The initial Subway Series in May presented a clash of baseball titans, with both the New York Yankees and Mets leading their respective divisions, living up to expectations for high-payroll, big-market teams. The prevailing question then revolved around which team was superior. However, just seven weeks later, as the Yankees prepare to visit Citi Field for the second installment, the narrative has drastically shifted. Both New York rivals have endured a prolonged slog to mediocrity.

Following the first Subway Series, the Yankees boasted a 42-25 record (17 games over .500), while the Mets stood at 45-24 (21 games over .500). Yet, an alarming slump began around Friday, June 13th, for both clubs. Since that date, the Mets have recorded MLB's fewest wins at 5-14, with the Yankees performing only marginally better at 6-14. This precipitous decline has had significant consequences in the standings. The Mets have ceded a seven-game lead, now trailing the NL East-leading Phillies. The Yankees, who once held a seven-game lead in the AL East as recently as May 28, find themselves one game behind the Blue Jays and remarkably tied for second with the Rays. The upcoming Subway Series now poses a different question: who is worse?

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns expressed his surprise at the prolonged slump, stating, "It’s continued longer than I would have anticipated, in terms of a prolonged stretch of not playing very good baseball consistently." Despite the recent struggles, Stearns maintains his "overarching opinion" that the Mets remain a "good team" with "good players," far better than their recent performance suggests. This sentiment could easily extend to the Yankees, who are grappling with similar issues.

The Mets' downturn is largely attributed to a rapidly disintegrating pitching staff. In just two weeks, three starters landed on the injured list, with two more pitchers, Paul Blackburn (shoulder impingement) and Dedniel Nunez (elbow sprain), joining them before Thursday's game. This leaves the Mets without a scheduled starter for Sunday's finale. Since June 13, the Mets' staff has posted a majors-worst 6.24 ERA, considerably higher than the second-worst Nationals (5.81).

Conversely, the Yankees' recent struggles stem from familiar issues like shoddy glovework and a surprising vulnerability in their bullpen. Defensive miscues from players like Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Ben Rice have plagued them, while the relief corps has posted a middle-of-the-pack 1.38 WHIP and 3.94 ERA during their June-July swoon. Despite these team-wide issues, Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the simultaneous struggles of both New York teams, emphasizing the inherent excitement of the crosstown rivalry.

Aaron Judge, the Yankees captain, acknowledged the need for the team to "play better" and focus on controlling their actions on the field. While his strikeout rate has soared (33.3%) during the skid, Judge has still managed six homers and a .987 OPS in the 19 games prior to Thursday. However, with intentional walks becoming more frequent (his 22 are an MLB high, more than double the next closest players), Judge will need more support from his teammates, as others have been too erratic.

A significant storyline from the first Subway Series was Juan Soto's challenging return to the Bronx, where he faced constant booing and struggled at the plate (1-for-10). The narrative then questioned his commitment to Queens. However, Soto has since dramatically turned his season around, earning the NL Player of the Month award for June, batting .322 with 11 homers, 20 RBIs, and a 1.196 OPS. He now enters the second Subway Series at the peak of his powers, eager to inflict the damage he couldn't in Round One. The Mets, in particular, desperately need his contributions.

The Yankees, despite their struggles, hold a potential edge in pitching for the weekend, with Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon, and Max Fried scheduled to pitch. However, their ability to "figure out a way to do everything else sufficiently" remains their challenge. As for the Mets, they managed to break a losing streak by beating the Brewers on Thursday night, having dropped 14 of 18 games previously. The Yankees had lost 14 of 20 games before the series.

Ultimately, the stakes for this Subway Series are higher than before. It is no longer about establishing supremacy but rather a matter of survival for two teams that, just weeks ago, were considered playoff contenders. Both teams, though confident in their underlying talent, are navigating through an unexpected and frustrating period of underperformance, making this rivalry clash even more compelling.