The New York Mets are set to face the New York Yankees in a Subway Series game, with pitchers Nolan McLean and Carlos Rodon scheduled to start. The Mets, enduring a challenging season, will rely on McLean, who has emerged as a bright spot. As of Tuesday, McLean holds an 11-8 record with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, and ranks 14th in Major League Baseball with 179 strikeouts. The 25-year-old right-hander has a career record of 0-for-6 against two Yankees hitters he has faced.
Analyst Rob Friedman has described McLean's off-speed pitches as the "filthiest" in MLB. Despite trading away key players like Freddy Peralta and Luis Robert Jr. this season, McLean has been a consistent performer for the Mets, who are projected to finish below .500.
The New York Yankees, meanwhile, are having a successful season and are competing for the best record in the American League. They currently trail the Tampa Bay Rays by three games with 16 games remaining. The team recently welcomed back captain Aaron Judge, who has shown solid form in his initial games since returning from injury.
Yankees starter Carlos Rodon will pitch in the series. Rodon has a 5-3 record with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Since his return in August, he has allowed five earned runs over 17.2 innings, typically pitching five or fewer innings and allowing two or fewer runs. Rodon has faced the Mets once previously, giving up two earned runs in 3.2 innings in a game the Yankees lost. The analysis suggests that while the Mets' bullpen may be a concern, McLean's performance on the mound offers an advantage, particularly in the early innings of the game.