The Philadelphia Phillies (40-34) host the New York Mets (33-41) at Citizens Bank Park for the first meeting of the season between the two NL East rivals. Both teams entered the 2026 MLB season with high expectations due to their payrolls and talent level, but neither has fully lived up to those expectations. The Phillies have turned things around since the end of April and worked their way back into contention, while the Mets enter the series in last place in the division.
The Mets picked up a big series win over the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves last weekend but are coming off a series loss to Cincinnati. Veteran left-hander Sean Manaea will look to get New York off to a strong start Thursday night as he makes his second consecutive start after opening the season with 14 appearances out of the bullpen.
The Phillies remain one of the better teams in baseball since their 9-19 start that led to the firing of former manager Rob Thomson. Although Philadelphia is coming off a 12-4 loss to Miami on Wednesday afternoon, it still won the series after outscoring the Marlins 15-2 over the first two games. The Phillies will hand the ball to veteran right-hander Aaron Nola for Thursday’s opener.
Both teams will have an unusual off day Friday, as the series pauses to accommodate the World Cup match between Brazil and Haiti next door at Lincoln Financial Field, known as Philadelphia Stadium for the tournament. The Mets and Phillies will resume the series Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. ET, with Freddy Peralta and Cristopher Sánchez expected to start Game 2 of the three-game set.
Mets vs. Phillies Current Odds
Both teams are loaded with talent, and Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists Thursday night’s opener as a close matchup. The Phillies are the favorite on the moneyline, while the Mets are favored on the run line. The total is notably high, largely because both starters enter with higher ERAs than they would like:
- Moneyline: Phillies -120, Mets +100
- Run Line: Mets -1.5 (+145), Phillies +1.5 (-200)
- Total (Runs): Over 9.5 (-120), Under 9.5 (+100)
Mets vs. Phillies Predictions
There’s plenty of history and bad blood between these division rivals, making this one of the more intriguing games on Thursday’s slate. Be sure to check out the Stats Hub at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for trends and baseball betting insights surrounding both teams.
Below is a featured pick from the Stats Hub:
Mets vs. Phillies Best Bet: Bo Bichette Over 1.5 Total Bases
Bo Bichette got off to a slow start after signing a lucrative free-agent deal with the Mets during the offseason, but the veteran infielder has been red-hot in June.
Thursday marks Bichette’s first game against Philadelphia since New York signed him in free agency. The Phillies were widely rumored to be close to landing Bichette before the Mets swooped in with a late offer.
Bichette is batting .387 with a .645 slugging percentage this month and will face Aaron Nola, who owns a 5.86 ERA this season and has allowed eight earned runs over his last nine innings pitched. Right-handed hitters are batting .277 against Nola this year, and Bichette owns a .400 career batting average against him dating back to his days in Toronto, with a double and a home run.
Bichette enters Thursday riding a seven-game hitting streak and has recorded multi-hit performances in each of his last six games. He has gone over 1.5 total bases in all seven games during the streak.
- Mets vs. Phillies Player Prop Pick for June 18: Bo Bichette Over 1.5 Total Bases (-110)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for NYM-PHI
Nola has allowed a home run in nine of his 14 starts this season and has surrendered multiple home runs in four of those outings, including his last start against Milwaukee. That trend could put Mets sluggers such as Juan Soto in a favorable position Thursday night:
- Juan Soto – Home Runs Over 0.5
- Kyle Schwarber – Home Runs Over 0.5
- Juan Soto – Hits Over 0.5
- Bo Bichette – To Record 1+ Hits
- Trea Turner – To Record 1+ Hits
Mets vs. Phillies Game Info
- 📍 Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 📅 Date: Thursday, June 18
- ⏰ First Pitch: 6:40 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: MLB.TV, MLB Network
- ⚾ Probable Pitchers:
- Mets: Sean Manaea
- Phillies: Aaron Nola
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Referenced odds are subject to change.
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