Breaking down key Subway Series matchups: Who has the edge?

The Yankees were riding high for most of the first 2 ¹/₂ months of the season but cracks began to show right before the first installment of the Subway Series.

Both games were won by the Mets at Citi Field , as they continued to shake off a rough start to the year.

Both teams are looking to get rolling in what remains of the second half, as the teams meet again, this time in The Bronx, starting Tuesday.

At the plate Getting on base

By now, anyone paying attention knows the Yankees’ bats outside of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have too often been quiet.

According to MLB.com, heading into Monday’s game, Soto and Judge had combined for a .446 OBP, while the rest of the lineup was at just .284.

Ben Rice has become another black hole at the top of the lineup, with four hits in 39 at-bats prior to Monday and Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo — and just about everyone else — unable to pick up the slack .

The Mets, meanwhile, have the second-best on-base percentage in the majors over the last month, with Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and — of all people — Jose Igesias leading the way, along with consistent results throughout the season from Mark Vientos and J.D. Martinez — although Martinez has been in a rut since the last Subway Series.

Edge: Mets

Power

Also since June 15, when the Yankees’ slide began, the Mets top the majors in slugging percentage, while the Yankees are 26th, as they have missed Giancarlo Stanton’s presence — on top of the vanishing act from the non-Judge and Soto portion of the lineup.

Perhaps long-awaited home runs from DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Volpe on Monday were a sign of things turning, but over the last five weeks, Judge and Soto had a slugging percentage of .596 and hit 16 home runs, compared to their teammates’ .329 slugging percentage with 18 homers.

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Since the last time the teams met, Verdugo, Volpe and LeMahieu all rank in the bottom five among qualified hitters in OPS.

Austin Wells figures to stay in the cleanup spot against a pair of righty starters, but the No. 4 hole has been a nightmare.

Pete Alonso went deep just once in 15 games prior to Monday and Francisco Alvarez’s power numbers have slipped of late.

Perhaps a trip to the Stadium will help.

Jeff McNeil’s brutal season may be on the upswing, with six extra-base hits in his previous 38 plate appearances after 15 all season prior to this stretch.

And Lindor has been dangerous since late May and has been even better this month.

Edge: Mets

On the base paths

The Yankees stole their first bases in over a month on Sunday, while the Mets have a few more base-stealing threats.

Edge: Mets

In the field Infield

Volpe and — somewhat surprisingly — LeMahieu, have good advanced metrics at shortstop and third base, respectively.

Torres is barely average at second these days and Rice is a work in progress at first.

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But with McNeil, Vientos and Iglesias shaky on defense and Alonso poor at first, only Lindor can be relied upon in the infield.

Edge: Yankees

Outfield

Trent Grisham and Harrison Bader have been standouts in center for each team and Nimmo is good in left, but no one else is out there for his defense.

Edge: Even

Bench

Much like most of the regular lineup, the Yankees have gotten little from their bench, with ex-Met J.D. Davis having almost no role since arriving from Oakland after being designated for assignment, Oswaldo Cabrera struggling, and backup catcher Carlos Narvaez has hardly been used.

The Mets have Luis Torrens to spell Francisco Alvarez, and DJ Stewart has previously had flashes of success.

Edge: Mets

On the mound Rotation

Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil are slated to start for the Yankees and both got knocked around in the first Subway Series, but the right-handers are pitching better of late.

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Jose Quintana has been inconsistent, but has had success against the Yankees and Sean Manaea pitched well in his earlier outing against the Yankees this season.

Edge: Yankees

Bullpen

Both teams have issues at closer, although Edwin Diaz has been solid since his return from a sticky-stuff ban.

Clay Holmes, at the back of the Yankees pen, hasn’t been reliable.

Luke Weaver and Michael Tonkin have been weapons for the Yankees, as has lefty Tim Hill, while Jose Butto has emerged as a reliever in Queens, but Adrian Houser’s earlier eye-opening stats following his move out of the rotation have gotten far worse.

Edge: Yankees

Manager

Aaron Boone and Carlos Mendoza worked together for years before finally going up against each other for the first time last month.

This season, Mendoza has stopped a tailspin and Boone hasn’t.

Edge: Mets

Intangibles

The Yankees were still in first place in the AL East the last time these teams met and have won just one series since then.

The Mets opened the second half with a shaky performance in Miami and have mostly taken advantage of weak competition.

Now they head to The Bronx, followed by the Braves coming to Citi Field.

Edge: Even

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