Do the Mets have a pitching advantage over Yankees in weekend Subway Series?

The New York baseball clubs are headed in opposite directions at this time. While the Yankees came out winners in eight of their last 10 games and currently sit in first place in the American League East with the best record in baseball, the Mets are 7.5 games out of first place in the National League East and losers of six straight.

Beginning Friday night, the Yankees invade Citi Field for a three game set. Looking at just the standings and seeing the way each team is playing, it would be fair to say the Yankees should roll over the Mets. However, look at the pitching matchups and they paint another picture.

The series opener features a star-powered battle, even if in name only, as Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound for the Yankees opposite Mets starter Jacob deGrom. Tanaka is 7-2 on the season but much of that is due to the high run support he has received. Overall this season, Tanaka has been inconsistent, holding a 4.79 ERA. deGrom meanwhile has been one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers this season. He enters Friday at 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA. Over his past eight starts, the right-hander has a 0.57 ERA and 68 strikeouts in just over 47 innings pitched.

The middle game on Saturday will feature Yankees rookie Domingo German and Mets lefty Steven Matz. German took over for injured Jordan Montgomery and is 0-3 with a 6.33 ERA in five starts. Another rough outing and the Yankees may look for additional rotation options. Matz struggled to begin the season but has turned things around the past month. He has an overall 2-4 record and 3.42 ERA but since the beginning of May his ERA is just 2.32.

The feature matchup is Sunday night on ESPN as two aces take the mound. The Yankees will have Luis Severino take the mound. Severino is 9-1 with a 2.20 ERA this season. The Mets will send Noah Syndergaard to the mound for his first start since being placed on the disabled list with a strained ligament in his index finger. Syndergaard is 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA.

Can Mets hold down Yankees lineup?

Many would say the Mets have the better starting pitchers lined up in the series. But will that result in wins for the team in orange and blue? The Yankees lineup is loaded, from top to bottom. You can expect to see Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield as there is no DH in the NL ballparks. Stanton is one Yankee that particularly beats up on the Mets. Although being hitless in 11 at-bats in his career against Syndergaard, Stanton has four home runs in 22 at-bats, and a .409 career average against deGrom, and two home runs in ten at-bats and a .400 average against Matz.

Bullpens can change the games

If the Yankees can get to the Mets bullpen, the advantage shifts to their dugout. The Yankees have had a knack for late comebacks and walk-off victories this season. They are a team that never quits and are never out of a game. The Mets bullpen has struggles holding leads this season. The Yankees bullpen is loaded with firepower.

The Mets may have the advantage in the starting pitching area, but the Yankees hold the advantage just about everywhere else.

Update (June 8, 4:00pm): Noah Syndergaard will not pitch on Sunday. His hand swelled up after playing catch. Seth Lugo will get the start instead.