Subway Series 2023: NY Mets vs. NY Yankees odds, predictions, pitchers

The Subway Series' first stop of 2023 is in Queens.

The New York Yankees are visiting their cross-town rival New York Mets for a two-game series beginning Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

Unfortunately, neither team will have their superstar player available. Mets slugger Pete Alonso was recently placed on the 10-day injured list and will be out 3-4 weeks after suffering a sprained wrist and bone bruise on his left hand on June 7 against the Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees have been without 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge for over a week now as the team's captain continues to recover on the 10-day IL from a right big toe injury suffered on June 3.

It's been a struggle for both New York squads recently as the Mets have dropped eight of their past 10 games, while the Yankees are 4-6 in their prior 10.

Which New York team will prevail and break out of its current funk? Here's my betting preview for this two-game set at Citi Field with odds from the best sportsbooks around New Jersey.

Tuesday, 7:10 p.m.: Max Scherzer (5-2, 3.71) vs. Luis Severino (0-1, 5.75)

Despite striking out double-digit hitters for the first time this season, it's been anything but easy for Scherzer. The 38-year-old's home/road splits in 2023 are drastically different. At Citi Field, Scherzer has won two of three starts with a microscopic 0.50 ERA as opponents are hitting .153 against him. This is compared to a 3-2 record with a 5.35 ERA, and teams hitting nearly .300 when he pitches on the road.

It's been a tough June for Severino. He's 0-1 with an 11.00 ERA and has allowed 15 hits and a whopping six home runs in just nine total innings pitched. The veteran is hoping to find the stuff he had in late May when he posted a 1.59 ERA in 11 1/3 innings and gave up just five hits.

I expect Severino to perform better than he has so far this month, but for Scherzer to keep in check a Yankees lineup that has scored three or fewer runs in five of seven games since Judge's injury.

Place a bet on the Mets moneyline at -155 on bet365, to cover the -1.5 run line (+133) on BetRivers Sportsbook and the under 7.5 runs at Bet MGM at even money (+100) odds.

Prediction: Mets 4, Yankees 2

Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Justin Verlander (2-3, 4.85) vs. Gerrit Cole (7-1, 2.84)

It's been a mixed bag for Verlander's debut season in Queens. Every solid outing has been followed up by a shaky performance. The three-time Cy Young Award winner went six innings and struck out a season-high eight batters in a 3-0 loss to the Blue Jays on June 2. In his next start, he had more walks (4) than strikeouts (3) in a 13-10 loss to the Braves on June 8. The 40-year-old threw 82 pitches and allowed four runs and seven hits in just three innings, his shortest start of 2023.

Cole suffered his first lost of the season against the Red Sox on Friday night. He didn't have his best stuff as he allowed seven hits but limited the damage by giving up two earned runs in six innings. Despite the loss, the five-time All-Star is off to a much better start this month after posting a 5.18 ERA in six starts in May. He currently ranks sixth in the American League with 90 strikeouts.

In a matchup of former teammates, I believe Cole gets the job done and the Yankees do just enough on offense as they split the two-game set at Citi Field.