Marcus Stroman put together a relatively good outing in Game 1 of the Subway Series against the New York Mets, though the New York Yankees ultimately fell short—and Juan Soto played a key role in taking down the Bombers.
Stroman had to face Soto early in the game, and in the first inning, the Mets tied things up 2–2 thanks to a 393-foot moonshot from the Dominican slugger that also brought Brandon Nimmo home. After the game, the Yankees’ starter acknowledged Soto’s elite status in the league.
“He’s one of the best for a reason, he’s extremely locked in right now,” Stroman said. He added, “He’s just an incredibly hard AB,” referring to how well Soto has been hitting lately. Soto finished the night with three hits in four at-bats.
Soto’s numbers vs. Stroman
Even though Soto just went deep off Stroman, his overall numbers against the Yankees pitcher are solid but not overwhelming. According to StatMuse, Soto is 6-for-13 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in 17 plate appearances against Stroman—a .462 batting average. Stroman has struck him out just twice across six games.
After the game, Soto was visibly pleased with his performance in front of Mets fans. “I just feel good right now. I’m seeing the ball really well,” he said. “Any time you come through for the team, it’s always great,” he added, reflecting on his big home run.
Yankees’ current struggles
Manager Aaron Boone recently spoke about the team’s struggles following the loss to the Mets, especially pointing to the recent issues with Luke Weaver. The Yankees are now riding a five-game losing streak, all of them coming on the road. While they still sit at 48–40, the Tampa Bay Rays are closing in and could overtake them for second place in the AL East at any moment.