Subway Series Preview: Battered Mets and Yankees Clash in Queens Amid Struggles
The 2024 Subway Series arrives at a crossroads for both New York teams. The Mets and Yankees entered the season as World Series contenders, but a brutal June has left them reeling—and their showdown this weekend at Citi Field may hinge on which depleted roster can hold together longer.
A Tale of Two Collapses
- Mets’ Freefall: After leading the NL East for much of the season’s first half, the Mets lost 14 of 17 games in June, including a sweep by the lowly Pirates. A recent two-game win streak over Milwaukee offers faint hope.
- Yankees’ Slide: The Bronx Bombers haven’t fared much better, going 6-14 in their last 20 despite Aaron Judge’s otherworldly .364 average. Their rotation, once a strength, is in tatters.
Injury Epidemic Strikes Both Clubs
Mets’ Pitching Carnage:
- Kodai Senga (hamstring), Tylor Megill (elbow), and Griffin Canning (Achilles) are sidelined.
- Bullpen arms Max Kranick, Dedniel Núñez, and A.J. Minter are also injured, forcing call-ups like Chris Devenski into action.
Yankees’ Rotation Woes:
- Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil were lost before Opening Day.
- Clarke Schmidt (forearm tightness) joined Ryan Yarbrough on the IL this week, leaving the rotation threadbare.
Friday’s Mismatch Kicks Off Tense Series
The opener sets the tone for a potentially ugly weekend:
- Marcus Stroman (4.31 ERA) faces his former team, but his lack of swing-and-miss stuff could spell trouble against Judge and Juan Soto.
- The Mets counter with Justin Hagenman (6.21 ERA in AAA), a desperation move for a staff running on fumes.
Weekend Outlook: Advantage Yankees?
- Saturday: Carlos Rodón gives the Yankees an edge over Frankie Montas.
- Sunday: Mets’ journeyman Brandon Waddell (fresh off a KBO stint) battles Cy Young candidate Max Fried.
Bullpens on the Brink
Both teams’ relief corps are overworked and undermanned. If starters falter early, the series could devolve into a battle of waiver-wire arms—a nightmare scenario against lineups featuring Soto, Judge, Pete Alonso, and Giancarlo Stanton.
Silver Linings?
- The Mets’ bullpen regression was inevitable after a historic early-season run.
- The Yankees’ offense remains lethal, but their pitching injuries may force aggressive trade-deadline moves.
Bottom Line
This Subway Series won’t showcase the dominance New York expected in 2024. Instead, it’s a survival test—one that could define which team stays in contention and which faces a summer of disappointment. First pitch Friday at Citi Field may reveal which club still has a pulse.