Back in May, the first Subway Series of 2025 felt like a clash of World Series contenders. Both the Mets and Yankees were sitting atop their divisions, postseason spots looking inevitable. But the summer hasn’t been kind.
The Yankees have fallen from first in the AL East, dealing with an injury scare for MVP front-runner Aaron Judge, while the Mets have lost seven straight, tumbling from a division race with the Phillies to barely hanging on to the NL’s final wild-card slot. ESPN’s baseball insiders broke down their perspectives on both the Mets and the Yankees.
How Bad Is the Mets’ Situation?
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo sees the Mets’ rotation as a glaring concern — 28th in ERA and 29th in innings pitched since June 13 — though he notes reinforcements could arrive from injured starters Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn, plus Triple-A arms Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean.
Buster Olney points to deeper issues in all facets of the team, especially compared to NL powerhouses like the Brewers and Phillies. Jeff Passan is less worried, seeing the skid as a small-sample blip, while Jesse Rogers says the Mets’ division hopes are gone, but they’re still a safe bet for October — just without the luxury of a first-round bye.
Yankees’ Problems Run Deeper Than Judge’s Injury
Castillo says Aaron Judge’s flexor strain has forced roster shuffles that weaken the Yankees’ lineup. The rotation has suffered without Clarke Schmidt, Max Fried’s performance has slipped, and the bullpen hasn’t been reliable.
Olney notes manager Aaron Boone is still searching for bullpen answers deep into the season, but an easy finishing schedule could help. Passan sees a flawed team still capable of powering through a messy AL playoff picture. Rogers calls them one-dimensional, warning that more missed time from Judge or Giancarlo Stanton could be disastrous.
Keys to Turning It Around
Both teams need better starting pitching after largely bypassing rotation upgrades at the trade deadline. For the Yankees, that means throwing more strikes, cleaning up defensive miscues, and getting Judge’s swing back. For the Mets, it’s about finding a hot hand in the lineup, a rotation leader, and a bullpen arm to stabilize the late innings.
Castillo and Rogers lean toward the Mets lasting longer in the playoffs, citing bullpen depth and Judge’s uncertain health. Olney and Passan give the Yankees the edge due to an easier postseason path in the AL, though Passan believes the Mets might be the slightly stronger team overall.
