Yankees at Mets
The annual Subway Series kicks off on Friday with the New York Yankees and the New York Mets trending in opposite directions. The Mets will try to snap a six-game slide and give their fans something to cheer about with a win over their crosstown rivals when they host the opener of the three-game interleague series on Friday.
While the Yankees battle the Boston Red Sox for the best record in the major leagues, the Mets are drifting towards the bottom of the National League East due in large part to an offense that scored one or zero runs in five of the last six contests. "I think we're a lot better team than how we're playing," Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler, who tossed seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday, told reporters. "I've said that before and I'll keep saying it, because we're a lot better team than how we're playing. The record doesn't show it, but that will come around. And it needs to turn around pretty fast. We're at the point in the season where we need to start winning some games." The Yankees are at the opposite end of the spectrum offensively and lead the majors with 98 home runs while ranking second to the Red Sox in runs scored at 330. The Mets will send ace Jacob deGrom to the mound in hopes of slowing that offense on Friday while the Yankees counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (Yankees), SNY (Mets)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.79 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (4-0, 1.49)
Tanaka earned the win with plenty of help from his offense at Baltimore on Saturday, when he was reached for four runs on eight hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings. The Japan native served up three home runs in that outing and is up to 15 allowed in 67 2/3 total frames. Tanaka did not face the Mets last season and is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts in the Subway Series.
DeGrom is one of the few bright spots for the Mets and surrendered a total of three earned runs over his last eight appearances. The Florida native settled for his third consecutive no decision on Saturday despite striking out 13 and holding the Chicago Cubs to one run and seven hits across seven innings - his fourth consecutive seven-inning outing. DeGrom is just 1-3 with a 4.10 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets RF Jay Bruce, who hit 36 homers last season, is homerless in his last 24 games and is stuck at three on the season.
2. Yankees C Gary Sanchez is 4-for-42 in his last 12 games, dropping his batting average to .201.
3. The Yankees took all four meetings last season.