New York has not been kind to Giancarlo Stanton since he became a Yankee. Maybe a trip across town will do him some good.
If history is any indication, it will.
Stanton feasted on Mets pitching during his years with the Marlins, especially at Citi Field. His 21 career homers there are more than Stanton has hit in any other opposing ballpark. And two years ago, Stanton homered four times in two days.
Even the pitching suits him well, with Jacob deGrom starting Friday’s series opener. Stanton is 9-for-22 against deGrom and has hit four homers off the right-hander. No other hitter has hit more than two, and Stanton’s career 1.480 OPS versus deGrom dwarfs any other hitter who has faced the Mets’ ace at least 10 times.
Two of those shots came on July 6, 2016 — including a 470-foot blast, the longest in Citi Field history.
Stanton is also 4-for-10 with a pair of homers off Steven Matz, though he’s 0-for-11 with six strikeouts when facing Noah Syndergaard.
Of course, Stanton has been more productive on the road throughout his first months as a Yankee, including the past five games of the current trip, with the left fielder going 7-for-21 with a double, three homers, three walks and six strikeouts.
It’s the latest streak the Yankees hope will get Stanton going, since the offense has thrived mostly despite his struggles at the plate.