Mets-Yankees Subway Series Features Pitching Matchup Between Cy Young Candidates

The New York Mets and New York Yankees begin its first Subway Series of the season in Queens, with the Mets coming off a sweep and the Yankees scuffling.

The Mets completed its first sweep by knocking off the injury-riddled Detroit Tigers 9-4 Thursday. New York exploded for 22 runs during the series and the offense had a home run barrage in the finale, belting five homers.

Top prospect center fielder A.J. Ewing hit his first career home run and had two of the Mets’ 10 hits on the night. Ewing got the Mets on the board with a solo shot in the third inning after Tigers second baseman Gage Workman crushed a three-run shot to open the scoring in the first.

Ewing’s homer was the first of eight unanswered Mets runs before catcher Dillon Dingler hit a solo shot to cut the deficit to four in the eighth inning.

Mets righty Nolan McLean didn’t have his best stuff, but he still pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts to earn a quality start and his second win of the season.

Tigers right-hander Keider Montero struggled and surrendered four runs on four hits and two walks while fanning two in 4.2 innings.

The Mets are still seven games under .500 at 18-25, but New York is starting to build some momentum after a disastrous start to the season. The Mets have won eight of 12 games in May and have crept out of the bottom of the standings but still have a long way to go until it is in playoff contention.

Game 1 of the Subway Series should be a barnburner. The pitching matchup will feature two Cy Young candidates in Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler and Mets righty Clay Holmes.

Schlittler has been outstanding and is pitching like he wants to add a trophy to his mantle. The tall 25-year-old is 5-1 with a tiny 1.35 ERA (second-best) and 0.81 WHIP (second-best) with 59 strikeouts through nine starts (53.1 innings). Schlittler last worked against the Milwaukee Brewers and earned a no-decision after throwing six two-hit innings with six strikeouts.

Holmes has stepped up big for the Mets, posting a 4-3 record with a 1.86 ERA (seventh) and 1.01 WHIP with 37 strikeouts through eight starts (48.1 innings). The veteran 33-year-old took a tough loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks his last time out, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits and two free passes while punching out six.

The Subway Series was split 3-3 last season, with both teams winning two of three at home.

First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Apple TV.