How Mets’ Mickey Callaway is making life harder for Yankees

The Yankees and Mets will meet on Monday, August 13, 2018 (8/13/18) to make up a game which was rained out in July. The Mets, who currently sit in fourth place in the National League East, will send ace Jacob deGrom to the mound to face the Yankees, who lead the American League Wild Card race but sit nine games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

Watch video

These are not the best of times for the Yankees.

Two of their best bats (right fielder Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez) are on the disabled list.

Their All-Star closer (Aroldis Chapman) had an epic meltdown on Sunday, allowing the Boston Red Sox to complete a four-game sweep of the Yankees.

Their newly acquired reliever (Zach Britton) almost gave away a win against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.

Add all that up, and you get a ball club that is nine games out first place in the American League East.

But Aaron Boone’s squad won’t get any sympathy from its cross-town rivals:

Mets will take advantage of the off-day and pitch deGrom on regular rest against the Yankees Monday.

— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 8, 2018

The Mets will bring Jacob deGrom back early (on regular rest) to have him start at Yankee Stadium next Monday instead of Jason Vargas.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 8, 2018

Jacob deGrom will pitch vs. #Yankees on Monday. Callaway said they lined that up to happen. #Mets

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) August 8, 2018

The Yankees and Mets play Monday in a makeup game from a rainout on July 22nd.

The Mets have nothing left to play for this season except pride.

They are 48-65, good for fourth place in the National League East, 17 games behind the first-place Phillies.

There is a certain level of irony with the Mets putting deGrom on the mound on Monday.

Before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline, the Mets wrestled with the idea of trading deGrom and rebuilding the team from scratch.

Yankees teammates defend Ellsbury

Had the Mets committed to dealing deGrom, rumors swirled that the Yankees would come calling.

Instead, the Mets held on to deGrom and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was left to trade for Minnesota Twins right-hander Lance Lynn.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.