Subway Series Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers

The 2012 edition of the Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees comes to a close this weekend when the cross town rivals meet for three games at Citi Field. Things kick off Friday night when the Mets will try to stay on the right side of their recent sweep trends and the Yankees hope to get back on the winning track.

Terry Collins and the Mets have been involved in four straight series sweeps, going all the way back to the first time these two squads met June 8-10. The Bronx Bombers chased the Mets right out of the new Yankee Stadium by outscoring them 18-7.

The Mets followed that up by sweeping the Yanks AL East division rival Tampa Bay Rays before losing three straight to the Cincinnati Reds and then finally sweeping the Baltimore Orioles earlier this week.

Joe Girardi's crew had won 10 in a row and 20 of 24 before dropping two straight to the Atlanta Braves. In addition to the Mets, the Yankees impressive run included sweeps over the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

Both teams will send lefties to the mound Friday night with the Mets running out Jonathan Niese (4-3, 3.82) against veteran Andy Pettitte (3-2, 2.77) in a rematch of the Yankees June 10 5-4 win. Niese and Pettitte tossed seven and six innings a piece, respectively, but neither factored in the decision.

Niese followed up that performance against the Yankees with a loss against the Reds Saturday. Pettitte didn't earn a decision in his last start against the Nationals, but surrendered just two runs in seven innings.

Obviously the Mets offense will need to try and keep up with the superior Yankees lineup, something Collins is hopeful the dimensions at Citi Field will help his team accomplish.

"Yankee Stadium is a great place for their team and their fans; there’s a lot of home runs hit. They can hit them out of here, too; it’s just not quite as easy as it is over there."

You can watch all the Subway Series action locally Friday on WPIX and MY9 or listen on WFAN 660 and WCBS 880 with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m.