NEW YORK -- Late night talk show host Stephen Colbert brought the Late Show to Citi Field for the start of the Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees.

During batting practice Colbert rode a Segway Ninebot around the warning track while tossing a baseball with the pitchers who were shagging fly balls in the outfield. He then interviewed Seth Lugo, finishing up by handing him a puppy to hold for his new, updated baseball card which will appeal more to an internet audience.

The antics will be part of an upcoming show on a date to be determined. Later, Colbert was set to sing the national anthem, earnestly not comedically he said.

The past few games have been anything but amusing for the Mets as they have lost six games in a row. Meanwhile, their crosstown rival Yankees have won seven out of their last eight and sit at 40-18 and within a half game of the Boston Red Sox on top of the American League East.

Tonight's matchup features the Mets' best pitcher Jacob deGrom facing the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka. Saturday will see Steven Matz face Domingo German. and Sunday night's game will now feature Seth Lugo going for the Mets in place of Noah Syndergaard. The Yankees will throw their ace Luis Severino in the 8 p.m. on ESPN.

John Munson may be reached at jmunson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @john_munson. Find NJ.com on Facebook.