By: Paul DiSclafani

When they played these games early in the season, or even as late as right before the All-Star break, the Subway Series was all about “Bragging Rights”. In the beginning, it was a novelty that counted in the standings, so they were a distant memory to the “Mayor’s Trophy” exhibitions of the 60’s and 70’s.

It was the fans that made this series what it is today. It finally gave us a chance to see our teams compete against each other in “real” games. When they started in 1997, they were a prelude to the first authentic Subway Series, when the Mets and Yankees would meet in the 2000 World Series (let’s not talk about that, ok?). But it was the fans that embraced them, selling out Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium and causing a media frenzy for the days leading up to these games.

Anyone fortunate enough to attend a game during the first few years of this Inter-league series (I was) was part of an electric crowd, one that was cheering and yelling on virtually every pitch. I’ve been attending baseball games since 1966 and nothing has ever compared to the crowd’s reaction of that first Inter-league game played at Shea Stadium in 1998 on a Friday night. I was part of the crowd when the Mets won the World Series in Game 7 of 1986, but that was a nervous, fidgety crowd until Strawberry’s home run in the 8^th inning that then became joyous in celebration. This was different.

The give and take of hearing the Yankee fans cheering the sing-song “Let’s Go Yankees”, followed by the Mets fans in unison, “Yankees Suck” over and over was priceless. The intensity of the crowd, living and dying on every pitch. Of course, the Yankees won the game in the ninth inning, but that didn’t matter to me. It was something I will never forget.

But this weekend is crucial for both teams. The Mets are looking to calm down their fan base and erase the ghosts of 2007 once and for all. The Yankees, although comfortable in their Wild-Card position, don’t want an entire 162-game season to come down to just 9 innings, winner take all. They want to win the division and they need to take this series before heading up to Toronto with the AL East pennant on the line.

Yesterday we looked at the history of this series and the starting pitching matchups. Today we will take a look at the matchups. And if you’re real good and hang in until the end, you will get my prediction…

FIRST BASE: Lucas Duda vs Greg Bird

Duda has not been sharp since his return from the DL with lower back problems, hitting just .184 since his return with no home runs. Expect to see Michael Cuddyer get a few AB’s for Duda. Cuddyer, primarily an outfielder, has been hot over the last two weeks, hitting .366 with 2 HR and 7 RBI since his return from a wrist injury.  Without Mark Teixeira and his 31 home runs (leg injury), the Yankees turn to the rookie Bird, who has played only 29 games for the Bombers and has shown some pop with 7 HR and 21 RBI. EDGE: YANKEES

SECOND BASE: Daniel Murphy vs Stephen Drew

Daniel Murphy has been a constant in the Mets batting order. He may make a number of bone-head plays in the field and on the base paths, but man can he hit. His 11 dingers are just two shy of his career high. He has 63 RBI and 29 walks to go along with his 33 2B’s and a respectable .271 BA. Drew has big numbers for HR and RBI (17/44), but is hitting just above the Mendoza line (.202). But he is making his hits count with 34 XBH out of 77. EDGE: METS

THIRD BASE: David Wright vs Chase Headley

David Wright has his average over .300 and has shown some signs of  power since his return from the DL with Spinal stenosis in his back. Wright has played only 26 games, but has hit in five straight with four doubles. Headley is hitting just .179 in his last 15 games and has made 21 errors at third. He was just 1-12 in the Yankees series vs Tampa Bay. EDGE: METS

SHORTSTOP: Wilmer Flores vs Didi Gregorius

Wilmer Flores is back at shortstop and that could be a defensive liability for the Mets, but he might be the best #8 hitter in the league with 16 HR and 59 RBI. Flores is in there for his bat, but expect to have a Reuben Tejada sighting at some point. Gregorius has shaken off the specter of Derek Jeter, but they are not getting ready to retire his #18 just yet. He’s hit .286 in the last few weeks and has 9 HR and 52 RBI for the season. EDGE: EVEN

CATCHER: Travis d’Arnaud vs Brian McCann

D’Arnaud has played in just 54 games for the Mets because of injury, but he has 12 HR and 41 RBI. That projects to 35/122 over a full season. He has also thrown out four consecutive base stealers and 12 of 26 for the season (46%). McCann is hitting just .194 in his last 10 games, he has 25 home runs and 87 RBI. Think he loves that short porch in the Bronx? And his arm is no problem, either, throwing out 25 of 43 base stealers (58%). EDGE: EVEN

LEFTFIELD: Michael Conforto vs Brett Gardner

The Mets rookie is making a play for Rookie of The year, but he doesn’t have the glory number of that guy in Chicago. Plus, he’s hasn’t been here that long. Conforto was part of that magic date of 7/24 in this Mets season and has only played in 42 games. But he has proved he can hit at this level (.297) and hit for power (7 HR, 18 XBH) in addition to being a great outfielder (0 errors in 63 put outs and five of assists). Cuddyer will also play RF. Gardner is hitting just .204 since the All-Star break, ranking amongst the worst in baseball. He is hitting .265 with 16 HR, 65 RBI and 19 SB. EDGE: EVEN

CENTERFIELD: Yoenis Cespedes vs Jacoby Ellsbury

Like Gardner, Ellsbury is hitting just .204 since the All-Star break. Want to see the Cespedes numbers again? 17 Home Runs, 42 RBI in 43 games with the Mets, and the 17 home runs all came in the last 32 games. EDGE: METS

RIGHT FIELD: Curtis Granderson vs Carlos Beltran

Granderson has enjoyed his role as the Mets leadoff hitter, hitting 11 of his 23 home runs to lead off the game. But his game has changed slightly from run producer to table setter. Granderson has 10 walks in the last week and 28 in the last month. He’s tied his career high of 85 (2011) and lead the Mets in BOP (.366). Beltran, the former Met, is a great performer in playoff-like games, except for that one night in 2006. Maybe the Mets pitching staff will be told to throw him curveballs on 3-2… He’s played in only 117 games this season and only 104 last year, but has been productive, hitting .277 with 15 HR and 53 RBI. EDGE: METS

BENCH: The benches for an important September game are very different from a playoff game. When the managers look down their bench in September, they see a ton of players because of the September call-ups and roster expansion. The Mets have a better bench than the Yankees, but they don’t have A-Rod, who has spent most of the year as the Yankees DH. Mets have names like Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, Cuddyer, Juan Lagares – all players who have been used by manager Terry Collins as starters, not replacements. They are fresh and they are hungry to prove they deserve to be on the Mets playoff roster (Did I just day that?) The Yankees have names like John Ryan Murphy and Dustin Ackley. EDGE: METS

BULLPEN: The back-end of each team’s bullpen has been solid. The duo of Tyler Clippard / Jeurys Familia for the Mets and Dellin Betances / Andrew Miller for the Yankees are not an issue. It’s the 6^th and 7^th innings that have been an issue. Mets added Addison Reed a few weeks ago after losing Carlos Torres and Hansel Robles has been good at times, but there is no lefty specialist that Collins can count on to get one out. Yankees have been leaning on Justin Wilson. EDGE: EVEN

PREDICTION: The Mets have the edge at most position, including their starters, and they need to play better baseball to prepare for the playoffs (there’s that “P” word again…). But they really don’t need to win these games. They have already announced that Matt Harvey’s start (Sunday Night) will be limited to just four or five innings and I’m sure there is also going to be a limit on Noah Syndergaard Saturday. How can you compare what the Mets need this weekend to what the Yankees need? The Bombers have to win this series. They are heading to Toronto for a first place showdown on Monday and are using their pitchers on three days’ rest. The Yankees don’t play games when it comes to wins and losses. There is never a tomorrow for the Yankees and always a tomorrow for the Mets. I think the Mets win this series on talent and not determination. Steven Matz, Syndergaard and Harvey are going to be too much for the Yankees mediocre hitting without those short Yankee stadium porches and Alex Rodriguez getting 15 AB’s this weekend. Mets win the series, but don’t be surprised (or alarmed) if they don’t.