James Paxton Opens The Subway Series As The Yankees Visit The Mets
9.6 miles is what separated the Yankees and the Mets.
On Tuesday night the two New York teams will open a two game series at Citi Field in Queens where James Paxton will start for the Yankees and Zach Wheeler will start for the Mets.
The Yankees who are a member of the American League East come into the opening game of the two game series with a record of 54-28 and are leading their division while the Mets who are a member of the National League East comes into the opening game of the two game series with a record of 38-47 and are in fourth place in their division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
As stated above,
James Paxton will start for the Yankees. The left-hander comes into the opening game with a record of 5-3 to go along with an earn run average of 4.34. Paxton will get another crack at the Mets after he was thumped for six runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings in his Subway Series debut on June 11. He has pitched to a 6.08 ERA in six starts since returning from the injured list on May 29. He will oppose Mets right -hander Zach Wheeler who comes into the opening game with a record of 6-5 with a 4.51 earn run average. The Mets will push Wheeler forward in the rotation to face the Yankees on regular rest. He allowed nine runs (five earned) in a loss at Yankee Stadium earlier this season, bloating his career ERA to 10.00 against the Mets’ interborough rivals.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for the Yankees previous game,
They swept their American League East rival Boston in London.
After winning the opening game in London New York then swept their American League East rival in the finale.
After nine hours and six minutes of baseball on the artificial turf of London Stadium this weekend, the Yankees offered some advice for the next inhabitants of their makeshift clubhouse, which will await the arrival of the Cardinals and Cubs next June for another installment of the London Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
See the sights, hydrate well, then prepare for lots and lots of offense. The fireworks were mostly kept under wraps on Sunday until the Yankees erupted for their biggest frame of the season in the seventh inning, scoring nine runs to power a 12-8 victory over the Red Sox that completed a sweep of the inaugural two-game set. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
"They are a good team. I think we’re better, but they are a good team," DJ LeMahieu said of the Red Sox. "We still have half the season left, too. We just need to keep it going and we’ll be fine." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
Though sun glare, white seats and speedy turf remained topics of discussion, the Yankees largely came away with positive impressions of the trip after playing the first two Major League games on European soil. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
The rivals combined for 50 runs and 65 hits in the favorable hitting environment, which resulted in New York opening up a seven-game lead over the second-place Rays in the American League East. The defending World Series champions are 11 games back.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
"Even these two games we won, it’s just heavy," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I'm exhausted because they keep coming at you. We’ve had some success against them to this point. I just think there is a long way to go, and any time you can create a little bit of distance with a team that you know is as capable as them, it gets you a little excited." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
Boston struck early, with Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez slugging first-inning homers off opener Stephen Tarpley. Luis Cessa cooled things off with four terrific innings of relief, keeping the Yanks in the contest and allowing them to rally for their 13th win in 14 games while improving to a season-high 26 games over .500. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
"If we played 81 games here, it'd be a lot of fun," Aaron Judge said. "We enjoyed it out here. We came in and did what we wanted to do, get a couple of wins and put on a show for the fans." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
Limited to two runs over 5 1/3 innings by Eduardo Rodriguez, the Yankees broke through against Boston’s bullpen in the seventh, sending 14 men to home plate. Facing Marcus Walden, LeMahieu doubled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, Judge walked and Aaron Hicks doubled home a run before Gary Sánchez lashed a go-ahead two-run single into left field.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
Rodriguez was really nibbling and didn't miss a spot, but then we were able to get a couple of pitches that were over the heart of the plate," Judge said. "We didn't miss those pitches and were able to do some damage, especially do some damage with guys on base. We've done pretty well all year. That was great hitting, starting with DJ. Three hits, it's nothing new." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
Gio Urshela ripped a two-run single, LeMahieu drove in another two runs with his second double of the inning and Hicks lifted a sacrifice fly. An error by first baseman Michael Chavis allowed the ninth run to score, drawing a raucous reaction from the pro-offense crowd of 59,059 fans. Boston closed the gap with four runs in the eighth, charged to Chance Adams.
"No matter who we had in the game pitching, the lead didn’t feel very safe," LeMahieu said. "I don’t know what it was. They were just crazy games like that. Our pitchers honestly did a really good job. For the circumstances, they did a really good job."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
For all the discussion about London Stadium's homer-friendly dimensions, New York put its first 11 runs on the board without the benefit of slugging a ball into the seats. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
The Yankees were kept in the yard until the eighth, when Didi Gregorius extended their Major League record streak of consecutive games with a home run to 31. Additionally, the Yankees have not been shut out in 164 games, the longest such stretch since the 2000-01 Cincinnati Reds.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
"I didn't even know it happened until Didi hit his, and you saw it flash up on the board that we just broke our own record," Judge said. "We weren't even worried about that. We were just worried about scoring runs and coming away with two wins here." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
The Yankees were instructed to stay awake throughout their flight back to New York, which will provide plenty of time to reflect on the week that was. Even after a clubhouse visit from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and an MLB-sponsored soiree at the Tower of London, several of the players said they will remember the passionate crowds and the two victories most of all. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
"We know they were long games. It was like a fight every inning," Gleyber Torres said. "But I think that series in London was amazing. I think we put on a really good show, and we won. That makes it so much better." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-red-sox-to-sweep-london-series
Like the Yankees the Mets also won their previous game as they topped Atlanta but unlike the Yankees the Mets were playing in the United States.
This time last year, Jeff McNeil had only recently received a promotion to the Mets’ Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate, where he wondered what he would have to do to receive a call to the big leagues. At every rung of the Minor League ladder, McNeil had hit. Still, Mets officials seemed to have little interest in promoting McNeil until he kept on raking, and raking, and raking enough to force his way to the Majors. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
Fast forward a year, and McNeil is not only a big leaguer, but an All-Star and the Majors' leading hitter. Hours after learning he had made the National League roster on Sunday, McNeil contributed three singles, including a go-ahead two-run knock in the eighth inning, to lead the Mets to an 8-5 win over the Braves at Citi Field. McNeil’s performance gave him sole possession of the Major League batting average lead, at .348, while helping the Mets snap a seven-game losing streak. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
“Pretty unbelievable day,” McNeil said. “This is right up there with when I got called up. To have the day end like that is pretty awesome.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
Entering the eighth inning trailing by two runs, the Mets sliced that lead in half when Todd Frazier led off with a homer. They then loaded the bases off relievers Sean Newcomb and A.J. Minter, the latter of whom gave up McNeil’s flare into shallow right field. His All-Star teammate, Pete Alonso, followed with a two-run double to left to provide the final margin. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
“Those two guys, I can’t praise them enough,” said Mets starter Noah Syndergaard, who allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings in his return from the injured list. “Kudos to them. They deserve it, for sure.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
That the Mets ended June nine games under .500 was hardly the fault of McNeil or Alonso, who have spent most of the year near the top of the Major League leaderboards in batting average and home runs, respectively. Those two are All-Stars for a reason. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
Yet while Alonso was a heralded second-round Draft pick, entering this season as a favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, McNeil was barely on the organization’s radar until late last season. Needing a jolt, the Mets finally called up McNeil in late July, then watched him hit .329 the rest of the way. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
Even then, the Mets weren’t fully believers, going as far as to include McNeil in early iterations of the trade that brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to Flushing. The Mets ultimately kept McNeil, who has added power in his second big league season without sacrificing his bat-on-ball skills. Covering the entire strike zone with his unique bat path, McNeil makes contact roughly 82 percent of the time when he swings. His 12.5-percent strikeout rate is one of Majors’ lowest among qualified hitters. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
“I don’t know how you get him out,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I just sit back the whole series and hope he hits it to somebody.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
Bat-on-ball skills is precisely what the Mets needed in the eighth inning, trailing by a run with the bases loaded and two outs. Knowing McNeil tends to swing at the first pitch of an at-bat, Minter jammed him with a 97-mph fastball inside off the plate. It didn’t matter; McNeil muscled it over second base for a two-run single. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
“Sometimes, you just have to touch the ball and good things will happen,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “McNeil touches the ball more than most, and that’s why he’s hitting .340-something and is on the All-Star team.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
McNeil is hitting .348, to be exact, putting him .002 ahead of Cody Bellinger for the Major League lead. It’s been a consistent flow of offense for McNeil, who has 15 multihit games in his last 26 contests, and it doesn’t appear likely to stop anytime soon. “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
“It’s a dream of mine to win a batting title,” McNeil said. “I’ve still got a long way to go. Hopefully, I keep it up, and we’ll see where we are at the end of the year.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/braves-vs-mets/2019/06/30/566027?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=566027
First pitch is set for 7:10pm from Citi Field. The game will be televised on Yes and Major League Baseball Network.