Pre Game: Mets vs. Yankees (Game One)
The Mets (37–34) begin a three-game series with the Yankees (40–32) tonight in Citi Field.
Ryan Church will start in center field today, with Gary Sheffield returning to the lineup as well.
Luis Castillo will bat leadoff, followed in order by Alex Cora at second, David Wright, Sheffield in left, Fernando Tatis in right field, Church, Nick Evans at first base and Omir Santos behind the plate.
Mike Pelfrey (5–2, 4.74 ERA) will start for the Mets. Last season, Pelfrey pitched five innings against the Yankees and allowed eight hits and four runs. Opponents are batting just .193 against Pelfrey when he throws a first-pitch strike, but .387 when he falls behind.
CC Sabathia (6–4, 3.71 ERA) will start for the Yankees. He left his last start, against the Marlins, in the second inning with with a sore left bicep. He is 5–1 in his last nine starts.
The Mets are a major-league best 17–7 in the first game of a series this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Update, 4:17 pm:
“Mets infielders and pitchers out early for fielding drills,” writes the Star-Ledger’s Brian Costa, in a post to Twitter. “Just like spring training.”
Update, 4:20 pm:
Alex Cora and David Wright were guests today of Mike Francesa on WFAN, which you can listen to here.
