The New York Mets host their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, in the first leg of the 2026 Subway Series this weekend at Citi Field. The teams will play three games in Queens, then meet for three more in the Bronx in September as part of MLB's second annual rivalry weekend.
MLB Standings Update
The two New York teams arrive at the series in vastly different positions in the standings.
- 1. Braves: 30-14
- 2. Rays: 28-14 (1 GB)
- 3. Cubs: 28-16 (2 GB)
- 4. Yankees: 27-17 (3 GB)
- ...
- 27. Mets: 18-25 (11½ GB)
- 28. Rockies: 17-27 (13 GB)
- 29. Astros: 17-28 (13½ GB)
- 30. Angels: 16-28 (14 GB)
The contrast creates an interesting narrative: the Mets underwent wholesale changes this offseason while the Yankees chose to run it back. Both approaches represent different paths to contention, though early results favor the Yankees significantly.
"I really don't understand it," Yankees captain Aaron Judge said about the Mets' struggles. "They've got a great manager with Carlos Mendoza over there. They've got a great lineup. A great pitching staff. It's baseball. You can't really judge a team off of six weeks of the season."
Weekend Matchup Details
Saturday: David Peterson is scheduled to start, though the Mets have recently paired him with an opener. The Yankees feature a lefty-heavy top of the lineup with Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Ben Rice surrounding Judge in the 1-2-3-4 spots.
Streaming: Games on Saturday and Sunday are available on fubo.
Soto's Status
Yankee-turned-Met Juan Soto exited Wednesday's game after fouling a pitch into his ankle. X-rays revealed no fracture, and although initially listed as day-to-day, Soto returned as the designated hitter on Thursday.
"I was concerned as soon as he got hit, because it got him pretty good there," Mendoza said after Wednesday's game. "I'm glad that we got good news."
His availability Thursday strongly indicates he'll play this weekend. Given his importance to the Mets' lineup, Soto would likely need to be significantly limited to miss the Subway Series.
Mets' Offensive Struggles
The Mets have averaged only 3.74 runs per game this season, one of the lowest marks in baseball. They've struggled particularly against premium velocity, ranking 28th in batting average (.208) and 30th in slugging percentage (.269) against pitches at 95 mph or better.
Soto represents their best weapon against hard throwers. Facing right-handers like Schlitter and Weathers this weekend will test whether the Mets can generate any offense against elite heat.
Prediction
Expect Soto to be in the lineup. His ability to hit premium velocity could be the difference in what projects to be a closely contested series.