Yankees Hot, Mets 'Sizzling' Heading Into Subway Series

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Who says the Subway Series has run out of gas?

The New York Mets are "sizzling hot," in the words of Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, having won 11 straight games and on the verge of setting a franchise record. Meanwhile, the crosstown Bombers have shrugged off a slow start to win six of seven, including three straight in Detroit.

Now both teams will meet in a battle for Big Apple bragging rights. The three-game set kicks off Friday night at Yankee Stadium with reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom (2-1, 0.93 ERA) on the hill against Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda (2-0, 5.00).

"It's going to be awesome," Rodriguez said Thursday. "The Stadium should be rocking. Our fans are ready and their fans are ready, too. It's fun for the players and even more fun for the fans."

A-Rod admitted he missed participating in the Subway Series when he was rehabbing from hip surgery in 2013 and serving a yearlong PED suspension in '14.

"It's always fun to play the Mets," he said. "It gives us an opportunity to celebrate our great game in front of all New Yorkers."

New York has long been described as a baseball town, even with football making inroads on the national pastime. The NFL Draft is less than a week away. The NHL playoffs are in full swing, the Islanders are making one last playoff run at the Coliseum and the Rangers look like legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. But the Mets are the talk of the town thanks to an MLB-best 13-3 start.

Then again, the Yankees could steal the back pages by denying the Amazin's their franchise-record 12th straight win Friday night.

"It's baseball season," Collins said, according to MLB.com. "You can say what you want -- hockey's big, I know basketball's big -- but the Northeast is baseball country. This is where this game started. This is where this game will always be. There are no better fans to play in front of than the fans in the Northeast. They're just wrapped up in it."

Fans will definitely have their say in the Bronx. The Bleacher Creatures will be loud, as is customary for a big game in the Bronx. The Mets will be well-represented, too, led by a group of more than 1,000 fans known as The 7 Line Army.

Yankees third baseman Chase Headley knows "there's a lot of Mets pride going on."

"Probably nobody likes to hear that as a Yankees fan, but I think it's good when both teams are good," Headley said. "It's good for baseball."

Saturday's game will pit Mets ace Matt Harvey against CC Sabathia. Yankees newcomer Nathan Eovaldi will face left-hander Jon Niese on Sunday.

The Yankees have a 56–42 regular-season advantage over the Mets, who have won four straight at Yankee Stadium, but lost both games at home last year. Round 2 of the 2015 Subway Series will be Sept. 18-20 at Citi Field.

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• New York Yankees
• John Montone
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