New York @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( May 22, 2011 ) NY Mets 3, NY Yankees 9
THE STORY: The New York Yankees look to extend their season-high winning streak to six games Friday when they begin their three-game "Subway Series" against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The Yankees began a six-game homestand with a loss to the Colorado Rockies before reeling off five straight victories, including Thursday's 5-0 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers in which CC Sabathia tied a career high with 13 strikeouts en route to becoming the first pitcher in the majors with 11 wins. The Mets had their four-game winning streak, during which they scored a franchise-record 52 runs and recorded 69 hits, halted Thursday by Detroit's Justin Verlander, who pulled even with Sabathia in victories. The Yankees took two of three from the Mets at home in May.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (NY Yankees), WPIX (NY Mets), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (7-4, 4.26 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jon Niese (7-6, 3.67 ERA).
Nova has won three straight decisions and four of his last five. He settled for a no-decision against Colorado on Sunday after allowing four runs in six innings. The 24-year-old, who is 3-2 on the road this season, will be facing the Mets for the first time in his career.
Niese is coming off a victory at the Texas Rangers on Saturday in which he yielded two runs in 5 2/3 innings before leaving with a rapid heartbeat. The 24-year-old has won four of his last five decisions and allowed two earned runs or less in seven of eight starts. Niese has an 18-18 career record but is just 7-10 at Citi Field.
ABOUT THE METS (41-40): Shortstop Jose Reyes went 2-for-3 on Thursday for his major league-leading 42nd multi-hit game of the season. He also raised his NL-leading average to .352. Lucas Duda hit his first career triple and the Mets' 28th of the year, tops in the majors. Utilityman Willie Harris was placed on the paternity leave list prior to Thursday's game as his wife went into premature labor. OF Fernando Martinez was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the contest.
ABOUT THE YANKEES (48-31): The captain is close to returning to the lineup. Derek Jeter, who is on the disabled list with a strained calf, is expected to play for Double-A Trenton on Saturday and Sunday before joining the Yankees on Monday. Jeter is six hits away from 3,000 for his career. RHP Sergio Mitre is back in pinstripes. After being traded to Milwaukee during spring training, Mitre was re-acquired late Wednesday and in uniform for Thursday's matinee. Mitre went 3-6 in 39 games for the Yankees from 2009-10. First baseman Mark Teixeira hit his 300th career homer Thursday.
FINAL PITCH: Reyes' two hits Thursday gave him a major league-high 121 this season. One was his 213th double, which moved him past Edgardo Alfonzo for fourth place on the franchise list.