By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — In a rare occurance in the always contentious Subway Series, New York's baseball teams have something to fight for this weekend other than the pride of the Big Apple: first place.
Unlike so many times in the past, this Subway Series sees both the Mets and the Yankees at the top of their games — and leagues — and looking to stay there in the three-game series starting Friday night at Yankee stadium.
The Bronx Bombers are tied at first with Tampa Bay in the AL East, while the Mets are half a game behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
“When you go into Yankee Stadium and play the world champs, you’ve got to be playing good baseball,” Mets skipper Jerry Manuel told reporters in Cleveland. “I feel like we’re playing good baseball.”
The Mets are also hoping to keep a seven-game winning streak going, while the Yankees are looking to break a two-game losing slide. In May, the Mets took two of three from their not-so-friendly neighbors.
The Yankees, who were trounced by the Phillies on Thursday, are hoping Javier Vazquez — who has won four of his last five starts after a difficult start to the season — can keep up his stuff long enough to take down Hisanori Takahashi.
Takahashi has won three of his last four.
Alex Rodriguez is also expected back at third base tonight after not playing in the field for more than a week, the New York Post reported.
According to Ticketmaster, Friday night’s game is sold out.
