Yankees Surging into September
Despite losing the last two games of the weekend, the Yankees are still 13-2 in their last 15 games and sit two games ahead of their rival Red Sox for the top AL Wild Card spot. Their lead for a playoff spot is 4.5 games ahead of the Oakland A’s. They may regret missing the opportunity to put a nail in the A’s coffin, but head to southern California for a series with the Angels in a great spot.
The Yankees return home next weekend to begin a seven-game homestand. In that span in the Bronx, they host the last-place Baltimore Orioles for three games and the Toronto Blue Jays for the final four. They head across town to play the Mets for three, so 11 of their next 14 games are in New York.
The Yankees look to build a cushion heading into a tough final week of the regular season. They travel to Boston September 24-26 and host the first-place Tampa Bay Rays October 1-3. The Yankees currently trail Tampa Bay by six games in the AL East.
With 32 games remaining on the schedule, the Yankees are 76-54. They are +275 to win the AL East and +350 to win the American League, behind just the Houston Astros (+220) and Chicago White Sox (+300). The Yankees are +750 to win the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Trouble in Queens
The Mets won for the second day in a row on Sunday, but they are 3-7 in their last 10 games, and they definitely lost the public perception this weekend. After Sunday’s game, new arrival Javier Baez told reporters that the Mets “thumbs-down” celebration when they get a hit is their way of booing the fans.
While Mets fans booed the players over the weekend and changed “Fire Rojas” at skipper Luis Rojas, the players responded with their thumbs-down gesture. Baez indicated post-game that it feels bad to get booed, and the players wanted to return the favor to the fans.
Mets President Sandy Alderson released a lengthy statement Sunday night to MLB.com that in-part read:
“These comments, and any gestures by him (Baez) or other players with a similar intent, are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The players and the organization are equally frustrated, but fans at Citi Field have every right to express their own disappointment. Booing is every fan’s right. I will be meeting with our players and staff to convey this message directly.”
With their recent slide and injuries to pitchers, the Mets are four games under .500 at 63-67. That slump coincided with the Atlanta Braves long winning streak to take over the NL East. Atlanta enters play on Monday with a 4.5 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies while the Mets are 7.5 games back.
The Mets have a day off Monday before playing two against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, the start of a four-game series. The schedule is kind with five games against the Washington Nationals and seven against the Marlins before the Subway Series with the Yankees September 10-12.
However, the Mets still play three games each against the Braves, Phillies, and NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, plus a two-game trip to Boston. They will have to be near perfect in 15 combined games against the Nationals and Marlins to have any chance of catching Atlanta.
The Mets were early season favorites in the NL East but are now a long shot at +1500. The Braves are -450, with the Phillies at +450. The Mets are +5000 to win the National League and +10000 to win the World Series.