Breaking down key Subway Series matchups: Who has the edge in first 2025 go-round?

The first edition of this year’s Subway Series starts Friday in The Bronx and it almost certainly won’t be a warm welcome for Juan Soto, in his first games as a Met after leaving the Yankees. There will be plenty of drama, elsewhere, as well, as ꦐboth teams try to stay atop their respective divisions. Here’s a look at how the teams match up:

At the plate 

Getting on base

There’s Aaron Judge and then there’s the rest of the majors. Not since Barry Bonds was in his prime has the game seen an offensive performance like what Judge has shown so far this season, reaching base in nearly half his plate appearances. That’s a large part of why the Yankees lead the sport in on-base percentage, although the resurgent Paul Goldschmidt has also played a role, as well as Ben Rice, who has made the loss of Giancarlo Stanton practically a non-issue. The Mets are also strong in this area, paced by Pete Alonso, who has become more selective and looks like a different hitter than a year ago. Despite Juan Soto’s un-Soto-ish production since joining the Mets, his keen eye at the plate has kept him a force in this category. And Francisco Lindor has madꦛe the li♌neup go since being moved to the leadoff spot a year ago.

Edge: Yankees 

4

Power

Again, it’s Judge and everyone else. Not even Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers compares to Judge’s overall power numbers this season. If it wasn’t for Judge, though, Alonso’s fantastic start would be generating ඣeven more headlines. Both teams have spent most of the season in the top-five in slugging percentage, with Trent Grisham, in the midst of a career year, providing the most unlikely power surge. Cody Bellinger has not regained the power stroke he’s displayed at times during his career and has so far not taken much advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, but he’s been better over his last 16 games. Austin Wells, though, has done well at home. In Queens, Soto hasn’t found the power stroke he had a year ago with the Yankees or the year prior in San Diego. But he’s been heating up of late and perhaps a weekend in his old stomp🐽ing grounds- and a likely unpleasant welcome back from Yankee fans- will help. Vientos hasn’t been able to repeat what he did in 2024, when he hit 27 homers.