First Pitch: 7:05 PM ET
Venue: Citizens Bank Park — Philadelphia, PA
Broadcast: SNY / NBC Sports Philadelphia / MLB.TV
Venue & Environment
Ballpark: Citizens Bank Park
Dimensions: 329 LF / 374 LCF / 401 CF / 387 RCF / 330 RF
Park Factor: Slightly hitter‑friendly, especially for LHB power and gap hitters.
Weather Forecast (Philadelphia, PA)
Temperature: 84–87°F at first pitch
Conditions: Mostly clear, humid
Wind: Light SSW at 5–8 mph (blowing out slightly toward RF)
Impact:
Warm, humid air + slight outward breeze = boost to fly‑ball carry
Citizens Bank Park already favors HRs → elevated run‑scoring environment
Team Overview
New York Mets (41–58)
Starting Pitcher: McLean (RHP) Record: 41–58 Last 10 Games: 3–7 Road Record: 19–31 Run Differential: -62 Form: Struggling; inconsistent offense; bullpen taxed.
The Mets enter with one of the coldest offenses in July, ranking bottom‑five in OPS over the last two weeks. Pitching depth has been thin, and late‑inning collapses have been frequent.
Philadelphia Phillies (55–43)
Starting Pitcher: Rangel (RHP) Record: 55–43 Last 10 Games: 6–4 Home Record: 29–18 Run Differential: +47 Form: Strong; lineup heating up; bullpen stabilizing.
The Phillies continue to push toward the NL East lead. Their offense has surged since early July, especially at home, where they’ve averaged 5.4 runs per game over their last 15.
Injury Report
Mets
Starling Marte — OUT (hamstring)
Francisco Alvarez — DAY‑TO‑DAY (wrist soreness)
Brooks Raley — IL (elbow)
Tylor Megill — IL (shoulder fatigue)
Impact: Missing Marte hurts their speed and top‑of‑order OBP. Bullpen depth remains compromised.
Phillies
Ranger Suárez — IL (forearm tightness)
Brandon Marsh — DAY‑TO‑DAY (knee bruise)
Orion Kerkering — IL (lat strain)
Impact: Rotation depth slightly weakened, but lineup remains intact. Bullpen still strong despite Kerkering’s absence.
Pitching Matchup Breakdown
Mets — McLean (RHP)
ERA: 4.78
WHIP: 1.36
K/BB: 2.7
Last 5 Starts: 0–3, 5.12 ERA
Splits:
Road ERA: 5.40
Vs. RHB: .262 avg allowed
Vs. LHB: .284 avg allowed
Profile: McLean is a pitch‑to‑contact righty with a heavy reliance on sinker/slider combos. When his sinker command fades, he becomes extremely hittable—especially in hitter‑friendly parks. Citizens Bank Park is a tough matchup.
Phillies — Rangel (RHP)
ERA: 3.62
WHIP: 1.21
K/BB: 3.4
Last 5 Starts: 3–1, 2.98 ERA
Splits:
Home ERA: 3.10
Vs. RHB: .238 avg allowed
Vs. LHB: .251 avg allowed
Profile: Rangel mixes a mid‑90s fastball with a sharp cutter and plus changeup. He’s been excellent at home and rarely gives up big innings. His command has been sharp, and he’s inducing more ground balls recently.
Key Player Matchups
Phillies Offense vs. McLean
Bryce Harper: .310 vs RHP, elite hard‑hit rate
Kyle Schwarber: Perfect matchup—McLean struggles vs LHB power
Alec Bohm: Contact hitter who thrives vs sinkerballers
Trea Turner: Speed threat; Mets struggle controlling running game
Advantage: Phillies
Mets Offense vs. Rangel
Pete Alonso: Still dangerous, but Rangel’s cutter neutralizes his pull power
Francisco Lindor: Heating up, but inconsistent
J.D. Martinez: Veteran presence; good vs fastballs
Jeff McNeil: Contact hitter; needs BABIP luck
Advantage: Phillies
Series History
2026 Season Series: Phillies lead 5–2
Last 20 Meetings: Phillies 13–7
At Citizens Bank Park (last 10): Phillies 7–3
Philadelphia has dominated recent home matchups.
Betting Trends
Mets
1–6 last 7 road games
2–8 last 10 vs winning teams
Under is 6–4 in their last 10 (offense struggling)
Phillies
8–3 last 11 home games
6–1 last 7 as home favorite
Over is 7–3 in their last 10 (offense surging)
Head‑to‑Head
Phillies ML has hit in 5 of last 6
Over has hit in 4 of last 5 at Citizens Bank Park
GAME ODDS
New York Mets – 126
Philadelphia Phillies 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, July 18, 2026
