NEW YORK METS NOTES:
METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets enjoyed a day off yesterday…On Sunday, the team fell to the Red Sox, 6-1, in Boston…New York has dropped back-to-back games…The Mets are 10-7 through 17 games in this month…The Mets have posted a 3.70 ERA, the third-lowest ERA in National League in July…The Mets continue a five-game, six-day road trip (1-2) to Boston (1-2) and The Bronx (two games)…On Thursday, the Mets return to Citi Field for a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.
ROSTER MOVE: Yesterday, RHP Elieser Hernández was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and placed on the 15-Day IL with a right pec strain.
VERLANDER HORIZON: Since give up six earned runs on May 27 in Colorado, Justin Verlander has pitched to a 2.72 ERA (16 ER/52.0 IP) with 20 walks and 48 strikeouts over his last nine starts…Over the last five starts, Verlander is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA (6 ER/31.0 IP) with 13 walks and 26 strikeouts.
YANKEE DOODLE: Verlander will make his second start this season against the Yankees tonight…The righty tossed 6.0 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out six on June 14 at Citi Field…Overall, Verlander is set to make his 25th career start against the Yankees…He is 9-7 a 3.37 ERA (57 ER/152.1 IP) with 43 walks and 144 strikeouts life time against the Yankees… Verlander has made seven regular starts against the Yankees since 2016 and is 4-0 with a 1.90 ERA (10 ER/47.1 IP) with six walks and 48 strikeouts.
INTERLEAGUE, PLANETARY, PLANETARY, INTERLEAGUE: In 62 career Interleague starts, Verlander has gone 40-12 with a 2.65 ERA (120 ER/407.1 IP) with 114 walks and 446 strikeouts…Verlander’s 40 career wins in interleague play are the most in major league history…It is seven more than second-place Jon Lester (33)…His 446 strikeouts are the second-most in MLB history…He trails only Max Scherzer who has struck out 469 over 56 interleague games.
SUBWAY SERIES: The Mets continue the Subway Series onight in The Bronx…Both teams are 1-1 in the 2023 version of the series…Last year, each team earned a two-game sweep at their home stadium…The Mets went 4-2 against the Yankees in 2021, scoring a franchise-record 44 runs against their crosstown rivals…The two teams went 3-3 against each other in 2020.
STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS: The Mets are 301-42 against the Yankees in The Bronx…The Amazin’s are 61-79 vs. the Yankees all-time during the regular season…The Mets are 109-147-2 vs. the Yankees combined in the regular season, World Series, Spring Training, 2020 Summer Camp, Mayor’s Trophy Games, Mayor’s Challenge Games and the Big Apple Series.
YANKEE CLIPPERS: Jeff McNeil has hit .341 (28-82) with 11 runs, four doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, five walks with a .393 OBP and a .463 SLG in 22 career games against the Yankees…His .341 average against the Yankees is the fourth-highest among active players (min. 80 PA)…McNeil has hit .341 (15- 44) with seven runs, three doubles, one home run, four RBI and three walks in 12 career games in The Bronx…Francisco Lindor has hit .309 (58-188) with 40 runs, 13 doubles, one triple, 10 homers, 22 RBI, 24 walks with a .390 OBP and a .548 SLG against the team from The Bronx.
ALL-AMERICAN: Jeff McNeil has batted .315 (109-346) with 45 runs, 16 doubles, seven home runs, 43 RBI, 23 walks with a .366 OBP and a .422 SLG in 93 career games against the American League…McNeil’s .316 average ranks sixth among active players in Interleague games.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR: Buck Showalter is the fifth manager to manage both the Mets and Yankees joining Casey Stengel, Yogi Berra, Dallas Green and Joe Torre…There have been 155 players who have played for both clubs, including current players: RHP Adam Ottavino, RHP David Robertson and OF Billy McKinney.
ON THE UP: Over his last four games, Pete Alonso is 6-15 with three runs, two doubles, one triple and one RBI…Alonso is one double away from 100 for his career.
THEY’RE OUT OF MY LEAGUE: The Mets are in a stretch of eight consecutive games and 14 of 18 games against American League opponents…They are 3-3 in that span…The new schedule format has New York playing a total of 43 Interleague games in 2023, more than double their previous high for a single season (20)…The Mets are 13-13 against the American League this year… Overall, New York owns a 248-240 record in Interleague play…The team’s .508 winning percentage is the second-best among National League clubs.
INTERLEAGUE PETE: Pete Alonso has hit 37 home runs in Interleague Play since the 2019 season…His 37 home runs against the American League is a franchise record, and the most among any player since 2019…Mike Piazza was the previous record holder with 28 Interleague home runs.
DR. ROBERTSON: David Robertson is 4-2 with 14 saves, and a 2.08 ERA (10 ER/431. IP) with 13 walks and 48 strikeouts in 39 games this year…He is holding lefties to a .190 (15-79) average this year…His 14 saves rank ninth in the National League…His 171 career saves are the eighth-most among active players.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Mets hit the road for the first time in the second-half…New York is 23-31 on the road this season…The team’s 54 road games are tied for the most in the National League and are tied for second in the majors.
INVADER NIM: Brandon Nimmo has hit 15 home runs in 97 games this season… Nimmo’s career-high is 17 home runs, which he accomplished in 140 games in 2018…The left-handed hitter smacked 16 home runs in 151 games last season.
DOING THE SPLITS: Brandon Nimmo is batting .291 (62-213) with 28 runs, eight doubles, three triples, six home runs, 28 RBI, 29 walks, a .379 OBP and a .441 SLG on the road…This compares to a .226/.332/.451 slashline with 18 extra-base hits at home…Francisco Lindor is a .250 (53-212) with 36 runs, 14 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, 43 RBI, 20 walks, a .322 OBP, a .505 SLG and an .827 OPS on the road in 2023…He is slashing .195/.301/.371 with 14 extra-base hits at Citi Field this year.
IF YOU START ME UP: The Mets are 29-6 when the starting pitcher throws at least 6.0 innings…New York has gone 14-1 when its starter pitches 7.0+ innings and are a perfect 5-0 when the starter completes 8.0 innings.
SECOND HALF SQUAD: The Mets are 274-241 in the second half since 2015 (not including 2020)…New York has only posted a losing second half twice during that time frame (2021 and 2017)…New York’s .532 winning percentage during that span is the fifth-best in the NL, behind Los Angeles (.626), St. Louis (.597), Chicago (.578) and Milwaukee (.535).
BROOKS WAS HERE: Since returning from the IL on May 14, Brooks Raley has posted a 0.77 ERA (2 ER/23.1 IP) over 28 games…In seven games this month, Raley has yet to allow a run, allowing only three hits and striking out seven in 6.0 innings…Raley has 19 holds, tied for the second-most in the NL and tied for the fifth-most in the majors.
STEAL MY SUNSHINE: New York has been successful in all 16 of their stolen base attempts in July, bringing their season tally to 77 steals in 84 attempts… Their 77 steals are tied for 11th in the majors and tied for eighth in the NL… The team’s 91.7 percent success rate is the best in the majors…The Mets had a franchise-record run of 35 consecutive stolen bases without being caught from May 14-June 29…Overall, New York has been successful in 51 of their last 52 stolen base attempts.
YOU CAN CALL ME AL: Francisco Alvarez is tied for the lead all major league catchers in home runs and is third among all rookies in homers…He is tied for second in home runs in the majors this month with seven…Only San Diego’s Manny Machado has hit more with 10 dingers.
STARTING PITCHER – JUSTIN VERLANDER RHP #35
2023 STATS: 4-5, 3.47 E R A
LAST TIME OUT: Threw a season-high-tying 8.0 innings and earned the win on July 19 vs. Chicago-AL…Allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters.
BATTLES AGAINST THE BRONX BOMBERS: Verlander has made 24 regular season starts in his career against the Yankees, including 17 quality starts…Verlander is 9-7 with a 3.37 ERA (57 ER/152.1 IP) lifetime against the Yankees during the regular season…Over his last seven regular season starts against the Yankees, Verlander is 4-0 with a 1.90 ERA (10 ER/47.1 IP) and a 0.78 WHIP…The right-hander has also has made nine career Postseason starts against the Bronx Bombers and is 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA (17 ER/58.1 IP) in those starts…Five of those starts have been quality starts, including a complete game, 13-strikeout performance in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS.
INCREDIBLE IN INTERLEAGUE PLAY: In 62 career Interleague starts, Verlander is 40-12 with a 2.65 ERA (120 ER/407.1 IP)…In Interleague Play history, Verlander has the most wins, the second-most strikeouts (446) trailing only Max Scherzer (469), and the fourth-lowest ERA among qualifiers…In seven Interleague starts this season, Verlander has a 3.20 ERA (16 ER/45.0 IP) and a 0.93 WHIP…Four of those starts have been quality starts.
HITTING STRIDE: Over his last seven starts dating back to June 14, Verlander has pitched to a 2.25 ERA (11 ER/44.0 IP), the fifth-best mark in the majors during that span (Min. 37.0 IP)…The 40-year-old veteran has allowed just two home runs over that span and has the second-lowest HR/9 rate since June 14 with a 0.41 mark (Min. 37.0 IP)…Verlander sported a 4.85 ERA (21 ER/39.0 IP) in his first seven starts of the season.
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
T A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their five-game, six-day homestand tonight with the first game of the Subway Series vs. the New York Mets (through Wed.)…are 3-0 on their homestand after sweeping the Royals in a three-game set this past weekend…after this homestand, will travel to Baltimore for a three-game series (Fri.-Sun.).
Have won three straight games after dropping their previous four games.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: The Yankees capped a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with an 8-5 win at Yankee Stadium on Sunday…RHP Luis Severino (5.2IP, 8H, 3ER,
0BB, 5K, 2HR) started and earned his second win of the season…2B Gleyber Torres (1-for-3, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) hit a two-run HR in the first inning and exited the game in the seventh inning with left hip tightness…1B Anthony Rizzo (4-for-4, 3R, 1 double, 1HR, 2RBI) recorded a season-high and career-high-tying four hits, including an RBI double in the first inning and a solo HR in the third inning…CF Harrison Bader (1-for-3, 1RBI, 1SH) hit an RBI single in the first inning…DH Giancarlo Stanton (2-for-4, 1R) recorded his second straight multi-hit game…RF Jake Bauers (1- for-3, 1R, 1BB), 3B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-3, 1R, 1 double, 1BB) and LF/RF Billy McKinney (0-for-2, 1R, 2BB) each reached base twice…SS/2B Oswald Peraza (1-for-4, 1RBI) hit an RBI single in the eighth inning…C Kyle Higashioka (0-for-3, 1RBI, 1SF) hit a sac fly in the eighth…RHP Ian Hamilton (1.1IP, 2K) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief… RHP Michael King (1.0IP, 2H, 2K) tossed a scoreless eighth inning…RHP Ron Marinaccio (1.0IP, 2H, 2ER, 2K, 2HR) allowed 2ER in the ninth inning.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (since 7/6), batting .318 (14-for-44) with 5R, 4 doubles, 1HR, 1RBI and 3BB over that span.
Has reached base in 13 of his last 14 games (since 7/4) and 20 of his last 23 games (since 6/23).
Has hit .300/.300/.500 (6-for-20) with 1 double and 1HR in his career off Mets RHP Justin Verlander.
In 61 career games vs. the Mets, has hit .305 (67-for-220) with 30R, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 2HR, 17RBI, 22BB and 5SB.
As a Yankee (since 2019), has hit .314 (104-for-331) with 62R, 17 doubles, 4 triples, 12HR, 34RBI and 39BB in 86 Interleague games.
STANTON ISLAND: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit 38HR vs. the Mets, his most against a single opponent in his career (next: Washington – 36HR) and the most by any active player vs. the Mets.
Has hit 6HR and recorded 13RBI in his last 11 games (since 7/8).
Is batting .313 (5-for-16) with 3R, 2HR, 4RBI and 1BB in his last four games (since 7/19).
HOLMES SWEET HOLMES: RHP Clay Holmes has not allowed a run in 27 of his last 30 appearances (since 5/6), going 4-0 with nine saves and a 0.91 ERA (29.2IP, 3ER) in that span…his 0.91 ERA since 5/6 is the second-lowest ERA among all Major League pitchers in that span (min. 25.0IP), trailing only Baltimore’s Félix Bautista (0.52).
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have hit multiple home runs in each of their last four games and have hit 10HR in their last five games.
Their 141HR this season are the fifth-most in the Majors, trailing only Atlanta (187HR), Los Angeles-NL (164HR), Los Angeles-AL (155HR) and Tampa Bay (149HR).
WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers have posted a Major League-best 3.21 ERA (373.1IP, 133ER) this year…also rank second in the Majors in HR/9.0IP (0.87) and in opponents’ BA (.221).
FAN-TASTIC: The Yankees have averaged 41,253 fans per home gate this season, the highest home average attendance in the American League and the third-highest in the Majors, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (48,191) and St. Louis (42,065)…10 of their last 24 home gates have been sellouts.
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres hit a two-run HR in the first inning on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games…his 13-game hitting streak is the longest by a Yankee this season and the longest by a Yankee since Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s 15-game streak from 7/10- 29/22…is batting .377/.386/.585 (20-for-53) with 10R, 1 triple, 3HR, 7RBI, 2BB, 2SF and 1SB over his 13-game hitting streak.
Has 3HR in his last five games…the Yankees have gone 77-23 in games that he has homered in his career, including 65-16 since September 2018…the Yankees are 12-3 in games he has homered in this season and have won 16 of the last 19 games he has homered in since 9/7/22-G1.
Has hit safely in 18 of his last 20 games (since 6/29) and 20 of his last 23 games (since 6/25), batting .319 (29-for91) with 15R, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4HR, 13RBI, 6BB, 2SF and 2SB over that 23-game stretch…since 6/25, his 29H are tied for the fourth-most in the AL and tied for the 10th-most in the Majors.
Has reached base in 22 of his last 24 games (since 6/24) and 35 of his last 38 games (since 6/8-G1).
Is batting .325 (25-for-77) with 13R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 4HR, 11RBI, 5BB, 2SF and 2SB in 19 games during July.
Is batting .346 (27-for-78) with 11R, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3HR, 9RBI and 5BB in the first inning this season…has reached base in the first inning in nine of his last 10 games, 10 of his last 12 games and 11 of his last 15 games.
WILD BILL: OF Billy McKinney has reached base in 8-of-12 PA (2H, 5BB, 1HP, .667 OBP) over his last five games (since 7/16) and has reached base in 13-of-29 PA over his last 11 games (since 7/5), posting a .448 OBP in that span (5H, 7BB, 1HP).
FOUR SCORE: The Yankees are 44-12 this season when scoring at least 4R…are 45-17 this season when holding their opponent to 4R-or-fewer.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo recorded a season-high and career-high-tying four hits on Sunday (15th time, first since 8/4/19 vs. Milwaukee with Chicago-NL), hitting an RBI double in the first inning, a solo HR in the third inning and singles in the fifth and eighth inning… snapped his 45-game homerless streak (5/21-7/22), the second-longest such streak of his career (46G from 6/12/11- 6/29/12 with San Diego and Chicago-NL).
RIGHT HAND MAN: RHP Ian Hamilton tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief on Sunday…has not allowed an earned run in 19 of his last 22 appearances (since 4/13), going 1-0 with one save, a 1.38 ERA (26.0IP, 4ER) and 29K in that span.
BEST VS. THE METS: The Yankees are 79-61 (.564) all-time vs. the Mets…marks the highest win total by any team over any single opponent in the history of Interleague play (next: Tampa Bay’s 75 wins vs. Miami).
DARTH BADER: OF Harrison Bader hit an RBI single in the first inning on Sunday…as a Yankee (since September 2022), has hit .328/.328/.557 (20-for-61) with 5 doubles, 3HR, 35RBI, 2BB and 4SF with RISP.
Has reached base safely in each of his last seven games (since 7/15), nine of his last 10 games (since 7/8), 12 of his last 14 games (since 7/3), 14 of his last 18 games (since 6/28) and 16 of his last 21 games (since 6/24).
WELCOME HOME: Former Yankee Andy Pettitte will throw out tonight’s ceremonial first pitch…Pettitte was a member of five Yankees World Series championship teams (1996, ’98-2000, 2009), is the franchise leader in strikeouts and ranks third in Yankees history with 219 wins over 15 years in pinstripes (1995-2003, ‘07-10, ’12-13)
MAGIC EIGHT BALL: Yankees batters have recorded at least eight hits in nine of their last 11 games since (7/8).
FEELING A DRAFT: The Yankees have signed each of their 18 picks from this year’s draft.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP DOMINGO GERMÁN (5-6, 4.52 ERA)
RHP Domingo Germán will make his 19th start of the season in tonight’s series opener vs. New York-NL…the 30-year-old will start on extended six days’ rest due to team off days on Thursday and Monday…last pitched on 7/18 at Los Angeles-AL and took the loss after allowing 5ER over 6.0IP (4H, 3BB, 9K, 1HR, 1HP, 1WP)…threw the 24th perfect game in Major League history and the fourth in franchise history on 6/28 at Oakland (9.0IP, 9K)…was the first Major League pitcher to throw a perfect game since Seattle’s Félix Hernández on 8/15/12 vs. Tampa Bay…was the first Dominican-born pitcher to throw a perfect game…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in nine of his last 13 starts…allowed 2R-or-fewer in four straight starts from 5/1-16, tying the longest such streak of his career (also four straight starts from 7/27-8/12/22 and from 5/9-27-G1/21)…in 2022, went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees…allowed 3R-or-fewer in a career-high 12 consecutive starts from 7/27-9/30/22…missed the first 93 games of the season with right shoulder impingement syndrome…in six seasons with the Yankees, is 31-27 with a 4.40 ERA (511.1IP, 250ER) and 530K in 110 career games (88 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on 12/11/15…was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins along with RHP Nathan Eovaldi and INF Garrett Jones in exchange for RHP David Phelps and INF Martín Prado on 12/19/14.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his 18th start of the season on 7/18 at Los Angeles-AL and took the loss after allowing 5ER over 6.0IP (4H, 3BB, 9K, 1HR, 1HP, 1WP). Tossed a season-high 106 pitches…marked his second-highest pitch total in his career, trailing only his 108 pitches thrown on 5/5/19 vs. Minnesota.
Has recorded at least 9K in consecutive starts for just the second time in his career (also recorded at least 9K in three-straight starts from 6/9-19/18)…has recorded 9K in three of his last four starts (since 6/28).
VS. NEW YORK-NL/INTERLEAGUE: In five career starts vs. the Mets, has gone 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA (26.2IP, 11ER) and 28K. Went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA (11.0IP, 3ER) and 10K in two starts vs. the Mets last season.
Has made two career starts vs. New York-NL at Yankee Stadium, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA (10.0IP, 5ER) and 6K.
Is 4-4 with a 4.05 ERA (86.2IP, 39ER) and 90K in 18 career Interleague appearances (16 starts)…has made three Interleague starts this season (4/4 vs. Philadelphia, 6/4 at Los AngelesNL and 7/9 vs. Chicago-NL), going 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA (17.1IP, 6ER) and 23K.
Against NL East opponents, is 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA (55.1IP, 31ER) and 61K in 12 career appearances (11 starts).
HOME SWEET HOME: Is 2-4 with a 4.09 ERA (50.2IP, 23ER) and 57K in nine home starts this season.
Has gone 14-12 with a 3.89 ERA (245.0IP, 192H, 116R/106ER, 83BB, 271K, 48HR) in 53 career games (42 starts) at Yankee Stadium…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 36 of his 42 home starts.
Has held opponents to a .210 BA (192-for-913) at Yankee Stadium in his career, compared to a .244 BA (253-for-1,036) on the road.
Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 15 of his last 18 starts at home (since 6/30/21), including 10 starts with 2R-or-fewer allowed.
His 12 wins at Yankee Stadium since 2019 are the third-most by any pitcher at the venue during that span, trailing only Jameson Taillon (13) and Gerrit Cole (21).
2023: Will make his 19th start of the season tonight…is 5-6 with a 4.52 ERA (97.2IP, 49ER) and 101K in 18 starts this season.
On 6/28 at Oakland, threw the 24th perfect game in Major League history and the fourth in franchise history (9.0IP, 9K), joining David Cone (7/18/99 vs. Montreal), David Wells (5/17/98 vs. Minnesota) and Don Larsen (1956 World Series Game 5 on 10/8/56 vs. Brooklyn)…marked his first career complete game…struck out Brent Rooker swinging in the first inning for his 500th career strikeout.
Has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in nine of his 18 starts…are tied for the eighth-most such starts in the Majors this season.
Recorded at least 9K in consecutive starts for just the second time in his career from 7/9-18 (also at least 9K in three-straight starts from 6/9-19/18).
Allowed 1R-or-fewer in two straight starts from 6/4-10, marking the fifth time in his career he’s recorded consecutive such starts.
Allowed 2R-or-fewer in four straight starts from 5/1-16, tying the longest such streak of his career (also four straight starts from 7/27-8/12/22 and from 5/9-27-G1/21).
Was ejected on 5/16 at Toronto prior to the bottom of the fourth inning for violating MLB’s prohibitions on foreign substances and served a 10-game suspension from 5/17-27.
Did not record a decision on 5/1 vs. Cleveland despite allowing just 1ER over 8.1 innings (2H, 1BB, 6K)…allowed just three baserunners…after allowing a one-out single to Amed Rosario in the first inning, did not allow a hit to his next 25BF (1BB) before allowing the single to Steven Kwan in the ninth…became just the fifth Yankees pitcher (sixth time) in the last 22 years (since 2002) to toss at least 8.1IP and allow three-or-fewer baserunners…joined Gerrit Cole (2H and 1BB in 9.0IP on 4/16/23 vs. Minnesota), Corey Kluber (1BB in 9.0IP on 5/19/21 at Texas), Masahiro Tanaka (twice: 2H and 1BB in 9.0IP on 6/17/19 vs. Tampa Bay and 3H in 9.0IP on 4/27/17 at Boston) and Chien-Ming Wang (2H in 9.0IP on 4/11/08 at Boston).
Earned his first win of the season on 4/15 vs. Minnesota after recording a career-high 11K (6.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB)…marked his third career double-digit strikeout game (also 10K on 7/25/21 at Boston and 6/14/18 vs. Tampa Bay)…marked the first time in his career he’s recorded at least 10K without surrendering a walk…marked his fifth career start with at least 8K and 0BB allowed, including his second this season (8K and 0BB on 4/4 vs. Philadelphia)…is the first Yankee to record at least 10K and 0BB in a game this season and the first since Gerrit Cole did so on 7/17/22 vs. Boston (12K and 0BB)…tossed 5.1 perfect innings before allowing a one-out single to Christian Vázquez in the sixth inning…his 11K matched the most by a Yankees pitcher this season (also Gerrit Cole on Opening Day vs. San Francisco).
