The New York Mets took the first two games of the Subway Series at Citi Field. Because it was the New York Yankees, there was much rejoicing.

Now, the Mets are heading to Yankee Stadium for the final two games of the Subway Series. They appear poised to clinch the series with Max Scherzer and maybe Jacob deGrom slated to pitch.

There are many reasons why this is a big series. First and foremost, all series are big series with the Atlanta Braves trailing by 4.0 games in the division. One slip up, and the NL East race can get more interesting than anyone wants it to be.

There’s also the bigger picture. The Mets trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by eight games for the best record in the NL. It’s a sizable lead, but maybe, just maybe, the Mets can close the gap to get home field advantage in the NLCS.

On that note, the Mets also want to stay up on the St. Louis Cardinals in the event of a potential matchup there. Long story, short, the Mets have eyes on the postseason and their path to the World Series.

Certainly, there is homefield advantage in the World Series. On that front, the Mets lead the Yankees (by four games) and Houston Astros (by a half-game). The Mets want to keep those leads.

So yes, this makes this a big series. The fact there’s the usual buzz for these games adds to it. However, unlike the past, the Mets will not be defined by these games.

When the Subway Series (Interleague Play) began, the Yankees were always a litmus test for the Mets. After all, the Mets were coming off six straight losing seasons, and the Yankees were reigning World Series champions.

However, that was then. Now, Steve Cohen owns the Mets. Unlike the Wilpons, he’s not using the Yankees as a measuring stick bemoaning how the Yankees financial model is unsustainable.

Cohen is building the Mets as a franchise who is a true perennial World Series contender. The Mets measuring sticks are whomever the best teams in baseball are (Yankees are one of them).

The Mets are now defined by how they finish seasons, not by these Subway Series. This means Mets fans can truly enjoy them without unnecessarily attaching any overlying meaning to them.

Unlike what other fan bases may say, the Subway Series is not the Mets World Series. That will come in late October to early November again with Scherzer and deGrom leading the way.