updated 9:01 p.m. ET May 18, 2006

NEW YORK - The Mets are in first in the NL East and the Yankees are only a half game out of the lead in the AL East as they head into the first of two interleague series between the crosstown rivals this season.

It’s enough to have fans on both sides frothing at the mouth with anticipation but the participants aren’t exactly itching to get started.

“I think it’s a great show for the fans,” Mets slugger Carlos Delgado said, “But as a player, it’s a pain.”

The Mets host the Yankees for three games starting Friday night. The Mets split six games with the Yankees last year and the Bronx Bombers lead the all-time regular-season series 29-19.

None of this means much to the managers, who spent much of the week downplaying the matchup or criticizing interleague play for the scheduling difficulties it creates.

“It screws up the rest of the schedule,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said of interleague. “It’s an interest in certain areas but there are most of them that don’t work.”

The Mets lead the Phillies by two games, but have hit their first slump of the season.

They lost two straight in St. Louis and have won only three of their last 10 overall. They’ve dropped their last three series after beginning the season with eight series wins and two splits.

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Still the Mets have been happy with their revamped lineup featuring Delgado, a newcomer to the rivalry but one who has plenty of experience facing the Yankees from his days with the Blue Jays.

“Our team is better, but we just want to win the games, that’s all,” said Mets manager Willie Randolph, who played and coached for the Yankees. “It will be a nice, fun weekend and then we’ve got to do it again a month later.”

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Torre has watched admiringly from across town as his former bench coach has led the Mets to a strong start.

“They’re playing hard for him and I think it has to make him feel good,” Torre said of Randolph.

The Yankees are coming off a four-game split with the Texas Rangers and are finding it increasingly hard to keep players healthy in the outfield. Bubba Crosby left Thursday’s 6-2 loss to Texas with a strained right hamstring. He is listed as day to day and could be disabled if he doesn’t feel better on Friday.

Sluggers Gary Sheffield (left wrist and hand) and Hideki Matsui (broken left wrist) are already on the disabled list.

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But the Yankees could get a big boost if struggling left-hander Randy Johnson makes a strong start in the first game of the series. After beginning the season with three solid starts, Johnson is 3-3 with a 6.89 ERA in his last six. He has lost his last two outings, both at Yankee Stadium, after winning 12 decisions in a row at home.

“I think it’s important for him and for our team to start that series off on a good note because we know we’ve got Pedro (Martinez) on the following day,” Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon said. “I think Randy is going to be ready. He’s been loose all week. He’s ready to take the mound and we just need him to be as dominant as he has been in the past.”

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Martinez takes on Yankees ace Mike Mussina in a marquee pitching matchup in the second game while Mets left-hander Tom Glavine on Sunday will oppose right-hander Aaron Small, who is taking Shawn Chacon’s turn in the rotation while the righty recovers from a large bruise on his left leg.

However, much of the attention in the latest Subway Series could fall on newcomers like Damon and Delgado, who were both acquired to help give their respective clubs an edge in big matchups.

“It’s going to be interesting what happens,” Delgado said. “This could be a preview of the World Series, or whatever you want to call it. But if you don’t win those three games, nothing’s going to happen.”

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