A Murphy’s law week for the Yankees has the potential to get uglier as they take on the Mets for one more afternoon at Citi Field. After a dramatic late loss and a barn-burner which wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, the Bombers will need a great performance from Max Fried to finally get back in the win column. If they don’t, then they’ll lose the season Subway Series, suffer a second-straight sweep, and drop their seventh in a row. The season is long, but it’s getting shorter every hour they fall flat.

Considering today’s pitching matchup, it’s almost as if the baseball gods are saying “Alright, if you can’t win this one, what CAN you win?” Fried scuffled a bit last time in Toronto, but his worst version this year is still a guy who can go six innings and keep you in a ballgame. They’ll need that at minimum today.

The Mets are opening with veteran reliever Chris Devenski, with the plan to use 31-year-old lefty Brandon Waddell as the “bulk man.” Waddell hadn’t pitched in MLB since 2021, spending the intervening years mostly in the KBO. He’s got a 2.55 ERA in 17.2 innings this year with the Mets, with only one earned run in his last five appearances. He’s gone three innings deep in his last two appearances, so manager Carlos Mendoza is likely targeting a similar total today. If that pair plus the rest of the Mets’ bullpen can outshine Fried today… actually, let’s not think about it unless it happens, all right?

The Yankee lineup, which has not been bad in this series, will lead off with Paul Goldschmidt today after he had yesterday’s game off. Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez rotate out with the lefty Waddell due to take over early in the game, and Giancarlo Stanton remains at DH with Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge in the outfield. No Jazz Chisholm Jr. today, with the infielder dealing with shoulder soreness—Oswald Peraza starts at third.

Before the game Jayvien Sandridge was sent down following a tough MLB debut, with righty Geoff Hartlieb, whose only appearance of 2025 thus far (last Tuesday) went just as poorly, taking his spot on the roster. Hopefully the identity of the 25th man on the roster does not play a role in this game’s outcome.

How to watch

Location: Citi Field – Flushing, NY

First pitch: 1:40 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, SNY

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 / Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2

Online stream: MLB.tv, Gotham Sports App

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