The Subway Series is finally here, and what looked like a potential mismatch just a week ago has turned into a must-watch showdown between two New York teams heading in opposite directions.

Just days ago, the Yankees were cruising. Aaron Judge was locked in, Ben Rice was playing like an MVP, and the rotation was dealing quality start after quality start. Even the bottom of the lineup was starting to heat up. Confidence was soaring in the Bronx.

On the other side of town, things were grim. The Mets sat at 14-23, tied for the worst record in baseball. Their lineup was a frustrating mix of underperforming young players and aging veterans, and key pieces were once again sidelined by injuries. Juan Soto’s brilliance and a much-improved pitching staff weren't enough to carry the offense. The frustration was so intense that president of baseball operations David Stearns had to publicly assure fans that manager Carlos Mendoza's job was safe. The Mets were stuck trusting a process they had no choice but to believe in.

Fast forward to today, and the script has flipped. The Mets are riding high after a dominant home sweep of the Detroit Tigers. They've found some life, and the energy in Queens is palpable. Meanwhile, the Yankees have hit a rough patch, losing five of their last six games and falling two games behind the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

This weekend's Subway Series is now loaded with drama. A Yankees sweep would get them back on track while burying the Mets' hopes once again. A Mets sweep, however, would be a massive statement and a serious blow to their rivals' momentum.

Here are five players who could tilt the series in their team's favor and give fans a reason to believe their side can come out on top.