If anything, Soto’s presence adds a new wrinkle in a rivalry that has lost its luster over the last five years.

The New York Yankees relied on the man wearing No. 22 in big moments last season. That's true this season, too, with the big left-handed hitter helping balance out a lineup with righty superstar Aaron Judge.

The right fielder was 5-for-10 in his previous three games against the St. Louis Cardinals, including a two-run double that gave the Mets a 5-3 lead in Sunday’s win. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza pointed to that hit as a “good sign” that Soto was about to break out.