The Mets look to breakthrough with their first Subway Series victory at Citi Field against the Bronx Bombers
New York Yankees at New York Mets
The New York Yankees picked up a 2-1 road victory over their Subway Series rivals on Friday night. In winning five straight over the Mets (+500), the Yankees have outscored them by a 35-4 margin. The starting rotation has led the charge during the current streak, posting a 5-0 record and 0.84 ERA. One key trend that ended with the opening series victory was the Yankees’ streak of winning games by more than a single run. They won each of their first 25 games by two runs or more. New York has compiled a 7-3 record in its last 10 road games in interleague play (+240).
Yankees SP Phil Hughes will make his first career start in the series (third appearance), as the right-hander has worked 2.1 scoreless innings in his first two outings against the Mets. He enters with a perfect 5-0 record and 2.25 ERA in his first seven starts of the season, while leading the AL with a .182 opponents’ batting average. The 23-year-old starter has received plenty of run support over his last four outings, with the offense exploding for 41 runs over that span. The Yankees have won six of his seven starts overall (+420).
The New York Mets have suffered through a troublesome month of May, recording a 6-14 record (-910) after going 14-9 in April. The Mets have produced a solid 14-9 record at Citi Field (+250) and have won 12 of their last 17 games here. The 14 home victories are tied with Cincinnati for the most in the National League. Offensively, 3B David Wright must get things going in order for the team to turn things around against their rivals from the AL. Wright went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Friday and is 9-for-48 with a major league-high 23 strikeouts since May 8.
Mets SP Mike Pelfrey toes the rubber with a perfect 3-0 record and 2.61 ERA at home this season (+240). The right-hander is 9-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 22 career starts at Citi Field. Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against the Yankees, including losing the inaugural Subway Series game at Citi Field last year. He allowed four runs in just five innings of work in a 9-1 loss. The Mets have alternated wins and losses over his last five starts, picking up a 3-2 road victory against Atlanta in his last outing.
Bettors may want to focus exclusively on an 8-0 trend that involves umpire Todd Tichenor in this matchup. The home team is perfect on the season with him behind home plate, outscoring road opponents 53-27 in the process (+870).
