Today’s back cover of the New York Post: “Flyin & Dying”

That I don’t have to tell you which New York team is which is about all you need to know about this series, in which the Yankees catch the Mets top three starters and return serve with Andy Pettitte, Darrell Rasner, and maybe Chien-Ming Wang on short rest, maybe Chase Wright, maybe a luck fan . . .

Note the roster below. The Mets have been hit hard by injuries, but they still have the best record in the NL and the second best record in baseball. It’s a bad day in the Bronx when the top two records in MLB belong to Boston and that team from Queens. If the Mets don’t make the World Series this year, Willie Randolph will have ‘splainin’ to do.

New York Mets

2006 Record: 97-65 (.599)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 91-71 (.562)

Manager: Willie Randolph
General Manager: Omar Minaya

Home Ballpark (2006 Park Factors): Shea Stadium (95/96)

Who’s Replacing Whom?

Moises Alou replaces Cliff Floyd (on the DL!)
Shawn Green takes over Xavier Nady’s playing time
Damion Easley replaces Chris Woodward
Carlos Gomez replaces Lastings Milledge (minors)
David Newhan replaces Kaz Matsui
Ruben Gotay is holding Jose Valentin’s place (DL)
Oliver Perez replaces Steve Trachsel
John Maine takes the starts of Alay Soler, Brian Bannister, Dave Williams (DL), and Victor Zambrano
Jorge Sosa is holding Orlando Hernandez’s place (DL)
Jason Vargas is holding Pedro Martinez’s place (DL)
Joe Smith replaces Chad Bradford
Scott Schoeneweis replaces Darren Oliver
Aaron Sele replaces Heath Bell and Roberto Hernandez
Ambiorix Burgos replaces Duaner Sanchez

25-man Roster:

1B – Carlos Delgado (L)
2B – Damion Easley (R)
SS – Jose Reyes (S)
3B – David Wright (R)
C – Paul Lo Duca (R)
RF – Shawn Green (L)
CF – Carlos Beltran (S)
LF – Endy Chavez (L)

Bench:

R – Julio Franco (1B)
R – Carlos Gomez (OF)
L – David Newhan (UT)
S – Ruben Gotay (IF)
R – Ramon Castro (C)

Rotation:

L – Tom Glavine
R – John Maine
R – Jorge Sosa
L – Jason Vargas
L – Oliver Perez

Bullpen:

L – Billy Wagner
R – Aaron Heilman
R – Joe Smith
L – Scott Schoeneweis
L – Pedro Feliciano
R – Aaron Sele
R – Ambiorix Burgos

15-day DL: R – Moises Alou (OF), S – Jose Valentin (2B), R – Pedro Martinez, R – Orlando Hernandez, R – Duaner Sanchez, R – Juan Padilla, L – Dave Williams

Typical Lineup:

S – Jose Reyes (SS)
L – Endy Chavez (LF)
S – Carlos Beltran (CF)
L – Carlos Delgado (1B)
R – David Wright (3B)
L – Shawn Green (RF)
R – Paul Lo Duca (C)
R – Damion Easley (2B)