Yankees-Astros ticket least expensive in wild-card game history

Maybe, no make that definitely, the New York Mets have become the hottest ticket in town.

You would think Yankee fans would be lining up longer than the No. 4 train to get a chance to see their team in a do-or-die playoff game after a three year span.

But, according to TiqIQ.com, which monitors secondary ticket market sites, the average asking price for the Astros-Yankees American League wild-card game at Yankee Stadium was $180.09.

If that figure holds up, it will be the least expensive ticket in the four-year history of wild-card games.

And, as of Tuesday morning, you could get a ticket for a mere $50 on StubHub.

Meanwhile the cheapest seats at Citi Field for the Oct. 12 NLDS game against the Dodgers are already starting at $205. And Wednesday's National League wild-card game between the Cubs and Pirates in Pittsburgh was averaging $300.41 as of Monday.

It's a surprising fact since the Yankees (87-75) haven't been to the playoffs since 2012, while the Astros (86-76) last went to the postseason in 2005. 

Houston won the season series against New York 4-3, splitting a four-game set at Minute Maid Park in its first meeting and taking two of three at Yankee Stadium.

But, if you went by payrolls, you would think the Yankees ($21.9 million) would be huge favorites over the visiting Astros ($81.2 million.)

They're not, and maybe Yankees fans sense a letdown.

The one-game playoff will be on Tuesday (8:05 p.m. ET on ESPN) with a trip to the division series on the line.