When the calendar hits July 4th, most teams bring their best. Fireworks, fanfare, and, ideally, a functioning rotation. But on Friday, July 4th, as the Mets and Yankees square off in the latest chapter of the Subway Series, one side seems more parade than powerhouse. While the Yankees tighten their grip on October dreams, the Mets arrive with duct tape, hope, and Justin Hagenman.

What a time to start off another Subway Series. The 4th of July is a great day for the people of the USA and a great time to go watch some of the biggest teams clash. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets are meeting for the second time this season, and this series is going to be very important for both teams. But it seems that the Mets are not considering this important, or at least their latest decision seems so.

In their latest move, the Mets decided that they are not going to be any of their starting pitchers. As reported by Anthony DiComo, “No opener today for the Mets. It’ll be Justin Hagenman from the jump, the team announced.” But is this because they want to save some pitchers or because there is no one left?

Looking at this decision by the Mets, most of them would say that the Mets have already given up on the series, but the team has not got anyone left to handle the ship. Injuries have gutted the Mets’ starting rotation, leaving them scrambling for healthy arms. Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Tylor Megill, and Max Kranick all remain sidelined. The team ERA over the last seven games is an ugly 7.08, showing clear desperation. Even Frankie Montas, recently activated, has yet to prove consistent value.

Of the pitchers left standing, Clay Holmes and David Peterson have shown flashes but little stability. Holmes has battled command issues while Peterson allowed four earned runs in his last 6⅔ innings. Rookie Blade Tidwell and journeyman Brandon Waddell have filled gaps but offer minimal upside. The rotation has become a patchwork quilt with seams barely holding together.

That’s where Hagenman could become more than a temporary Band-Aid for this staff. He started 15 games in Triple-A Worcester, holding a steady ERA and showing swingman versatility. His MLB debut saw 3⅓ innings, one run allowed, and four strikeouts—solid, if unspectacular. But one arm won’t save a season; the Mets need a united push, not another collapse.

So while fireworks light up the sky, the Mets are tossing up a white flag at Yankee Stadium. Whether it’s strategy or surrender, sending out Hagenman with zero backup says more than silence ever could. This isn’t just a rotation crisis—it’s a franchise-level shrug. If the Mets are playing chess, they’re down to pawns and praying the Yankees forget how to move. The Subway Series deserves a clash; instead, Queens brought a coin toss.

Mets lose more pitchers, and Yankees call up two more

New York baseball is starting to look like a medical drama—except no one’s getting healed. As the Subway Series rolls in, the Yankees are stocking their bullpen like it’s doomsday, while the Mets are bleeding pitchers faster than they can print injury reports. Scott Effross and Jayvien Sandridge got the Bronx call-up; Paul Blackburn and Dedniel Núñez exit stage left in Queens. Rivalry? More like triage.

The Subway Series begins with both New York teams making contrasting roster moves. The Yankees added right-handers Effross and Sandridge from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Meanwhile, the Mets placed Blackburn and Núñez on the 15-day injured list. The moves reflect two very different trajectories heading into this cross-town clash.

The Yankees’ bullpen, which owns a 3.23 ERA (5th in MLB), gets a boost ahead of the rivalry. Effross returns after missing all of 2023, while Sandridge brings left-handed depth. The Mets, already missing over a dozen pitchers, face a growing crisis. Their team ERA has ballooned to 4.44, ranking 22nd in the league.

This series could shape both teams’ playoff paths. The Yankees trail the Orioles by 4.5 games in the AL East. The Mets sit under .500 and risk falling further out of Wild Card contention. Every game in this series carries heavy October implications.

Call it the Subway Series or the MRI Classic—either way, it’s survival of the fittest now. While the Yankees reload with arms and ambition, the Mets are just trying to keep enough pitchers upright. This isn’t just a rivalry—it’s a test of depth, durability, and denial. One team’s climbing toward October; the other’s Googling rehab timelines. New York baseball never rests… but it sure does limp.