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Yanks Go Yard Radio Show Rewind: Yankees-Mets Preview (9/18-9/20)

ByRicky Keeler|

On last night’s episode of the Yanks Go Yard Radio Show, I started off the episode by talking about the New York Yankees (80-65) taking two out of three games from the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. While Alex Rodriguez did have a home run and two RBI’s against the Rays, this series win was about New York’s younger players.

On Monday night, Slade Heathcott came off the bench to hit the game-winning three home run in the top of the ninth. First baseman Greg Bird had two home runs and drove in four runs during the series and starter Luis Severino outdueled Chris Archer Wednesday night by giving up one run and striking out seven Rays over 5.2 innings. New York won the series, they remain 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East. However, they do have a four game lead on the Astros for the first Wild Card spot with 17 games to go.

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This weekend, the Yankees are in Citi Field to take on the New York Mets (83-63) in what is arguably the biggest Subway Series matchup since the teams played each other in the 2000 World Series. While bragging rights are on the line, the Yankees are the ones still fighting for a playoff spot. Terry Collins’ club is eight games ahead of the disappointing Washington Nationals in the NL East (magic number to clinch is nine).

During the second half of the season, the Mets have been one of the best teams in the game as they have posted a record of 36-21 in their last 57 games. They have scored 311 runs, which is the most in the National League and the second most in the game. One of the keys to that success is Yoenis Cespedes.

Cespedes, who was acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline from the Tigers, is hitting .295 with 17 home runs and 42 RBI’s since coming to New York. In fact, the Mets have had six players drive in 20 or more runs since the break. The other player besides Cespedes that has ten home runs since the break is former Yankee Curtis Granderson.

On the mound, New York has a 3.49 starters’ ERA, which is third in the league. The story lately in their rotation is all about Matt Harvey, as he is nearing his innings limit for this season. Harvey will get the start on Sunday night for the Mets, but it’s not expected that he will last long in that game because the club wants to conserve his workload for the postseason.

To talk more about this Subway Series, I spoke with Michael Lecolant, a writer over at Rising Apple and one of the hosts of the Rising Apple Report. Mike gave his thoughts on the Mets dominating the NL East, the one weakness that could prevent New York from a deep October run, and more on the Mets’ late inning combination of Tyler Clippard and Jeurys Familia (41-for-46 in saves). Here are some of the other topics we discussed:

Surprised at how the Mets have pulled away in the NL East?
Does Yoenis Cespedes deserve NL MVP consideration and what has his impact been on the lineup?
Pitching Matchup Breakdown
Is Steven Matz (tonight’s Mets starter) pitching for a spot in a potential playoff rotation?
Masahiro Tanaka (tonight’s Yankee starter) has given up one run and struck out 17 batters in his last two starts
Noah Syndergaard (tomorrow’s Mets starter) is 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA at home this season.
Michael Pineda (tomorrow’s Yankees starter) has a 6.21 ERA in his last six starts
Which Matt Harvey is going to show up on Sunday for the Mets?
CC Sabathia (Sunday’s Yankees starter) coming off one of his best games of the season against the Rays
Mets Players To Watch: Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda
Yankees Players To Watch: Jacoby Ellsbury (out tonight) and Didi Gregorius
On a scale of 1-10, the likelihood of a Subway Series rematch in the World Series?

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