The Yankees played well for much of the first two and a half months of the season, but cracks began to show just before Game 1 of the Subway Series.
The Mets won both games at Citi Field, continuing to bounce back from a tough start to the year.
The two teams meet again in the Bronx starting Tuesday and will be looking to continue their strong showings for the remainder of the second half.
At bat
On base
By now, anyone paying attention knows that the Yankees’ lineup outside of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto has been extremely quiet.
According to MLB.com, Soto and Judge had a combined on-base percentage of .446 going into Monday’s game, while the rest of the lineup was hitting just .284.
Ben Rice was just four hits in 39 at-bats through Monday, another black hole at the top of the lineup that Gleyber Torres, Alex Verdugo and just about everyone else were unable to fill.
Meanwhile, the Mets had the second-best on-base percentage in the majors last month, led by Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and, surprisingly, Jose Ijesias, and Mark Vientos and J.D. Martinez have also been solid all season, although Martinez has struggled since the last Subway Series.
corner: Mets
Power
Also, since the Yankees’ slump began on June 15, the Mets have led the major leagues in slugging percentage, while the Yankees are 26th in slugging percentage due to the absence of Giancarlo Stanton and the loss of most of their batting lineup except for Judge and Soto.
Perhaps the long-awaited home runs by DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Volpe on Monday were a sign that things are looking up, but over the past five weeks, Judge and Soto have a .596 slugging percentage with 16 homers compared to their teammates’ .329 slugging percentage with 18 homers.
Since the two teams last met, Verdugo, Volpe and LeMahieu all rank in the bottom five in OPS among eligible hitters.
Austin Wells is expected to maintain his No. 4 spot against two right-handed pitchers, but he has been a nightmare as a No. 4 hole.
Pete Alonso had hit just one home run in 15 games through Monday, and Francisco Alvarez’s power numbers have dropped recently.
Perhaps a trip to the stadium would help.
Jeff McNeil’s tough season may be turning around after he hit just six extra base hits in 15 at-bats this season over his past 38 at-bats.
Lindor has been dangerous since late May and has been even better this month.
corner: Mets
In the base path
The Yankees managed to steal bases for the first time in more than a month on Sunday, but the Mets have a few more base-stealing threats.
corner: Mets
on site
infield
Volpe and, somewhat surprisingly, LeMahieu have excellent advanced metrics as a shortstop and third baseman, respectively.
Torres has been only average at second base recently, while Rice is still a work in progress at first base.
However, with McNeil, Vientos and Iglesias all having shaky defenses and Alonso struggling at first base, Lindor is the only reliable player in the infield.
corner: Yankees
outfield
Trent Grisham and Harrison Bader are both outstanding center fielders, and Nimmo is good in left field, but there’s no one else who can take on his defensive duties.
corner: flat
bench
The Yankees’ bench players, like most of their starting lineup, have struggled. Ex-Mets pitcher J.D. Davis has barely played since being traded from Oakland after being drafted, Oswaldo Cabrera has struggled and backup catcher Carlos Narvaez has barely been used.
The Mets have Luis Torrens to replace Francisco Alvarez, and DJ Stewart has had success with them before.
corner: Mets
On the mound
rotate
The Yankees are scheduled to start in Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, and while both were hit hard in the first Subway Series, the right-handers have been pitching well recently.
Jose Quintana has been inconsistent but has had success against the Yankees, and Sean Manaea also pitched well in his last appearance against the Yankees this season.
corner: Yankees
bull-pen
Both teams have issues with their closers, but Edwin Diaz has been solid since returning from a sticky-stuff suspension.
Clay Holmes is unreliable at the back end of the Yankees bullpen.
Luke Weaver and Michael Tonkin are weapons for the Yankees, as is left-hander Tim Hill, while Jose Butt has emerged as a relief pitcher in Queens, and Adrian Hauser’s previously phenomenal performance has deteriorated significantly since being removed from the starting rotation.
corner: Yankees
manager
Aaron Boone and Carlos Mendoza have worked together for many years, but last month they finally faced off against each other for the first time.
Mendoza has stopped the slowdown this season, but Boone has not.
corner: Mets
Intangible assets
The Yankees were still atop the American League East the last time the teams met, but have won just one series since then.
The Mets began the second half in Miami with a shaky performance, mainly taking advantage of weaker competition.
Now they head to the Bronx followed by the Braves coming to Citi Field.
corner: flat
