METS VS YANKEES

The Mets' new ace looks to improve on his strong numbers against the Yankees when he takes the mound Friday to open the three-game Subway Series at Yankee Stadium.
The Mets (20-19) acquired Santana from Minnesota for four prospects in February and signed him to a six-year, $137.5 million contract, hoping he would become the anchor of their rotation. So far, the left-hander hasn't disappointed, going 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA in eight starts.
The Yankees (20-22) were on the verge of acquiring Santana but pulled out of talks in December, opting to hang on to the young players that would have gone to the Twins. Now, they'll have to contend with the two-time Cy Young Award winner as a member of their crosstown rivals.
"You face a lot of good pitchers all year long," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's one of the best in baseball. That doesn't mean that you can't score runs. You've got to take advantage of your opportunities."
Santana is 16-4 with a 2.27 ERA in 35 interleague appearances, including 24 starts. That ERA is the lowest among pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings in interleague play.
Santana has also fared well against the Yankees, going 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in eight appearances, including five starts and his best ERA against any AL team. He's 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in four outings at Yankee Stadium.