A Subway Series Rich on Pitching but Missing Its Sluggers
The latest edition of the Subway Series was already looking a little lackluster: The Mets (31-35) are not having nearly as good a season as the Yankees (38-29). But then the series experienced a huge power outage: Aaron Judge (toe) and Pete Alonso (wrist), who are leading their respective leagues in home runs, will both miss the series with injuries.
That being said, these teams tend to rise to the occasion against each other — there’s a reason both games are being broadcast nationally — and the pitching matchups have some big names, even if their recent results aren’t what you might expect.
Tuesday
Severino vs. Scherzer
Luis Severino (0-1, 5.75 E.R.A.) has made four starts for the Yankees after starting the season on the injured list. He looked great in the first two, striking out 10 batters in 11⅓ innings while allowing only two earned runs. But he has struggled in his last two starts.
The results have also been mixed for Max Scherzer (5-2, 3.71 E.R.A.), who has had three starts in which he pitched at least six innings while allowing one or zero earned runs, and three other starts in which he allowed five or more earned runs. He also missed time with a 10-game suspension for violations of Major League Baseball’s rules against sticky substances.
Wednesday
Cole vs. Verlander
Gerrit Cole (7-1, 2.84 E.R.A.) has had a great year in all regards, but has been particularly impressive when starting after a Yankees loss. In the six starts he has made this year in which his team lost the previous game, Cole has a 2.00 E.R.A. and the Yankees have won all six times. If Severino can’t tame the Mets on Tuesday, Cole would be in line to bust the slump — like always.
In Cole’s way would be Justin Verlander (2-3, 4.85 E.R.A.), who has flashed some of the tenacity and talent that has him tied with Scherzer as the game’s highest paid pitcher, but has also been lit up in three of his seven starts. At 40, it is reasonable to consider if expectations for him should be changed going forward — though Verlander has proved such doubts wrong many times in the past.
