The New York Yankees and New York Mets will open the Subway-Series tonight at Yankee Stadium. This will mark the last Subway-Series Yankees Legend Derek Jeter will ever participate in.
Both teams enter struggling. While the Yanks were expected to do better things then their cross-town rivals this season, the teams are currently separated by only two-wins (19-17 Yanks vs 17-19 Mets), according to MLB.com.
The storyline for the 2014 Mets had been one of a pleasant surprise, until recently becoming losers of five-straight. They come into the series on a high-note though as Ruben Tejada’s walk-off single last night lifted them past the Phillies, 5-4.
The Yanks are also slumping as injuries to the rotation mount. They have lost two straight and seven of their last 11. If the losing wasn't enough, the loss of Michael Pineda and C.C. Sabathia to injury adds injury to insult. It was also reported earlier that 1B Mark Teixeira is not in the Game 1 lineup due to a “groin” issue.
What the Yankees cannot afford is more of the same from 2013 (injuries). They’re an older team and injuries could be the difference between a playoff caliber team or not.
Undoubtedly, the talk of the town is most definitely Wednesday night as Mets stud-prospect Rafael Montero will make his MLB debut against the sensational Masahiro Tanaka. Montero will be the first to come to Citi-Field this season, closely followed by Noah Syndergaard.
This is only the beginning of the youth-movement for the Mets as they’re packed with young-talented pitching in the system. In AAA Las Vegas this season, Montero has a 4-1 record and a 3.67 ERA in eight starts, notes New York Daily News.
The storyline that will get the most attention will be the continuation of the Derek Jeter farewell-tour. Wednesday and Thursday nights will mark Jeter’s last games at Citi-Field, and the Mets will have something prepared to present to the Captain.
Get ready New Yorkers, the Subway Series is back.