As the Mets open a three-game crosstown series against the Yankees, Juan Soto’s return to that familiar matchup is fueling big emotion and bigger storylines—so much so that former MLB analyst Trevor Plouffe says it still has plenty of juice.
Friday night begins with a crosstown series, but the buzz around it in New York is really centered on one name. When the Mets took the field to start a three-game set against the Yankees, Juan Soto’s presence instantly turned the whole matchup into a compelling script.
Former MLB player-turned-analyst Trevor Plouffe, speaking through Chris Rose Sports, didn’t try to soften the framing.. “I think there’s a ton of it still,” Plouffe said.. “It’s okay to have that storyline.. This is one of the best players in baseball.. You got to see Aaron Judge and Juan Soto hit back-to-back in a magical year for the Yankees.. And he ends up going for. not the crosstown rival. I don’t know if you call it that. but the crosstown team.. So I know there are a lot of mixed emotions with Juan Soto and Yankee fans. and that’s okay. that’s sports. that’s life. people.”
The storyline has real history behind it.. In 2024, Soto was a Yankee—flanking Aaron Judge in the batting order, with the duo going two and three.. That season, Soto posted career highs in batting average (.288), home runs (41), and runs scored (128).. Judge countered with a .322 average, 58 home runs, and 144 RBIs as he went on to win the American League MVP.
New York’s summer ended with baseball’s biggest stage. The Yankees and their feared lineup reached the World Series, only to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now. Soto is on the Mets’ side. carrying the offensive weight for a team that may not be among the league’s best.. His current numbers reflect a quieter stretch, even as he’s continued to push through injuries.. Soto is batting .269 with 28 hits. five home runs. and 13 RBIs as New York’s crosstown spotlight follows him back to the Bronx.
As the three-game series gets underway, Plouffe’s point lands plainly: for Yankees fans and Mets fans alike, this isn’t just another matchup. It’s a repeat chapter built from last seasons’ memories, one elite hitter, and the kind of mixed emotions that come with changing uniforms in the same city.
Juan Soto New York Yankees New York Mets Trevor Plouffe crosstown series Aaron Judge MLB May 15 2026