the mound, Cole included.
Yankees Record: 41-39
Mets Record: 41-36
Season Series: 0-0
Lifetime Record: 74-54 (Yankees leading)
Game 1
Saturday, July 3 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, WPIX 11, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Taijuan Walker - RHP (NYM) vs. Jordan Montgomery - LHP (NYY)
Game Notes: The Friday night matchup between the Yankees and Mets will kick off with Jordan Montgomery, instead of Gerrit Cole. With yesterday’s game rained out, the Yankees bumped Cole to the Saturday game instead. Montgomery has a 4.06 ERA on the season.
The Mets will send Taijuan Walker to the mound. He has been outstanding for them this year. He has a 6-2 record, 2.38 ERA, and has compiled 82 strikeouts.
Game 2
Sunday, July 4 — 2:05 pm — WPIX 11, SNY, MLB Network (Originally was scheduled for Friday at 7:05 pm)
Probable Pitchers: Marcus Stroman - RHP (NYM) vs. Gerrit Cole - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Gerrit Cole is coming off his worst start since becoming a Yankee. He allowed 6 runs and 3 homers at Fenway Park last weekend. Now against the cross-town rivals, Cole will try to redeem himself. He has a 2.66 ERA on the season.
Marcus Stroman is in the midst of the best season of his career. He holds a 6-6 record, but a 2.45 ERA at this point. He was very vocal about not wanting to pitch for the Yankees, so I do not expect a warm welcome for him in the Bronx.
Game 3
Sunday, July 4 — 7:08 pm — ESPN
Probable Pitchers: Tylor Megill - RHP (NYM) vs. Nestor Cortes Jr. - LHP (NYY)
Game Notes: The Yankees have yet to announce a starter for Sunday night’s game. Michael King is in line to make the start before the team’s off day on Monday.
(Update: Michael King pitched in Game 2. The Yankees named LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. as the starting pitcher for this game.)
The Mets will go with Tylor Megill. The righty from the University of Arizona (greatest school in the nation) has only thrown 9.1 innings this season. His ERA is currently at 4.82.
Sluggers to Watch
Gary Sánchez will remain on here until he does not deserve it anymore. That has not happened yet. He hit a towering opposite field upper deck home run against the Angels and was spraying the ball all over the yard. Sánchez put together a great month of June (.289 AVG, 8 homers, 1.035 OPS). Hopefully that carries over into the next month. The pitching matchups are not easy, but if Gary keeps that short stride going, he should be able to hit anyone.
Aaron Judge is still the superstar of this Yankees team. With the bright lights on against the cross-town foes, I expect Judge to be the leader of the offense. As we saw against Houston and Boston, sometimes Judge will try to do too much. I think those days are behind him and he learned that lesson. I fully expect Judge to dominate his at bats. Judge is 8-for-18 with 4 home runs in his career against Marcus Stroman, so I am excited to see that matchup.
Pete Alonso is just starting to find his pop again, not long before he will defend his title in the MLB Home Run Derby. He has homered twice in his last 4 games after having only 1 homer in 18 games prior to that. There is no doubt that Alonso wants to play well against the Yankees. Yankees pitching has had problems with giving up home runs this season, and nobody on the Mets has better raw power than the Polar Bear.
Francisco Lindor is not having the season Mets fans dreamed of when he was traded there and inked a huge extension to stay in Queens for the next decade. However, I think this will be a series where Lindor starts a turnaround. He is familiar with Yankee Stadium (career .303 hitter with 5 homers in 17 games there). He is familiar with the Yankees pitching staff. This is the perfect time for Mr. Smile to get comfortable and hit well from both sides of the plate.
Injury Report
OF Clint Frazier exited Wednesday’s game due to dizziness. Obviously, this is not good considering his concussion history. At this point, it is unknown if the Yankees will place him on the injured list or if he is day-to-day.
RHP Luis Severino strained his groin (grade 2) while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He is now doing sprints and playing light catch and could return in late July or early August.
RHP Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), RHP Corey Kluber (right shoulder strain), and CF Aaron Hicks (wrist surgery - out for season) are all out for the series.
LHP Wandy Peralta (back) is on the 10-day injured list, but will be eligible to return for Sunday’s game.
LHP Zack Britton (strained hamstring) is on the 10-day injured list and is not eligible to return for this series.
Schmidt recently threw all of his pitches in a bullpen session, but has not progressed to a rehab assignment yet. That could occur this week.
Kluber recently threw from 60 feet, but has not progressed to the point of mound work. He is expected to return in late August or early September.
Mets INF Robinson Cano is currently serving a season-long suspension for a failed PED test and will not make a return to Yankee Stadium this weekend.
OF Brandon Nimmo (bone bruise on finger) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday night’s game.
The Mets have the following players on the 10-day injured list who will not play this series:
C Tomás Nido (wrist contusion)
INF Jonathan Villar (strained calf)
OF Johneshwy Fargas (sprained shoulder)
RHP Jeurys Familia (hip impingement)
The Mets have the following players on the 60-day injured list who will not play in this series:
INF J.D. Davis (sprained finger)
José Martínez (torn meniscus — surgery)
RHP Carlos Carrasco (torn hamstring, elbow soreness)
RHP Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery)
LHP Joey Lucchesi (Tommy John surgery)
RHP Jordan Yamamoto (shoulder soreness)
RHP Dellin Betances (shoulder surgery)
RHP Robert Gsellman (torn lat)
RHP Tommy Hunter (lower back discomfort)