A well-rested New York Mets manager Buck Showalter returned from last week’s All-Star break with the postseason on his mind.
‘I took my grandsons to FAO Schwarz, that was a mistake,’ the 66-year-old told reporters about a costly trip to a toy store. ‘I’m going to need some playoff money.’
Fortunately, as the bonus-hungry Showalter pointed out, ‘there’s a finish line starting to appear in the distance.’
And that finish line may turn out to be pinstriped.
For all the excitement surrounding the first-place Mets (59-37) ahead of this week’s Subway Series, it’s the Yankees who have stolen the New York spotlight by cruising to MLB’s best record at 66-31. Now, Tuesday and Wednesday’s games between intercity rivals are about more than the novelty of interleague play: they’re a potential World Series preview.
Both teams have reasons for optimism.
Although their bullpen is facing an outbreak of injuries, the Yankees are equipped with baseball’s hottest bat in Aaron Judge, who has a .329 average and eight home runs for the month. For that matter, Judge also leads the majors in home runs, with 37 and, as if that’s not enough momentum, the soon-to-be free agent is playing for a new nine-figure contract.
Not to be outdone, the Mets recently got one Cy Young back from injury in Max Scherzer, while another, Jacob deGrom, is making rehab starts and could be on his way to his first start of the season.
In the meantime, here are five key areas where this week’s Subway Series could be won or lost:
One of the scariest sights for pitchers in 2022 has been the presence of Aaron Judge in the on-deck circle. The Yankees’ outfielder leads the majors with 37 home runs for the season
New York Mets manager Buck Showalter says he’s in need of a playoff bonus check
The Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton (left) and Mets Game 1 starter Taijuan Walker (right)
New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera jumps up in the air after Bernie Williams caught the last out to defeat the New York Mets 4-2 in game five of the World Series at Shea Stadium in Flushing
Taijuan Walker vs. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton: Not only has the Mets’ Game 1 starter been nearly dominant this season, posting a 2.55 ERA (earned-run average) and a respectable 1.091 WHIP (walks and hits per inning), but he’s been devastating against righties, who are hitting just .229 with a .266 OBP (on-base percentage) against him this season.
The Yankees lineup, as fans have been quick to point out in recent years, is very heavy on righties, including Judge and Stanton.
Those matchups might seem like a potential problem for the Yankees, but both Stanton and Judge have had success against in their few meetings with Walker.
Judge is 2 for 7 with two home runs against the Louisiana native, while Stanton is 4 for 10 with a home run and a double.
Jordan Montgomery vs. Francisco Lindor: The Mets shortstop has the most experience against the Yankees’ Subway Series opener, given his history in the American League with Cleveland.
And not only has Lindor squared off with Montgomery, but he’s hit him hard, going 5 for 9 with a home run, a double, and two walks in 11 plate appearances.
Montgomery, meanwhile, is in the midst of a bizarre July. He’s pitched well, compiling a 3.13 ERA for the month while registering 24 strikeouts compared to just six walks. But while he’s only been charged with one defeat over that time, the Yankees have failed to win in any of his starts this month.
Jordan Montgomery (Right) is in the midst of a bizarre July. He’s pitched well, compiling a 3.13 ERA for the month while registering 24 strikeouts compared to just six walks. But while he’s only been charged with one defeat over that time, the Yankees have failed to win in any of his starts this month. The Mets shortstop has the most experience against the Yankees’ Game 1 starter, given his history in the American League with Cleveland. And not only has Francisco Lindor (left) squared off with Montgomery, but he’s hit him hard, going 5 for 9 with a home run, a double, and two walks in 11 plate appearances
Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets celebrates his three-run home run with Starling Marte #6 in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on Saturday
On the base paths: The Yankees rank fourth in the majors with 0.66 stolen bases per game, which is a departure from previous teams in the Bronx, but is certainly keeping with the general trend around baseball.
Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been the biggest thief, swiping 13 bags on the year, while Aaron Hicks is 9 for 12 on stolen-base attempts and Judge is a perfect 8 for 8.
Meanwhile, Mets catchers have been decimated by recent injuries with James McCann going down with an oblique strain and Tomas Nido suffering a hand contusion on a recent collision with Max Scherzer.
Patrick Mazeika was the only healthy catcher on the roster until Saturday, when the Mets acquired fifth-year backstop Michael Perez from Pittsburgh for cash considerations.
For the year, the Mets have allowed 0.53 stolen bases per game, just 20th in baseball.
The Yankees rank fourth in the majors with 0.66 stolen bases per game, which is a departure from previous teams in the Bronx, but is certainly keeping with the general trend around baseball. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa (pictured) has been the biggest thief, swiping 13 bags
Patrick Mazeika (pictured) was the only healthy catcher on the Mets’ roster until Saturday, when they acquired fifth-year backstop Michael Perez from Pittsburgh for cash considerations
The ninth inning: It’s a bit cliche to point out that the final frame tends to be an important one, but that is certainly the case with the Mets and Yankees, who have both been sharp in the ninth this year.
The Mets average 0.41 runs per ninth inning (eighth in the majors) while the Yankees are the best in baseball with 0.52 runs per ninth. Meanwhile, the Mets have held opponents to 0.24 runs per game in the frame (tied for second overall), compared to 0.26 for the Bombers (sixth).
It’s not hard to see why both teams have enjoyed so much success in the ninth.
The Mets’ Edwin Diaz has been among the best closers in baseball, posting a minuscule 1.69 ERA while recording 20 saves.
Not to be outdone, Yankees closer Clay Homes boasts a remarkable 1.26 ERA with 17 saves on the year.
The Mets’ Edwin Diaz (pictured) has been among the best closers in baseball, posting a minuscule 1.69 ERA while recording 20 saves
The problem for manager Aaron Boone has been a recent spate of injuries, including Michael King’s elbow fracture, which landed the set-up man on the 60-day IL, and Wandy Peralta’s sore back.
And of course, it doesn’t help that the team’s former closer, southpaw Aroldis Chapman, is in the midst of his worst season with a 5.75 ERA.
But what has separated the Yankees at the ends of games has been their bats, which were responsible for 10 walk-off wins in the ninth or extra innings by late June.
There were the usual culprits: Judge won a pair of games on home runs and another with a single.
But Gleyber Torres has a pair of game-winning hits amid his resurgent season, not to mention Jose Trevino, an excellent defensive catcher who has knocked a a pair of walk-offs himself.
Deep counts: The Yankees lead the majors with nearly four walks per game, which is a major reason they rank second in OBP behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mets pitchers, however, have been very stingy this season, ranking fifth in opponents’ OBP and eighth in walks allowed.
Perhaps the biggest area of concern for the Mets may be first baseman DJ LeMahieu, who ranks eighth in the majors in OBP and is tied for fifth in walks.
And of course, giving a free pass to LeMahieu means he’ll be on base when Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Stanton come to the plate.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone (pictured) is facing a barrage of injuries to his bullpen
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