New York @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2018 ) NY Mets 7, NY Yankees 5

The New York Yankees came out of the All-Star break with a frustrating performance at home, and their deficit in the American League East is the largest its been in nearly three months. They will try to bounce back Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game interleague set with the visiting New York Mets.

The Bronx Bombers recorded 14 hits and drew four walks in the series opener but stranded a season high-tying 14 men in a 7-5 setback, sinking 5 1/2 games behind the red-hot Boston Red Sox in the division. Catcher Gary Sanchez had a hit and scored a run in his first game off the disabled list for the Yankees, who fell to 33-14 at home. The Mets got a home run from Yoenis Cespedes in his first game since returning from a hip injury and they finished the victory without closer Jeurys Familia, who was not available while the team reportedly worked out a deal to trade him to Oakland. Sonny Gray was seen as clinging to a rotation spot with the Yankees amid a woeful stretch, but he went into the break on a good note by blanking the Baltimore Orioles over six frames and will get the ball for the hosts opposite Long Island native Steven Matz.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WPIX (Mets), YES (Yankees)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (4-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Sonny Gray (6-7, 5.46)

Matz has back-to-back quality starts and six in his last eight appearances, although he is just 2-4 in that stretch. One of them came at home against the Yankees on June 9, when he worked around five hits and four walks in six innings to limit his opponent to three runs. Didi Gregorius is 5-for-10 against Matz and Giancarlo Stanton is 4-for-12 with two homers versus the 27-year-old, who is 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA on the road this year.

Gray struck out eight Orioles while allowing three hits and one walk in the 9-0 win at Camden Yards on July 11. He was pounded for 11 runs in 4 1/3 frames over his previous two starts, one of which was at home, where the 28-year-old owns an 8.25 ERA. Gray was solid through six innings in defeating the Mets at home last season and is 6-6 with a 3.43 ERA in his interleague career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees All-Star 2B Gleyber Torres (hip) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Tampa on Saturday.

2. The Mets can snap a string of eight straight series losses (0-6-2) to the Yankees with a win either Saturday or Sunday.

3. Yankees RHP Domingo German was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after giving up four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings Friday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Mets 5