The New York Mets added a left-hander to their bullpen on Thursday, acquiring Jose Castillo from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations.

Though the Mets completed a 4-0 season sweep last year, the stakes weren’t nearly this intense, partially because they weren’t nearly the juggernaut they are now. But with both teams making deep playoff runs last year, and sporting dueling $300 million payrolls, Friday very much felt like a potential World Series preview.

Carlos Mendoza adjusted his rotation to deploy a trio of southpaws across a pair of two-game series, with Sean Manaea pitching twice against the Yankees and Jose Quintana and David Peterson each being featured once.

The New York Yankees begin one of the most important series of the regular season so far on Friday. They will host the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium for the first of two Subway Series in 2025. This year’s clash between both New York teams means a little more because of Juan Soto.