Yankees’ Aaron Judge seems hyped for possible Subway Series amid Mets run

Shortly after the New York Yankees clinched a spot in the American League Championship Series via Thursday's 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals, Yankees captain Aaron Judge was asked about the atmosphere in the Big Apple as the New York Mets are also four wins away from playing in the World Series. 

"It’s going to be exciting," Judge said, as shared by Phillip Martinez of SNY. "The Mets have had an incredible season. I know they didn’t start the way they wanted to but they got a great manager over there in Carlos Mendoza, who I’ve had a chance to be around for a few years in the Yankees organization." 

Before Mendoza started his first campaign as Mets skipper with a 0-5 record, he worked under current Yankees manager Aaron Boone from 2018-23. Mendoza has received widespread praise for keeping his clubhouse together amid swoons en route to the Mets advancing to the National League Championship Series, where they will face either the San Diego Padres or Los Angeles Dodgers.

While many thought this past winter that 2024 would be part of the Mets' latest roster rebuild under first-year president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Yankees were advertised as World Series contenders as soon as they acquired All-Star outfielder Juan Soto from the Padres last December. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Yankees as the betting favorites at +170 odds to win this year's Fall Classic. 

Before the Yankees can think about achieving that goal, they'll have to get past either the Cleveland Guardians or Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. 

"It’s going to be a fun time in New York, man," Judge added during his comments. "[The Mets are] having a great season, and it’s gonna be fun to look forward to down the road getting a chance to face them again." 

In July, the Mets completed a season sweep of the Yankees that was part of the Amazins' unexpected summer resurgence. One can't blame New York fans for dreaming about the first fall Subway Series since the Yankees defeated the Mets in the 2000 World Series, as the baseball vibes in and around the city are immaculate heading into the second weekend of October.