The Mets and Tigers will square off for a three-game series in Detroit this weekend beginning tonight. Some things to know heading into tonight’s opener are provided below.

• The Mets are currently 8 games behind the Nationals in the NL East, while they are only one game behind both the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins who are tied for the final NL Wild Card spot.

• The Detroit Tigers are three games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central race and only a half-game behind the Red Sox for the final AL Wild Card.

• The Tigers were recently on a 8-game winning streak which was snapped last night by the Chicago White Sox.

• The Mets and Tigers last met back in August of 2013 at Citi Field and the Mets were swept in a three-game series.

• The Mets and Tigers made a franchise altering trade with each other last season at the Trade Deadline, as the Mets sent pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa to the Tigers for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Cessa was traded along with Chad Green (who the Mets faced on Wednesday) to the Yankees in the offseason for reliever Justin Wilson.

• The Tigers have a plethora of former Mets pitchers on their 40-man roster. Michael Fulmer and Francisco Rodriguez are on their current 25-man roster. Mike Pelfrey was recently placed on the 15-day DL with a back strain and Bobby Parnell who is currently in the minors has been back and forth between Triple-A Toledo and the big league club this season.

• Current Tigers outfielder Justin Upton was the speculation of Mets trade rumors last year at the Trade Deadline but a deal never materialized as the Padres wanted more than Michael Fulmer who was sent to the Tigers. Upton ended up signing a six-year $132 million contract this offseason with the Tigers.

• Fulmer has posted a 9-2 record and an AL leding 2.42 ERA over 17 starts this season. Francisco Rodriguez has 30 saves in 32 opportunities with a 2.56 ERA this season for the Tigers.

• Current Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson began his career with the Detroit Tigers back in 2004 and spent six seasons with the organization. He was traded to the New York Yankees on December 10 2009.

• The Detroit Tigers are second in the AL with a .268 team batting average. The Mets are last in the NL with a .238 team batting average.

• The Mets are ranked third in the majors with a 3.39 ERA and the Tigers are 20th with a 4.33 ERA.

• First baseman James Loney holds a career high .402 average against the Detroit Tigers in 26 games played. It’s his highest average against any opponent in baseball. He also holds a career .370 average at Comerica Park.

• Second baseman Neil Walker holds a career average of .337 against the Tigers in 21 games played. His six career home runs against the Tigers are the most against any non-NL opponent in his career.

• Outfielder Jay Bruce holds a career .423 average against the Tigers in seven games played with a .500 OBP.

• Tigers starter Justin Verlander was recently AL Pitcher of the Month for July. Verlander went 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA for the month, allowing just 26 hits and 12 walks over 42 2/3 innings. He struck out 48.

• Verlander’s ERA of 6.00 against the Mets is his highest against any opponent with a minimum of two starts.

• Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera holds a career numbers of .292 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI’s in 89 games played against the Mets.

• Despite a career .256 average Tigers outfielder Cameron Maybin has more HR’s (6) and RBI’s (29) in his career against the Mets than any other opponent in baseball.

• The pitching matchups for this weekend’s series are provided below:

• Friday: RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-5, 2.48) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (11-6, 3.54)
• Saturday: RHP Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.20) vs. LHP Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.71)
• Sunday: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-5, 2.41) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez (6-11, 6.26)