Key keywords: Mets vs Yankees 2026, Subway Series May 17 2026, Mets starting lineup 5/17/26, Yankees starting lineup 5/17/26, Citi Field interleague game, Subway Series broadcast details, MLB 2026 open thread, Kodai Senga vs Gerrit Cole The 2026 Subway Series kicks off tonight at Citi Field as the New York Mets host their crosstown rival the New York Yankees for the first of three interleague matchups this week, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET. Both teams enter the contest on hot streaks, with the Mets holding a 28-16 record and 2nd place in the NL East after winning 7 of their last 10 games, while the Yankees sit at 30-14 at the top of the AL East with 8 wins in their last 10 outings. For the home squad Mets, manager Carlos Mendoza has rolled out his optimal regular season lineup to face Yankees ace Gerrit Cole: Catcher Francisco Alvarez bats 7th, coming off a 3-home run week against the Phillies; first baseman and fan favorite Pete Alonso slots in the cleanup spot, holding a .302 batting average with 18 home runs so far this season; second baseman Jeff McNeil hits 2nd, carrying a 12-game hitting streak into this contest; third baseman Brett Baty bats 6th, who has posted an .890 OPS against right-handed pitchers in 2026; shortstop Francisco Lindor leads off for the Mets, fresh off a 4-RBI performance against the Nationals last weekend; left fielder Starling Marte hits 3rd, center fielder Brandon Nimmo bats 5th, and right fielder Tyrone Taylor rounds out the lineup in the 8th spot. Two-time All-Star Kodai Senga gets the start for the Mets, holding a 2.78 ERA and 89 strikeouts across 71 innings pitched this year, with his signature ghost forkball holding opposing hitters to a .178 batting average against the pitch. For the visiting Yankees, skipper Aaron Boone has fielded his top lineup to take on Senga: Catcher Jose Trevino bats 9th, known for his elite game calling behind the plate; first baseman Anthony Rizzo hits 5th, who has crushed 15 home runs against NL teams over the past two seasons; second baseman Gleyber Torres slots in the 2nd spot, with a career .912 OPS at Citi Field; third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera bats 7th, shortstop Anthony Volpe hits 8th, left fielder Juan Soto bats cleanup, holding a 1.230 OPS in 23 career plate appearances against Senga; center fielder and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge leads off for the Yankees, coming off a two-home run game against the Blue Jays; right fielder Jasson Dominguez hits 3rd, the 23-year-old rising star who has hit 12 home runs in his first 40 games of the 2026 season. Former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the Yankees, posting a 2.45 ERA and 97 strikeouts across 73.1 innings this year, allowing more than 2 earned runs in just 2 of his 11 starts so far this season. For fans looking to catch the game, multiple broadcast options are available across TV, radio, and streaming platforms. Local New York viewers can watch the Yankees broadcast on YES Network, with play-by-play from Michael Kay and color commentary from Paul O'Neill, while the Mets local broadcast airs on SNY, with Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez on the call. The game will also be broadcast nationally on MLB Network for out-of-market viewers, with a neutral broadcast team. For radio listeners, the Yankees feed airs on WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM, while the Mets radio broadcast is available on WCBS 880 AM. Streaming options include MLB.TV for out-of-market subscribers, while in-market viewers can stream the game via the YES App or SNY App with a valid cable or streaming subscription. MLB Audio will carry both radio feeds for subscribers nationwide with no blackout restrictions. This open thread is for all fans to discuss every moment of the game, from pitching duels to clutch hits, defensive highlights, and instant replay calls. We ask all commenters to follow basic community guidelines: no personal attacks on players, coaches, or other fans, no spam or irrelevant links, and no discriminatory language of any kind. Feel free to share your in-game reactions, predictions, and hot takes as the action unfolds.