Thursday, June 18, 2026 • 6:40 PM
Citizens Bank Park • Philadelphia, PA
LHP Sean Manaea (1-2, 4.78) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.86)
SNY • MLBN

For the first time in 2026, the Mets will finally play the Philadelphia Phillies, their division rivals. As you know by now, the Mets have had a weird schedule to start the year. Their first road trips were to the West Coast, and by the end of the first week of June, they were done with all West Coast trips for the year. Their first homestand was against Central teams. And now we have the rest of the season, the play against their closest rivals.

The Mets have been stuck in neutral in June. For the third week in a row, the Mets have lost the first series of the week by dropping the first two games and avoiding the sweep on the last day. The last two weeks, they’ve won the weekend series, going .500 for the week. Will the pattern continue in Philly?

Scheduling note: the Mets and Phillies will have the rare Friday day off tomorrow due to the World Cup in Philadelphia.

David Frerker-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Carson Benge – RF
  2. Bo Bichette – SS
  3. Juan Soto – LF
  4. Jared Young – 1B
  5. A.J. Ewing – CF
  6. Marcus Semien – 2B
  7. Brett Baty – 3B
  8. MJ Melendez – DH
  9. Francisco Alvarez – C

Starting Pitcher: Sean Manaea

Sean Manaea rejoined the Mets’ rotation last week and looked great, allowing two runs over six innings on four hits while striking out six batters. Overall, this season Manaea has pitched in 15 games, totaling 49 innings with a 4.78 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.347 WHIP and an 86 ERA+. In his last five games, he has pitched 21 2/3 innings with 22 strikeouts, posting a 2.91 ERA and a 3.42 FIP. The only blemish recently has been the long ball. He’s allowed exactly one home run in each of his last three outings. The Phillies have the following career numbers against Manaea:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Trea Turner – SS
  2. Kyle Schwarber – DH
  3. Bryce Harper – 1B
  4. Alec Bohm – 3B
  5. Brandon Marsh – RF
  6. Edmundo Sosa – LF
  7. Bryson Stott – 2B
  8. J.T. Realmuto – C
  9. Derek Hill – CF

Aaron Nola has made 14 starts totaling 70 2/3 innings with a 5.86 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 1.472 WHIP and a 76 ERA+. In his last two starts, he has allowed eight runs over 9 innings with 12 hits and six walks. Nola made two starts against the Mets last season. In Queens, he allowed four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. In Philly, he shut the Mets out over six innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Nola:

  • Francisco Alvarez 2-6, HR, 2 K
  • Brett Baty 1-10, 3 BB, 3 K
  • Bo Bichette 4-10, 2B, HR, 3 K
  • MJ Melendez 0-2, BB, 2 K
  • Marcus Semien 0-6, K
  • Juan Soto 10-43, 3 2B, 3 HR, 16 BB, 11 K
  • Luis Torrens 2-6
  • Mark Vientos 2-8, 2 K
  • Jared Young 1-2, HR

Game Notes

  • Francisco Lindor will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Friday. Tyrone Taylor will join Lindor on Binghamton’s roster. Ronny Mauricio will play for St. Lucie this evening.
  • The Mets outrighted Vidal Bruján to Triple-A Syracuse. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Bo Bichette. Bichette and Soto have been the two players to watch over the last week. Bichette went 3-for-4 at the plate yesterday, his sixth straight game with at least two hits. In his last seven games, he has gone 15-for-30 with three doubles and three home runs (.500/.500/.900). Over his last seven games, he has taken his OPS from .597 to .677. His bWAR is finally positive again (0.2), and his OPS+ is now up to 90. Holy stat regression to the career mean!
  2. Juan Soto. Bichette wasn’t the only hitter collecting three hits yesterday. Soto went 3-for-5 with a double, his seventh straight game getting on base at least twice. Over his last seven games, Soto has gone 12-for-25 with three doubles and two home runs (.480/.581/.840). The difference for Soto yesterday is that the batters behind him actually drove Soto in. Hopefully, the Mets don’t waste this hot streak that Soto and Bichette are on!
  3. Francisco Alvarez. Since we are highlighting players who got three hits yesterday, we can’t leave out Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a run scored as the DH. Since returning from the injured list, Alvarez has gone 8-for-25 with a home run, slashing .320/.370/.440. The Mets around him just haven’t really been hitting on the days that Alvarez has played, and the team has gone 2-5 in his seven games played.

Let’s go Mets!