Subway Series: A Look Ahead at the Big Weekend in New York City

This weekend is going to be a big one for either the Yankees or the Mets.

With the Yankees sitting at 42-36 (as of press time), and the Mets one game below .500 at 38-39, one team has the chance to break out this weekend.

At 2:05 ET Friday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, the Mets will start Mike Pelfrey (4-6, 4.30 ERA). The Yankees will go with Dan Giese (1-2, 0.64 ERA)

Pelfrey struggled somewhat in his last outing against the Colorado Rockies, but he got the job done. Pelfrey threw 98 pitches over 5.2 innings. However, he also walked an alarming five batters his last time out.

Giese turned in an outstanding game his last time out against the Cincinnati Reds, but a big error cost him the game. He was extremely economic, tossing only 75 pitches in 6.2 innings. He also allowed no base on balls and struck out five.

Pelfrey and Giese have never faced off before, and it will be interesting to see how each pitcher fares against one another. Both pitchers have the stuff to make a pitcher's duel out of the game, but only time will tell if the offense explodes and many runs are scored in game one of the twin bill.

After a rest and a bus ride to Flushing, Queens, the Yankees will start Sidney Ponson (4-1, 3.88 ERA with the Texas Rangers) at 8:10 ET. Taking the ball for the Mets is no stranger to the Yankees, Pedro Martinez (2-1, 6.57 ERA).

The Yankees are rolling the dice and giving Ponson a second chance as a starter for the Yankees. He left the Texas Rangers due to off-the-field issues and was designated for assignment. Last Saturday, Ponson tossed four innings and gave up one run in a tune-up game for the AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

He also has a lifetime record of 1-1 against the Mets, but also has not faced them since 2003.

Martinez was rolling last Saturday against the Colorado Rockies until he reached the fifth inning. When he got to the fifth, he seemed to lose it by giving up six runs on seven hits. Martinez hasn't pitched against the Yankees since June of 2006, and holds a 11-10 career record against the Bronx Bombers.

This game is expected to go either way. The Mets might be able to tackle Ponson and force him to an early exit. But Mets fans might be forced to remember who Pedro's daddy is.

After the day-night, Bronx-Queens doubleheader on Friday, the Yankees will take on the Mets again Saturday afternoon at 3:55 ET.

The Bombers will start Andy Pettitte (8-5, 4.04 ERA). The Mets will their start huge off-season acquisition, Johan Santana (7-6, 2.93 ERA).

The last time these two squared off on May 17, neither pitcher was effective. Santana gave up three long balls, but was still able to run away with a win. Pettitte collapsed in the fourth inning, giving up three runs and blowing a two run lead.

Santana is looking to rebound and give the Mets a win after humiliating himself by giving up a grand slam to an American League pitcher (Felix Hernandez) and losing to the worst team in baseball—the Seattle Mariners—on Monday.

Pettitte will look to keep on rolling, coming off a good outing against the Reds on Sunday.

Finally on Sunday afternoon, the last game will take place at 1:10 ET.

The Yankees will pitch Darrell Rasner (4-5, 4.50 ERA). The Mets will start Oliver Perez (5-5, 5.29 ERA).

Both starters are coming off crushing losses. Rasner got beat up by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, while Perez got rocked by the Seattle Mariners that same day.

Rasner never got the opportunity to face the Mets after last year. He was pitching in a game at Shea, but was forced to leave before the end of the first inning. Rasner broke his index finger fielding a comebacker from Endy Chavez.

Perez has had success against the Yankees in the past, and this game might be the most interesting to watch in the series.

This Subway Series looks to be an exciting one. Any way you put it, it is big time in New York this weekend, with the last Subway Series games to be played in the original Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium.