Series Preview: Mets Are Bronx Bound

The Mets (79-44) are headed to the Bronx for a two-game series against the Yankees (74-48). The last time these teams faced off at Citi Field, it was a battle of two teams trending upwards, and the Mets swept both games. This time, the Yankees are spiraling and have not won a single series in August, while the Mets are doing well, winning 15 of 22 games so far this month.

The Mets have bounced back beautifully after losing three of four games to the Braves in Atlanta. They beat the Phillies in three of four games in Philadelphia, and the feat is even more impressive when you consider that Chris Bassitt was the only Mets’ starting rotation member to face the Phillies. The Mets’ offense was quiet in Atlanta, but they roared back in Philly, scoring seven, eight, and ten runs in their three wins.

The Yankees are coming into this series having lost three of four games against the Blue Jays. They managed a 4-2 win on Sunday after losing the first three games of the series. The Yankees have lost 14 games in August, which is in stark contrast to the 15 games the Mets have won in the same timeframe. The Yankee’s offense has been a bit anemic this month. They have only managed to score more than five runs five times this month, and the team lost two of those five games.

Monday, August 22, 2022: RHP Max Scherzer (9-2, 2.15 ERA) vs. RHP Domingo German (1-2, 4.45 ERA)

In his last outing, against Atlanta, Scherzer went 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs, three of which scored on a home run off of Adam Ottavino after Scherzer left the game. It was a solid start for Scherzer, and he was cruising up until that point. Scherzer faced the Yankees earlier this season, on July 27th. He went seven innings, giving up no runs and striking out six. Scherzer has really risen to the occasion for the Mets this season, and Monday’s game in the Bronx will hopefully be no exception.

German got off to a late start this season due to a shoulder injury, and he has only made six starts so far for the Yankees. In his last outing, against the Rays, he went only 4 2/3 innings and he gave up three runs. Monday night’s game will be a rematch of Scherzer vs. German, as German also started the July 27th game. German only made it 4 2/3 innings in that outing as well, giving up two runs.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022: likely Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.31 ERA) vs. RHP Frankie Montas (4-10, 3.87 ERA)

While Tuesday night’s starter is officially TBD, the game lines up with deGrom’s spot in the rotation, thus he is the likely starter. On Saturday, Buck Showalter mentioned that it was possible that Taijuan Walker could start any game from Tuesday on after missing his scheduled start Sunday. But The Athletic’s Tim Britton tweeted on Sunday that deGrom had thrown a bullpen on Sunday, which is what he usually does two days before his scheduled starts. DeGrom has a 6.16 ERA three starts at Yankee Stadium, which is higher than his 3.51 ERA across his six career starts against the Yankees.

The Yankees acquired Montas from the Oakland Athletics at the trading deadline this season. He has made three starts for the team so far, and they have not gone very well. He gave up six runs in three innings of work in his first outing, against the Cardinals. His second outing was better, as he gave up only two runs in five innings against the Red Sox. But he struggled again in his third start, giving up six runs on eight hits and striking out only two batters. Tuesday’s game will be Montas’s first against the Mets, though he did give up two runs in one inning of relief against them back in 2017.

Prediction:

The Yankees are reeling, while the Mets are on a high from taking three of four from the Phillies. The Mets should be able to sweep this two-game series.