Subway Series offers the Yankees a chance to reorient themselves in a difficult phase

The Yankees have entered the first really difficult phase of the season at the Subway Series.

Heading into Tuesday’s clash with the Mets at Citi Field, the Yankees have lost three straight series after losing just three of their first 22 series of the season.

But the opportunity to play two games with a little more bite offers the chance to get back on track.

“When I look back at last year, it was one of the most entertaining series of the year, especially when we were there,” Anthony Volpe said Sunday. “We’re ready, we’re excited and we’ll see.”

Volpe went 5-for-13 with four doubles and three RBIs in four games against the Mets last season – the teams split two-game series – with two of those doubles key to a comeback win in the first meeting in Queens.

The Yankees have played some series that felt a little bigger in recent weeks, including ones against the Dodgers and Orioles, and are hoping to get a better result in this game against the Mets.

“It’s New York City — the biggest, greatest city in the world,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Two great franchises. … Over the course of 162 games, it creates a little bit of a different kind of excitement and tension and a break from the usual monotony of the season. I think it’s exciting for the players on both teams, certainly for the fans and certainly for the city. When you do it in the summer, the Mets obviously start playing good baseball here. So I think it’s something we always look forward to.”

Tommy Kahnle threw 17 pitches in a scoreless inning against the Braves on Sunday, and all 17 of them were changeups. He managed three strikeouts and allowed a single.

Kahnle, whose fastball has largely been out of its normal velocity since returning from a shoulder injury, said during warmups Sunday that the pitch was fine. He just liked the way his changeup looked.

“The action alone (was good on Sunday),” Kahnle said. “This is the first time I’ve seen (the Braves) since last year. We felt it, so we stuck with it and it worked out.”

Kahnle had three appearances last season (and one in 2022) where he threw only changeups, although none of them lasted longer than 10 throws.

The Yankees have transferred the rehab assignment of JT Brubaker from Single-A Tampa to the FCL Yankees so he can start for them on Monday.

It was the right-hander’s second rehab start on his way back from his Tommy John surgery in 2023.

The Yankees signed Brubaker from the Pirates in March, and thanks to minor league options, he could serve as an additional starting position in Triple-A once he’s healthy again.

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto remained the two most-voted candidates in the Major Leagues in the second All-Star Game voting update released Monday.

The first phase of the fan vote ends on Thursday at noon. The finalists for each position will be announced the same evening.