The New York Mets and New York Yankees have split the first two games of their three-game series entering Sunday’s finale at Yankee Stadium

New York Mets at New York Yankees

The New York Mets dropped a 7-3 contest Saturday night due to starting pitcher Chris Capuano surrendering four home runs.  “Anytime you give up four home runs, you kind of feel like you’re a little punch-drunk, like you’re in a prize fight,” Capuano said.  “These guys are strong.”  The Mets saw the end of their three-game winning streak last night and also dropped a game below .500.  The club is 4-2 in rubber games this year, including 3-1 on the road.  It’s important to note that the squad is 3-9 in Subway Series rubber games, including 0-8 in the Bronx.  New York has been much better on the road this season, posting a 12-11 record, entering today with a 4-0 mark on Sunday in such games.  The team is 8-9 in day games this year.

Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey is 3-3 with a 5.11 ERA in nine starts this season and enters with a two-game winning streak.  The right-hander has given up six runs (five earned) and 16 hits over 21 2/3 innings during that span, but has also surrendered five home runs.  In 24 career starts in May, Pelfrey has registered a 7-10 record and 3.86 ERA.  New York has scored just 16 runs while he’s been on the mound this season, tied for the seventh-worst run support of any major league pitcher who has made at least nine starts.  He will be making his fifth career start versus the Yankees, producing an even 2-2 mark and 4.70 ERA.

The New York Yankees are 24-20 on the year and tied for first in the American League East division with Tampa Bay.  The Bronx Bombers have already played 26 home games in 2011, marking the second-most in the AL (Kansas City) and tied for second-most in the Majors (Cincinnati).  Offensively, the club ranks in the middle of the league with a .251 batting average, but lead with 226 runs due to its 70 round trippers.  “We’ve been good and bad,” said Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.  “It’s important for us to thing small ball.  To also score runs on base hits, singles and doubles.”  Outfielder Curtis Granderson leads the club in the power department with 15 home runs, which is good for second in the Majors behind Toronto’s Jose Bautista.  New York is 9-3 in day games.

Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova will make his ninth start and 10th appearance of the year, which will also serve as his first interleague start.  Manager Joe Girardi believes that the right-hander is ready for the challenge.  “Every game playing for the Yankees in the American League East is the big stage, in a sense,” Girardi commented.  “So I don’t see Sunday being any different.”  Nova steps on the Yankee Stadium mound for the sixth time this year, coming in with a 2-2 record and 5.19 ERA.  He has managed to tally victories in two of his last three outings, including a 6-2 road win over the Rays last time out.

Bettors will likely back the Yankees due to their 10-4 record in Nova’s last 14 starts, while the Mets are 1-7 in Pelfrey’s last eight road starts.