The Yankees have arrived at the Subway Series in their first real rough patch of the season.
Entering Tuesday’s showdown against the Mets at Citi Field, the Yankees have dropped three straight series after losing only three of their first 22 series of the season.
But the chance to play two games with a little extra edge to them offers a chance to get back on track.
“Looking back to last year, it was one of the most fun series of the year, especially when we were over there,” Anthony Volpe said Sunday. “We’re ready, we’re excited and we’ll see.”
Volpe went 5-for-13 with four doubles and three RBIs in four games against the Mets last season — the teams split both two-game series — with two of those doubles keying a comeback win in the first meeting in Queens.
The Yankees have played a handful of series in recent weeks that have felt a little bigger, including ones against the Dodgers and Orioles, and will hope to have a better result in this one against the Mets.
“It’s New York City — biggest, greatest city in the world,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Two great franchises. … Over the course of 162 games, it adds a little different kind of buzz and excitement and break in the normal monotony of the season. I think it’s exciting for the players on both teams, certainly the fan bases and certainly the city. Doing it in the summertime, obviously the Mets are starting to play good baseball here. So I think it’s something we always look forward to.”
Tommy Kahnle threw 17 pitches in a scoreless inning against the Braves on Sunday, and all 17 of them were changeups. He struck out three and gave up a single.
Kahnle, whose fastball has mostly lacked its normal velocity since returning from a shoulder injury, said that pitch was fine Sunday while warming up. He just liked how his changeup looked.
“Just the action [was good Sunday],” Kahnle said. “This is the first time I’ve seen [the Braves] since last year. We were feeling it so we stuck with it and it worked out.”
Kahnle had three outings last season (and one in 2022) in which he only threw changeups, though none of them lasted more than 10 pitches.
The Yankees transferred JT Brubaker’s rehab assignment from Single-A Tampa to the FCL Yankees so he could start for them Monday.
It marked the right-hander’s second rehab start on the way back from 2023 Tommy John surgery.
The Yankees acquired Brubaker from the Pirates in March and with minor league options, he could serve as starting depth at Triple-A once he is healthy.
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto remained the top two vote-getters in the major leagues in the second update on All-Star Game balloting, released Monday.
The first phase of fan voting ends at noon Thursday, with the finalists at each position set to be announced that night.