New York Braces For A Switch Of Division Rivals

Over the last couple of years many have called for an end to Interleague play in baseball, since match-ups like Royals vs. Pirates, or Mets vs. Mariners were failing to draw big crowds and big TV ratings. These people have called for, and, understandably so, a return to a MLB schedule where all teams stay inside of their league for all 162 ball games.

Well at least for one weekend, the dissenters of interleague play can't say anything. No it is not another version of the Subway Series, it may be even better. The Yankees will play host to the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, the same Phillies who are the Mets arch rival in the NL East. Meanwhile, the Mets travel to Boston to take on the Yankees most hated rival the Red Sox.

It is a switch for the ages. Two New York teams taking on the other teams' nemesis. This is what interleague play is all about, the intreguing match-up that will make fans want to watch.

The Mets will limp into Boston with a four game losing streak, battered and beaten with numerous injuries and a wounded self esteem. This is not a good time for the Mets to play the Red Sox. The Sox are red hot, having just swept away the first place Blue Jays, and are just now starting to click on all cylinders.

The last time the Mets visited Fenway Park in 2006, it was a nightmare. The series was built around the return of Pedro Martinez to his old stomping grounds, but instead it was the Red Sox who stomped all over the Mets in a three game sweep.

This weekend, the Mets will pin their hopes on Johan Santana, who has had a horrible career at Fenway. In four career games there Santana is 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA, by far one of the few stadiums that Santana struggles the most. If Santana's history in Beantown is any indication, then the Mets are in for very long weekend. Josh Beckett, the Red Sox staff ace is matched up against the struggling Mike Pelfrey, and Tim Wakefield, who is having a brilliant season for Boston at the age of 42, will square off against Tim Redding, who has a 12 ERA in Boston.

Expect the Red Sox to sweep away the Mets. The Mets have not been the same team since Carlos Delgado hit the DL with a torn labrum in his hip, and it is still unclear if Jose Reyes will play at all this weekend with a calf injury. This means the Mets lineup will be very much depleted with only David Wright and Carlos Beltran providing any thunder for this team.

As for the Yankees, they have been the complete opposite of the Mets lately. The Bombers have won nine in a row, and look unstoppable right now. Mark Teixeria who was really struggling to find a some consistency at the plate now has his average up to .250, with 11 homers and 32 RBI. You can probably thank the return of Alex Rodriguez for his recent hot streak, because, with A-Rod around, the more pitches Teixeria will see from opposing pitches.

But it is not Teixeria and A-Rod who have led this offense. It is instead Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon. Both are having tremendous seasons. Damon has 10 hits in his last 32 at bats with a home run and 3 RBI. Likewise Cabrera has 8 RBI during the Yankees winning streak.

It should be noted that the Phillies have the worst starting rotation this season in the ERA department. Brett Myers has a 4.50 ERA, A.J. Happ has a 2.49 ERA, but should come back to earth really soon, and Cole Hamels, who pitches in game three of the series has not been himself this year, posting a 4.95 ERA.

Either way there should be a lot runs scored. Raul Ibanez is leading the world right now in the long ball. Ibanez who came to Philly as a free agent this past winter, leads the Phils with 15 homers and 40 RBI. Meanwhile, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard continue to deliver for Philly. Utley has 11 homers and 30 RBI, while Howard has 10 homers and 30 RBI.

It will be a fantastic series, and who knows, it could be a World Series preview! Prediction: Yankees take two out of three.

It should be a fun weekend as well. Rare is the opportunity for the Yankees and Mets to play the other teams' arch rival.