The Mets' four-game series with the Yankees marked a series of big-league firsts for rookie 1B Dominic Smith: his first Subway Series, his first home run, and his first game at Citi Field. But he'll also remember the series because it was the first time he played a big league game with his childhood idol, Aaron Hicks.

The Mets (53-65) will play the final game of a four-game set with the Yankees (64-55) at Citi Field tonight.

The Yankees are looking for the third Subway Series season sweep in the 21-year history of the interleague rivalry. The Mets won all four games in 2013, and the Yankees won all six in 2003...

Who is starting tonight for the Mets? 

Steven Matz (2-6, 5.54 ERA), who gave up two runs in 5.2 innings against the Phillies during his last start. It was only the second time in his past eight starts that he allowed two runs or fewer in a game...

In the latest episode of Meet the MetsCast, Rob Brender, Matt Cerrone, and Steve Hofstetter discuss Sandy Alderson's recent comments on shedding payroll, and whether the money will be reinvested in the team.

Later, the guys ponder the possibility of Giancarlo Stanton becoming a New York Met.

To listen to the show, click play below or use this link to download...

Jose Reyes has been placed on the 10-day disabled list due to an oblique injury, it was announced Thursday.

Wilmer Flores, who was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to a sore rib, worked out before the game and will remain on the active roster, reports Kristie Ackert of the NY Daily News.

The Mets have recalled both Matt Reynolds -- who is in Thursday night's lineup -- and Gavin Cecchini from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Since Flores is able to remain active, the Mets will have to demote an additional player.

Mets RHP Matt Harvey (scapula) is slated to make his next rehab start next Wednesday for Low-A Brooklyn, manager Terry Collins said on Thursday.

Collins said he was unsure if Harvey's rehab would move from Brooklyn after his expected Wednesday start.

Harvey tossed three scoreless innings for Brooklyn during his second rehab start last night , allowing one hit while striking out three.

Mets closer Jeurys Familia (blood clot surgery) is slated to make his next rehab appearance on Saturday with High-A St. Lucie, manager Terry Collins said on Thursday.

If all goes well, Familia could switch his rehab to Brooklyn with the Cyclones next week.

Familia allowed a walk and struck out one during a scoreless inning in his first rehab outing with St. Lucie on Wednesday night.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post says Reds first baseman Joey Votto may be a bargain for an interested team to acquire, and suggests the Mets -- and other teams -- should consider dealing for him.

Writes Sherman:

"If you were the Mets, would you trade Dominic Smith as the key to get him? Votto is essentially Sandy Alderson's dream hitter -- tons of walks and homers -- embodied."

Mets GM Sandy Alderson was not told by ownership to slash payroll during this season, he said Wednesday at Citi Field.

With the team out of contention, Alderson has traded Lucas Duda, Addison Reed, Jay Bruce, and Neil Walker-- all of whom are eligible for free agency after the season -- over the last few weeks, shedding $11.6 million in salary in the process.

However, the Mets did add $2.3 million in salary when they acquired RHP AJ Ramos -- who is expected to be their setup man in 2018 -- from the Marlins last month.

In the latest edition of We Ask Mets Fans presented by StubHub, Mets fans discuss whether they liked the team's deals at the trade deadline.

The Mets have four players on FanGraphs' newest top-100 prospect list, with SS Amed Rosario at No. 2, 1B Dominic Smith ranked 53rd, SS Andres Gimenez at 75 and the recently drafted LHP David Peterson coming in at No. 81. 

Rosario was promoted to the Mets in early August and has hit .240 with five extra-base hits in 50 at-bats through 15 games. Smith, who joined the shortstop this month, collected his first big league homer at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. He's 4-for-21 to start his career. 

Gimenez has spent all of this season with Class A Columbia, compiling a .275/.345/.347 slash line with two home runs and 24 RBIs in 80 games. MLB Pipeline gives Gimenez grades of for his arm 60 arm and a 55 for fielding on the 20-80 scale. However, ESPN's Keith Law wrote in February that Gimenez was the team's sleeper prospect that has a chance to develop into a strong player. 

Travis d'Arnaud and Asdrubal Cabrera rotated between playing third base and second base Wednesday because Jose Reyes and Wilmer Flores were unavailable due to left rib injuries.

D'Arnaud, who had never started a game at either position, texted David Wright prior to the game to get permission to use his third basemen's glove.

"Use it well," Wright replied "Dive for everything."

In situations when a right-handed batter was at the plate, Terry Collins put D'Arnaud at second base, while Cabrera played third, where a ground ball was more likely to be hit. Then, when a left-handed batter stepped to the plate, the two infielders switched positions, again so Cabrera could be at second where he was more likely to get a ground ball.

The New York Mets and Taiwan Tourism Bureau will host the 13th annual Taiwan Heritage Day on Sunday, August 20 at Citi Field when the Mets host the Miami Marlins at 1:10 p.m.

Pre-game performances start at 11:00 a.m. in the Mets plaza as contemporary Taiwanese music by Liu Sheng Ji will showcase the energy and voice of Taiwan. A traditional Taiwanese folk dance performance called Santaizi will be presented by the New York Hua Lian Tsu Hui Temple. Taiwanese mascot "Oh Bear" will appear and interact with Mr. Met and fans throughout the game and Deputy Director - General of Taiwan Tourism Bureau Wayne Liu will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Tickets are on sale for the August 20 Taiwan Heritage Day at mets.com/Taiwan, by phone at (718) 507-TIXX, or in person at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda ticket windows.

The Yankees scored three runs in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday night against Robert Gsellman, who threw a wild pitch, walked three batters and gave up four hits, including a 457-foot home run by Aaron Judge that landed in the third deck above left field.

Nevertheless, Mets manager Terry Collins said after the game that Gsellman will get another start next week, most likely at home against the Diamondbacks.

Gsellman was making his return from a hamstring injury to start in place of Seth Lugo, who was put back on the disabled list earlier this week with pain in his pitching shoulder. According to multiple reports, had Lugo not been injured, Gsellman would have remained in Triple-A, where he had been struggling to perform during his rehab assignment.

"I think he ran out of gas," Collins said about Gsellman's start Wednesday. "I thought he was fine. His changeup was outstanding. The ball had good sink."

The Mets have lost four of their last five games, including the first three games of their four-game set with the Yankees. They are now 12 games under .500 with the ninth-worst record in baseball, 18 games back in the NL East and 11 losses back in the Wild Card race. 

What's Next: 

The Mets and Yankees close out their four-game series at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday night at Citi Field. 

Steven Matz (2-6, 5.54 ERA) starts for the Mets opposite Luise Severino (9-5, 3.32 ERA). 

Following Wednesday's game against the Yankees, RHP Robert Gsellman apologized for his recent comments toward GM Sandy Alderson. 

Alderson had expressed displeasure on Wednesday with Gsellman's recent remarks, which were in response to the GM saying Gsellman needed to pitch better before returning to the majors. Gsellman had initially said, "I don't care," but went back on those words after Wednesday's start. 

"I definitely need to pitch better," Gsellman told reporters. "I really care, it's my job so I definitely care. I apologized to Sandy for saying that and we talked it out." 

For a full box score of the game, click here...

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) With the game tied at 3-3 in the seventh, the Yankees broke through to take the lead on Didi Gregorius's two-run double against reliever Paul Sewald. 

2) In his return from the disabled list, Robert Gsellman allowed three runs on four hits (including a homer to Aaron Judge) and three walks while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings of work. He would not factor into the decision. 

For more of The Amazin' Life presented by Coca-Cola, CLICK HERE.

The Mets (53-64) will play the third game of a four-game set with the New York Yankees (63-55) at Citi Field on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.

Who is starting today for the Mets? 

Travis d'Arnaud will bat fifth and play third base for the Mets on Wednesday night against the Yankees. 

Mets infielders Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes have been scratched from Wednesday's lineup, as both are dealing with a sore left rib cage.

Flores had been in the lineup at third base, batting cleanup. He will be replaced at the positon by Travis d'Arnaud. 

David Wright believes it's possible he could play for the Mets this season, Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters before Wednesday's game.

However, Alderson said he is not 100 percent certain of Wright's status, given that he only recently resumed baseball activity in Port St. Lucie.

In either case, even if Wright returns, Alderson doesn't believe it will be enough time to learn enough about Wright's future to help him this winter.

"I don't know how many answers he will have or we will have through the end of this season," he said, noting it's possible the Mets look to acquire a full-time third baseman for next season.

Seth Lugo is not on the disabled list for reasons related to his elbow, Mets GM Sandy Alderson emphatically told reporters today at Citi Field.

"This is about his shoulder," he repeated.

Lugo missed the first 10 weeks of this season recovering from a sore elbow related to his ulnar collateral ligament.

Young slugger Aaron Judge makes his Citi Field debut Wednesday night when the Yankees play the Mets, but he will be met by fellow All-Star Michael Conforto, whose star-making 2017 is quickly climbing the list of best Mets seasons ever.

Still just 24 years old, Conforto began his third MLB season looking to put aside the memory of his disappointing sophomore effort -- and he has succeeded in a big way. His .957 OPS is 10th-best in baseball and is the seventh-best season mark in Mets history, alongside such names as Mike Piazza, David Wright, and Darryl Strawberry. He trails Judge's 1.029 mark for 2017, but is rapidly closing the gap -- and hasn't had the luxury of playing in cozy Yankee Stadium, nor the luxury of playing at his natural position.

Once scouted as a 15-to-20 home run bat, Conforto has found his power stroke in a way few Mets his age ever have. With six weeks of baseball left, he has knocked 26 home runs, tying David Wright's 2006 total for fifth-most among Mets under 25. He should easily smash the record of 30, also held by Wright. And Conforto is only getting better as the season heats up, with 12 home runs in the second half...

Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton has cleared waivers and is eligible to be traded to any team, sources recently told Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.

According to Passan, four teams, including the Giants, have already reached out the Marlins, with having already exchanged player names prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Stanton, 27, is hitting .283 with a .374 OBP, while leading the league in home runs (43) and slugging percentage (.640).

He is in the third year of a 13-year, $325 million contract, which contains a no-trade clause and an opt-out after 2020. The deal also includes a $25 million team option for 2028.

SNY's Steve Gelbs chats with Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom as the guys catch a ride in a Ford to Yankee Stadium.

Prior to Tuesday's game, the Mets traded cash considerations to the Rangers for 29-year-old, minor-league OF Travis Snider, who will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.

In 2009, Baseball America ranked Snider the league's sixth-best prospect. However, in 242 sporadic games in four seasons, he hit only .248 with 31 home runs.

The Blue Jays eventually traded him to the Pirates in 2012, where he was mostly a fourth outfielder, after which he signed with the Orioles in 2015. He inked a free agent minor-league deal with the Rangers this past winter.

Snider was batting .294 with nine home runs and an .810 OPS in 100 games at Triple-A before being acquired by the Mets.

Single-A RHP Matt Blackham recently was recognized as the South Atlantic League's Relief Pitcher of the Month for July. His success certainly has been more rewarding after missing all of last season recovering from procedures to repair a fractured tip of his pitching elbow as well as to reposition the arm's ulnar nerve.

Blackham, a 29th-round pick in 2014 out of Middle Tennessee State, is 4-2 with a 1.62 ERA and four saves in 33 relief appearances with Class A Columbia this season. He has struck out 74 batters and has a 1.04 WHIP and .190 opponent batting average in 50 innings.

"At first I was kind of scared," Blackham said about his return to action. "I was ready to get it over with and get the first game out of the way. It had been two years."

The Mets and Yankees played their first regular season series in 1997 at Yankee Stadium as interleague play debuted throughout Major League Baseball.

Since then, there have been tons of memorable moments for the Mets as Queens has battled the Bronx.

Here are the top five...

In front of 46,474 fans at Yankee Stadium, Mets rookies Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario each hit home runs during last night's 5-4 loss to the Yankees.

"Me and Amed, we came up together. He's my little brother," Smith said of the duo. "We just like to see each other do well. We root for each other. We push each other to become better ballplayers. It's just good to be up here with him."

In the seventh inning, Smith, 22, hit a two-run home off Yankees RHP Sonny Gray, who entered the inning pitching a shutout.

Porsche, Delta Air Lines, and the Mets have teamed up to provide fans the opportunity to win an experience to catch the Mets take on the Braves at their new state-of-the-art stadium, SunTrust Park.

Enter for the chance for you and a guest to win this once in a lifetime trip, including the following:

• Roundtrip airfare for two
• Hotel accommodations for two for one night
• Two tickets to the Mets vs. Braves game on Saturday, September 16^th
• Access to pre-game batting practice on the field at SunTrust Park
• Autographed Mets merchandise
• Private experience and lunch at the Porsche Experience Center
• Porsche gift bags

Click Here to enter or go to Metsflyballsweeps.com for the chance to win this exclusive experience from Porsche and Delta Air Lines.

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom allowed five runs on nine hits in seven and 1/3 innings during a 5-4 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday night.

DeGrom (13-6, 3.35 ERA) limited the Yankees to three runs through the first five innings, but fell victim to Gary Sanchez's home run in the sixth, as well as a sacrifice fly in the eighth. He recorded one out in the eighth inning before being replaced by Jerry Blevins.

It was the 29-year-old deGrom's third loss in four starts, despite a 1.82 ERA since June 12...

The Mets have lost three of their last four games, including dropping the first two games of their four-game, home-and-home series with the Yankees.

They are 11 games under .500, 12 games behind the Diamondbacks for the second Wild Card Spot, and 18 games behind the Nationals in the NL East.

What's Next

The Yankees (63-55) travel to Queens to face the Mets (53-63) at Citi Field tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Jamie Garcia (5-8, 4.50 ERA) will face Robert Gsellman (5-5, 6.16 ERA), who's replacing the injured Seth Lugo.

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) Jacob deGrom allowed five runs on eight hits -- including a pair of homers -- while walking two and striking out four over 7 1/3 innings in the 100th start of his big league career. It was the most runs he's allowed since June 6 when he surrendered eight against the Rangers.

2) Dominic Smith hit the first home run of his Major League career, a two-run shot to left in the seventh inning. Amed Rosario also went deep, slamming a two-run shot to right-center off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth that brought the Mets within a run. 

3) Yoenis Cespedes beat out a pair of infield singles and walked in four plate appearances.

Mets 1B Dominic Smith hit an opposite-field two-run homer at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night for his first career big league home run.

Smith, playing in his fifth game with the Mets, went deep off Sonny Gray in the seventh inning to put the Mets on the board.

The 22-year-old rookie now has four hits since his promotion last week. He collected his first big league hit against Phillies starter Nick Pivetta on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

The Mets (53-63) will play the second game of a four-game set with the New York Yankees (62-55) at Yankees Stadium on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Who is starting today for the Mets? 

Rafael Montero (1-8, 6.06 ERA) who took the loss in his last start against the Rangers. He allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three in three innings.

Montero has struggled in his last few starts, having made it only as far as 5.2 innings in his last three. He has let up 13 earned runs in that span.

Mets RHPs Matt Harvey (scapula) and Noah Syndergaard (lat) are both feeling good as they continue their respective rehabs. 

Syndergaard threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since hitting the DL with a torn lat in April. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab assignment soon. 

"My body has never felt better," Syndergaard told Newsday last week. "My arm is feeling really good."

The Mets have announced they signed RHP Neil Wagner to a minor league contract, and acquired OF Travis Snider. 

Per Newsday's Marc Carig, the Mets sent cash to the Rangers for Snider. He last played in the majors in 2015 with the Orioles.

Snider's last full season was in 2014 as he hit .264 with 13 homers and 38 RBI for the Pirates. 

Due to his current hot streak, teams are reportedly again becoming interested in acquiring Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson, sources recently told the NY Post's Mike Puma.

Granderson struggled in April and July, did well in May and June, and is hitting .286 with five home runs, two doubles and 10 RBI, with a .271 BABIP in 11 games during July.

According to Puma, the Nationals, who may be looking to replace the injured Bryce Harper, had a scout at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

The Brewers, who acquired Neil Walker from the Mets this past weekend, reportedly had interest in Granderson prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

The Jeep Pitchcast breaks down the pitches that Rafael Montero delivered for six strikeouts in his start against the Yankees on Monday.

Pitching in relief on Rafael Montero, Hansel Robles gave up a go-ahead home run during the eighth inning Monday night as the Mets lost, 4-2, to the Yankees.

Robles entered the game to pitch a scoreless, two-strikeout seventh inning. He returned the following inning, but immediately allowed a game-breaking home run to Aaron Hicks.

The majority of pitches thrown by Robles were either up or in the strike zone.

"If I can throw in, I'll throw in," Robles said, when asked if he's trying to throw more pitches inside. "I can only control so much."

This season, Verizon customers can enter to win unique baseball experiences to every Tuesday Night Baseball home game... all you need is a current Verizon Wireless or Verizon Fios account!

It's better baseball from the Better Network.

To enter, go to SNY.TV/VERIZON or click here for more information...

The Mets have lost two of their last three games, including last night, 4-2, to the Yankees.

They are back to being 10 games under .500, 11 losses back of the Wild Card, 17 games back in the NL East and on pace to win just 74 games this season.

What's Next

The Mets play again at Yankee Stadium tonight at 7 pm. Jacob deGrom (13-5, 3.21 ERA) starts for Mets against Sonny Gray (6-7, 3.39 ERA), who the Yankees acquired from the A's at this year's non-waiver trade deadline.

The four-game series will move to Citi Field for match ups on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mets RHP Rafael Montero allowed two runs, walked two batters, and struck out six in six innings in his start Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

"I hope it's a big step going forward," manager Terry Collins said. "The fourth inning could have been disaster for us and he hung in there and battled and got out of there with one run and I thought it was a big turnaround for him."

Montero, who entered Monday's game with a 6.49 ERA during his previous five starts, used just 43 pitches through the game's first three innings, during which he faced the minimum nine batters.

"He's got the stuff to pitch here," Collins concluded. "If he locates it and trusts his stuff and throws the ball in the strike zone he's got a chance to get outs and he showed that tonight."

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) Hansel Robles allowed a tie-breaking home run to Aaron Hicks leading off the eighth inning. Gary Sanchez added a solo blast off Erik Goeddel later in the frame.

2) Rafael Montero pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth when he surrendered only a sacrifce fly. Aaron Judge's 36th home run of the year tied the game, 2-2, in the sixth.

The New York Mets saved $3 million by trading infielder Neil Walker to the Milwaukee Brewers and have cut payroll by more than $11.6 million in recent weeks.

As part of Saturday's trade, the Mets agreed to pay the Brewers $1,699,454 on Sept. 30, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. Walker was owed $4,699,454 of his $17.2 million salary at the time of the deal. He can become a free agent after the World Series. >> Read more

Copyright 2017 by The Associated Press

The Mets (53-62) will begin another Subway Series with the New York Yankees (61-55) at Yankees Stadium on Monday at 7:05 p.m.

Who is starting today for the Mets? 

Rafael Montero (1-8, 6.06 ERA) who took the loss in his last start against the Rangers. He allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three in three innings.

Montero has struggled in his last few starts, having made it only as far as 5.2 innings in his last three. He has let up 13 earned runs in that span.

Mets rookies Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith will get their first taste of New York baseball during the next four days, when they take on the Yankees in the Bronx and Queens.

"The city is torn and split between two teams," Smith said this past weekend, according to the NY Post. "It is going to be a tough series playing a real good team. This pretty much is playing for pride and bragging rights in the city."

Smith, who has just two hits during his first 10 at bats since being promoted last week, was born in Los Angeles, CA, where he grew up a fan of the Angels.

The Mets promoted 25-year-old RHP Kevin McGowan to replace 2B Neil Walker, who was traded to the Brewers this past weekend.

In 43 relief appearances this season in Triple-A, McGowan had a team-leading 3.94 ERA, while striking out 55 batters in 62 innings.

"Nothing can really describe it," McGowan said, when first speaking to reporters before Sunday's game against the Phillies. "It hasn't sunk in really."

20 years after playing their first regular season, interleague series, the Mets (53-62) and Yankees (61-55) begin a four-game, home-and-home series ay Citi Field and Yankee Stadium this week.

The Yankees won the first-ever series, which was played at Yankee Stadium, though the Mets won the opening game 6-0 behind Dave Mlicki's nine-hit shutout.