Yankees @ Mets Subway Series Preview

Yankees @ Mets
Citi Field
(3 games)

After splitting the first six games on this road trip the Yankees head back to New York to take on the Mets for three games at the new Citi Field in the second and final round of this year's Subway Series. The Yanks luckily (thanks again Luis) took two of three from the Mets in the Bronx two weekends ago.

At 40-32 the Yankees are second in the AL East and trial the first place Red Sox by four games. The Yanks lead the Wild Card by one game over the Angels and Blue Jays, and two games over the Rays.

The Yanks have clearly not been playing their best baseball lately, they're just 6-9 in their last 15 and had lost series to the Nationals and Marlins prior to taking two of three from the Braves. As we've spoken about all week most of the blame for the recent struggles goes on the offense, but over the last two games they have shown signs of coming out of their funk, scoring eight runs on Wednesday and 11 more yesterday.

New York's other team heads into this series with so many injuries it's hard to keep track. Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, J.J. Putz, Oliver Perez, Ramon Martinez, and Angel Pagan are all out. However, thanks to the Phillies going 5-13 in their last 18 games, the Mets find themselves just a half game back in the NL East. Even with the injuries the Mets have just took three out of four from the first place Cardinals, and have somehow found a way to stay three games above .500 at 37-34.

Looking at the pitching matchups for this series it looks that the Yankees have the advantage in all three games. You could maybe give the Mets the edge in game three because the Yankees still don't know what they're going to get from Chien-Ming Wang. However, the Yankees have already proven they can hit Livan Hernandez so I'll call that one even. The toughest pitcher the Yanks will see this weekend is Mike Pelfrey who starts tonight's game. The 6'7" right-hander is 5-2, with a 4.74 this season, and will be matched up against CC Sabathia, who gets his first crack at the Subway Series. Besides that the Yanks should have no problems dealing with Tim Redding or Livan Hernandez. I know that doesn't mean they're going to hit them, I'm just saying they should. But as they say, that's why they play the games.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:10 p.m. | TV/Radio: MY9, SNY, WCBS, WFAN
LHP CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.71 ERA) vs RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-2, 4.74 ERA)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:10 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WPIX, MLBN, WCBS, WFAN
RHP A.J. Burnett (5-4, 4.24 ERA) vs RHP Tim Redding (1-2, 6.08 ERA)

Game 3: Sunday @ 8:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: ESPN, WCBS, WFAN
RHP Chien-Ming Wang (0-6, 11.20 ERA) vs RHP Livan Hernandez (5-2, 4.05 ERA)

Players To Watch

YANKEES: Alex Rodriguez - After spending much of the month in a terrible slump, the Yankees third baseman finally looks like he's coming out of it. Prior to Wednesday's game A-Rod was just 1 for his last 25, and for the month of June was hitting just .143/.299/.270, with 2 HR and 11 RBI. In the last two games he's 4-for-8 with a HR and 6 RBI. I know it's just two games, but it's great to see him hitting. Let's all hope it continues.

In 34 games against the Mets in his career, A-Rod is hitting .316/.404/.549 with 9 HR and 27 RBI. 31 of those 34 games were as a Yankee and in those games he's hitting .319/.411/.571. He has not put up good numbers in Queens, though. In 15 games at Shea he hit .218/.371/.327 with 2 homers and 7 RBI. We'll see how he does at the new pitcher friendly Citi Field.

A-Rod vs. Pelfrey: 2-for-3 with an RBI
A-Rod vs. Redding: 0-for-2 with an RBI
A-Rod vs. Hernandez: .579/.636/.1.316 (11-for-19), 5 doubles, 3 HR, 10 RBI,

METS: Gary Sheffield - I was going to pick David Wright again, but after Sheff hit .462/.500/1.000 with 2 HR and 4 RBI in his first three Subway Series games as a Met I figured he deserved it.

The 40-year-old outfielder has been a godsend for the Mets this year. Where would they be without his 8 HR and 26 RBI? The eight homers ties him for the team lead with Carlos Beltran and he's third on the team in RBI. To go along with the homers and RBI, Sheff is hitting .276/.389/.487.

In 38 career games against the Yankees Sheff is hitting .284/.394/.489 with 6 HR and 19 RBI. Since being traded from the Yanks to the Tigers, he's hit .300/.407/.620 with 4 HR and 9 RBI against his former team.

Sheffield vs. Sabathia: .278/.333/.556 (5-for-18) 2 doubles, HR, 4 RBI
Sheffield vs. Burnett: .300/.447/.600 (9-for-30) 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 BB, 5 K
Sheffield vs. Wang: 0-for-2, BB

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- Xavier Nady, RF: 15-day DL with an injured right elbow. He played in two minor league rehab games before taking himself out of yesterday's game in the fifth after feeling something in his right elbow. Brian Cashman said this could be a "worst-case scenario" which likely means he could be done for the year.
- Jose Molina, C: On the 15-day DL with a strained left quad. He's begun baseball activities but still thinks he's a little while away.
- Damaso Marte, RP: 15-day DL with a sore shoulder. He's played a lot of catch, but is still nowhere close to returning.

METS:
- Carlos Beltran, CF: 15-day DL with a bone bruise on his right knee.
- John Maine, SP: 15 day-DL with right shoulder fatigue.
- J.J. Putz, RP: 15-day DL after having right elbow surgery - he's out 8-10 weeks.
- Ramon Martinez, SS/2B: 15-day DL with a fractured left pinky.
- Angel Pagan, OF: 15-day DL with a strained right groin.
- Jose Reyes, SS: 15-day DL with right calf tendinits.
- Carlos Delgado, 1B: 15-day DL with a right hip impingement.
- Oliver Perez, SP: 15-day DL with right patellar tendinits.
- Billy Wagner, RP: 60-day DL after having left elbow surgery - he will miss the season.