NEW YORK — With the New York Yankees having secured their spot in the American League Championship Series on Thursday night, excitement builds in the Big Apple as both local teams are now part of baseball’s final four for the first time in a quarter of a century. The New York Mets, led by Francisco Lindor, had already ensured their place in the NLCS by defeating Philadelphia the previous night.
If each team manages to win four more games, fans could witness a rematch of the 2000 Subway Series, which the Yankees triumphed in, led by legendary shortstop Derek Jeter. “I can’t even imagine the excitement in the city,” remarked Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo humorously on Friday. “It would be so thrilling. It would be like a dream scenario, providing a story to cherish forever.”
The Mets conducted a workout at Citi Field on Friday in preparation for the best-of-seven NL Championship Series starting Sunday in California. They will face the winner of a deciding Game 5 clash between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers, scheduled for Friday night.
Meanwhile, Aaron Judge and the Yankees are set to play against either the Cleveland Guardians or the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS, beginning Monday at Yankee Stadium. The two teams were tied 2-2 heading into their decisive Game 5 on Saturday afternoon in Cleveland.
“It’s going to be a moment filled with excitement,” Judge said following the Yankees’ Division Series win in Kansas City. “New York will be buzzing.”
If the NLCS extends to five games, there could be playoff action taking place every day in New York City from Monday to Friday, beginning with two games at Yankee Stadium and concluding with three at Citi Field.
“I think it’s fantastic that we have two teams from New York still in the mix,” Nimmo stated. “New York has always resonated as a baseball town for me, and currently, the atmosphere in this city is absolutely electric.”
Both the Yankees and Mets feature players from the local area, including Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe and Mets center fielder Harrison Bader, who played for the Yankees from 2022 to 2023. Mets rookie manager Carlos Mendoza expressed his hopes for a matchup between the two teams. “It would be an experience of a lifetime,” he said during a Zoom communication from Citi Field. Mendoza is familiar with the Yankees, having spent the last 15 years in their organization, including the previous four as the bench coach to manager Aaron Boone.
Mendoza reflected on watching the Yankees clinch their place in the ALCS, highlighting the significance for baseball and the city with both teams enjoying success. The Yankees are now in the ALCS for the 19th time, having not captured a pennant since their 27th World Series victory in 2009. “They have a great team with a solid roster. They truly deserve this opportunity,” Mendoza noted.
The Mets are returning to the NLCS for the ninth time, their first appearance since falling to Kansas City in the 2015 World Series. They aim to secure their third championship, their first since 1986. In their regular-season meetings, the Mets dominated, sweeping the Yankees in all four Subway Series matchups with a considerable run differential of 36-14.
“The Mets have had an outstanding season,” Judge commented. “It will be exciting to look forward to possibly facing them again.” The last encounter between the teams in the World Series occurred in 2000, with the Yankees clinching the title in Game 5 at the now-defunct Shea Stadium, where Jeter earned MVP honors. This historic matchup was the 14th Subway Series in New York, marking the first since 1956.
Both teams have the highest payrolls in baseball, each exceeding $300 million. Interestingly, they had an off-year in 2023, missing the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.
“For both fan bases in New York, this would be a dream come true,” Mendoza said, acknowledging the significance of both teams being in a position to perform well. “It’s a great feeling for so many, especially for us as Mets fans and the Yankees supporters as well.”
