The Yankees-Mets Rivalry Will Return This Season

This season, the Yankees and the New York Mets will once again meet to battle it out for Big Apple bragging rights.

The Bronx Bombers will play two games against their crosstown rivals at Citi Field on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 before heading home for two games at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4.

For the better part of the last decade, the Subway Series has been a contest between two teams who were moving in vastly different directions.

Prior to winning the National League Pennant last season, the Mets had not made the postseason since 2006. They also had a string of six consecutive losing seasons from 2009-2014.

While the Mets floundered at the bottom of the National League East, the Yankees were enjoying much more success.

Including last season, the Yankees have made the playoffs six times since 2006. They won three division titles, one American League Pennant and one World Series Championship during that span.

Throughout those seasons, the Subway Series was nothing more than a good team playing a bad team.

Of course, pride was on the line.

But, the outcomes of the games did little to diminish the Yankees’ playoff chances or to help the Mets climb out of the NL East cellar.

However, all of that began to change last season.

The Mets, behind a stellar rotation and an improved offense, made the postseason and advanced all the way to the World Series.

Across town, the Yankees also made the postseason. It was the team’s first playoff appearance since 2012.

Last season marked the first time the Yankees and Mets made the postseason in the same year since 2006.

New York’s baseball future was finally looking bright for both of the city’s teams.

With the Yankees and Mets both expected to compete for division crowns in 2016, I fully expect this year’s version of the Subway Series to reignite the Yankees-Mets rivalry.

The biggest reason the Yankees-Mets rivalry will return this season is simple: the Mets are no longer a bad team.

Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler make up what is arguably the best rotation in baseball.

Jeurys Familia also emerged as one of the league’s best closers last season.

Offensively, the Mets are lead by Yoenis Cespedes.

Cespedes hit .287 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs in just 57 regular season games after being acquired in a trade from the Detroit Tigers in July.

The Mets’ roster is littered with talent all across the board. The Amazins are now a team to be reckoned with. They are no longer a perennial doormat year-in and year-out.

I don’t expect the Yankees to roll over the Mets like they have in years past.

This year, the Mets are going to put up a fight. They are too good not to.

The fans will also play a huge role in the resurgence of the Yankees-Mets rivalry this season.

Now that Mets fans have seen what their team is capable of, there is no doubt that nearly every home game at Citi Field will be a sellout this season.

Speaking from personal experience, Citi Field can be a very loud and imposing building when it is at full capacity.

I think it is fair to say the days of Yankees fans outnumbering Mets fans at Citi Field during Subway Series games will come to an end this season.

This new influx of Mets fans will turn Citi Field into one of the toughest stadiums in baseball to play in as a visiting player.

Even though the Yankees will take on the Mets just twice at Citi Field this season, it will be up to their fans to create a similar environment when the Mets come to the Bronx.

When the Yankees and Mets finally get together in August, I anticipate both teams will have winning records and will be competing for playoff spots.

New York City is and will forever be known as a Yankees town. But, it’s nice to see the Mets evolving into a competitive team.

Next: Yankees Down Mets in Final Spring Training Meeting

I’m looking forward to August and can’t wait to see the Subway Series once again take center stage.