The Subway Series is finally a meaningful matchup for the first time in years. The New York Mets (83-63) will host the New York Yankees (80-65) for a three-game set this weekend at Citi Field as both teams continue to make a push for the postseason.
Scroll to the bottom for the MLB live stream and radio broadcast.
These two clubs will meet for the first time ever in the month of September and it couldn't come at a more exciting time. The Mets lead the Washington Nationals by 7.5 games in the NL East while the Yankees trail the Toronto Blue Jays by three games in the AL East. The Mets hope to hold on and grab their first division title and postseason appearance since 2006 while the Yankees are in control of the top AL wild-card spot and look to make the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Steven Matz (3-0, 1.88 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets and face Yankees' ace Masahiro Tanaka (12-6, 3.40 ERA). Matz, 24, has impressed in his first four starts of his MLB career this season while Tanaka is coming off two of his best starts in 2015.
Matz has never faced the Yankees, which adds to the novelty of tonight's game. The rookie missed two months with a torn lat muscle after making his first two career starts, but came back this month to pitch solid outings against the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves.
He'll have the new-and-improved Mets' offense behind him, which ranks second in the MLB since the All-Star break with 311 runs scored. Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will help lead the charge as he endures a historic run with his new team. Since coming over from the Detroit Tigers, the 29-year-old is batting .295/.345/.661 with 36 runs scored, 17 home runs and 42 RBIs in 43 games.
However, Matz and the Mets will have to face the MLB's second-best offense. The Yankees have slugged their way into the playoff discussion and have the third-most home runs and third-best OPS in the league. Catcher Brian McCann and DH Alex Rodriguez lead the power surge, but they'll need the duo of Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury to get back on track. The top of the lineup threat has been struggling as of late.
But with Tanaka in the zone, the Yankees are a serious threat to take the first game of the series. Since mid-August, the right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA and 40 strikeouts in six starts, with two masterful performances against the Blue Jays and another against the Baltimore Orioles.
Tonight the city of New York prepares for a battle they hadn't anticipated before the 2015 season.
"We're playing for something big," Mets manager Terry Collins told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. "They are also. There will be a big crowd, a lot of noise and we have to go out and play. You can't worry about who it is. Obviously, when you're playing a team where there is somewhat of a rivalry going, you're going to be pumped up for it. And I think we'll be excited."
Check out the live stream for tonight's game at 7:05 p.m. ET here as well as the live radio broadcast here (NYM) or here (NYY).
