Mets vs. Yankees Picks

The Subway Series is back as the Mets take the short trip to the Bronx to face the Yankees. Both of these New York clubs have been near the top of their respective leagues, though at this time, one club is going in the wrong direction.

The Mets have played spectacularly since the All-Star break, posting a 21-9 mark through their first 30 games. That’s allowed them to build a four-game lead over the Braves in the NL East race. The Yankees, meanwhile, are just 10-20 since the midsummer classic, going 5-14 in August.

Thanks to a big first half, the Yankees still own an eight-game lead in the AL East standings, but if they can’t figure out the recent struggles, they’ll continue to lose ground in the hunt for postseason positioning.

BetMaker will preview the series, giving a pick for the Tuesday night slate. Which of these rivals will leave the Big Apple with a victory?

MLB Preview

New York Mets vs. New York Yankees
Date and Time: Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 7:05 PM EST
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Odds: TBD (find updated odds at BetRivers sportsbook)
TV Coverage: TBS

The Yankees will bring a high-powered offense to Yankee Stadium to face off against an electric Mets pitching staff. It will truly be strength vs. strength in this heavyweight clash.

The Bronx Bombers lead the American League in home runs, runs scored, slugging, walks, and total bases. The Yanks have been one of the most productive lineups in Major League Baseball, led by slugger Aaron Judge (.293/46/102).

Unfortunately, the offense has struggled of late. They’ve scored two runs or less in three of their last four matchups entering this series and in eight of their last 12 contests. The failure to plate runs has been a significant part of their lack of recent success.

It won’t be easy to clean those issues up when facing a Mets pitching staff that ranks second in the National League in ERA at 3.56. The Mets’ arms boast top 10 MLB ratings in strikeouts, opponent average, walks allowed, and quality starts. The starting rotation is absolutely loaded, and the bullpen has posted a respectable 3.66 ERA to this point.

As for offense, the Mets hold the fifth-best team average in baseball at .258. They don’t boast the home run power that the Yankees do, but they’ve found ways to both get on base and score runs (4^th in MLB).

Slugger Pete Alonso leads the way with 30 homers and 102 RBIs.

They’ll face a Yankees pitching staff that holds a 3.35 ERA, the second-best mark in the American League. They rank fifth in the MLB in strikeouts while holding opponents to a minuscule .219 average. The Yankees also boast the top bullpen in baseball, a group that’s posted a 3.01 ERA to date.

Probable Pitchers

NYM – RHP Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom has been absolutely electric since making his return from the injured reserve earlier this month. Over four starts, the righty is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA. He’s struck out 37 hitters through 23.1 innings of work while allowing just one walk and one home run.

DeGrom is coming off his longest outing of the year, a 3-2 loss to the Braves. He’s yet to allow more than three runs in a game since making his return, pitching at least five innings in each appearance. It is worth noting that the Mets have lost both of deGrom’s starts on the road, though he’s posted a respectable 3.09 ERA in those matchups.

NYY – RHP Frankie Montas

Monstas was acquired by the Yankees in August at the trade deadline. Since joining the roster, he’s struggled. In three starts, the right-handed pitcher is 0-1 with an ERA of 9.00. Montas has allowed six runs in two of his three starts in the pinstripes, including in his last time out against the Blue Jays.

He’s also struggled in Yankee Stadium, recording an ERA of 6.00 in the Bronx this year and losing each of his two starts. That’s not a recipe for success when facing a productive Mets lineup.

MLB Prediction

These two teams are going in different directions, and with the Mets holding a sizeable advantage in the pitching department, it’s hard to pick against them.

Look for deGrom to tally another impressive start while the Mets continue Montas’s New York woes. Back the Mets to win on the road as they look to stay undefeated against the Yankees in 2022.

The Pick: NYM