MLB insider explains why Yankees, Mets are in Bizarro World after Juan Soto move

The New York Yankees and New York Mets are doing exactly what their fans had hoped they would after a more turbulent turf war than ever before this offseason. They're just ... both ... doing it backwards.

The Mets poached Juan Soto, who I believe played for the Yankees for one season? I'm unable to confirm that, as he won't be receiving a tribute video this weekend, so he can't be terribly important. Pairing Soto with Francisco Lindor — while also bringing back Pete Alonso and relying on breakout playoff monster Mark Vientos — felt like a surefire way to stockpile unbreakable offensive talent atop a rejuvenated order.

Meanwhile, the Soto-free Yankees were forced to pivot, shelling out a portion of the money they'd initially aimed at the slugger on Max Fried, then swinging a trade for all-world closer Devin Williams. Would they hit? Sure, but only if six very specific wishes came true, an even more unlikely proposal once Giancarlo Stanton went down in March.

And yet ... and YET ... as Joel Sherman pointed out on MLB Network this week, the Mets and Yankees are both dominating their divisions, but the AL team has a rotation held together by tape, gum and Matt Blake, while the NL club's rotation is thriving. Likewise, the Soto-led team hits sometimes, while the Aaron Judge-led group has mashed their way to the top, thanks to breakout seasons from Trent Grisham and Ben Rice, as well as a resurgence from Paul Goldschmidt. There go those wishes!

Yankees, Mets both dominating with unfamiliar recipes entering Subway Series

The Yankees will quickly see this conflicting dichotomy firsthand, as such rotation stalwarts as Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill toe the rubber this weekend in an attempt to slow down the offensive surge in the Bronx. Neither seemed likely to matter before Opening Day, and both have been phenomenal, piloting the Mets' MLB-leading 2.84 ERA.

They'll face off with the Yankees' best trio of starters — Max Fried (unbelievable), Carlos Rodón (finding his footing), and Clarke Schmidt (yeah, sure?). Gerrit Cole is nowhere in sight. Instead, the Yankees will hope that both Grisham and Rice — a combined 21 homers — can help New York balance the lineup, whether it's left-hander David Peterson on the mound (Grisham currently licking his lips) or the Mets' oddball collection of scrappy righties. The Yankees have the most homers in baseball and have scored the second-most runs in the game — and only fell behind the Dodgers because of Thursday night's 19-run Hollywood outburst.

So, in other words, let's get Juan Soto's inevitable first-inning home run out of the way and allow these rosters to do what they do best: the opposite stuff from what they were both supposed to do best!