{"id":20693,"date":"2026-07-18T23:37:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T06:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=20693"},"modified":"2026-07-19T17:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T00:51:44","slug":"mets-phillies-best-worst-both-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/07\/18\/mets-phillies-best-worst-both-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets-Phillies Series Brings out the Best and Worst of Both Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

The All\u2011Star break ended with a bang for the New York Mets<\/a>. The Mets\u2011Phillies series opened Thursday night with a 4\u20111 Mets victory, as\u00a0<\/span>Francisco Alvarez<\/span><\/a>\u00a0homered twice and\u00a0<\/span>Brett Baty<\/span><\/a>\u00a0also went deep under a hazy sky from Canadian wildfire smoke drifting into the region.\u00a0<\/span>Christian Scott<\/span><\/a> pitched 5 2\/3 scoreless innings for the Mets, striking out seven while allowing only three hits. Kyle Schwarber nearly tied the game in the sixth, but his long fly ball hit the railing atop the right\u2011field wall and bounced back for a double.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aaron Nola<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(3\u20117) cruised through six innings, allowing one run on three hits. Interim manager Don Mattingly sent him back out for the seventh at 90 pitches. Nola served up back\u2011to\u2011back homers to Baty and Alvarez.\u00a0<\/span>Juan Soto<\/span><\/a>\u00a0exited in the eighth with left calf soreness.\u00a0<\/span>Trea Turner<\/span><\/a> homered for the Phillies in the eighth, the first home run by a right\u2011handed hitter off Mets reliever Luke Weaver this season. <\/span>Devin Williams<\/span><\/a>\u00a0secured his 100th career save.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phillies bounce back with a statement win<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saturday’s middle game belonged to Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>. The <\/span>Phillies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0defeated the Mets 6\u20111 behind a dominant outing from All\u2011Star\u00a0<\/span>Jes\u00fas Luzardo<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(9\u20114). Luzardo allowed one run on two hits\u2014both by Tyrone Taylor\u2014and two walks while striking out seven over five innings. He has allowed one run or fewer in each of his last four starts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyle Schwarber gave Phillies a lead they never relinquished with a two\u2011run homer in the first inning, his MLB\u2011leading 33rd home run of the season. Trea Turner homered in the fifth\u2014his second round\u2011tripper in as many games\u2014and Alec Bohm followed with an RBI single. Bryce Harper capped the scoring with a two\u2011run single in the sixth. Turner finished 3\u2011for\u20114 with a walk and three runs scored.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mets starter\u00a0<\/span>Sean Manaea<\/span><\/a> (2\u20115) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 2\/3 innings. The Mets committed three errors and managed only three hits. <\/span>Francisco Lindor<\/span><\/a> went 0\u2011for\u20114 with three strikeouts and committed his third error in three games. The Mets finished 0\u2011for\u20113 with runners in scoring position and have gone 1\u2011for\u201133 in those situations over their last five games. Tyrone Taylor provided the Mets’ only offensive highlight with a 406\u2011foot solo home run in the second inning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Weather impacted both games. Thursday’s opener was moved up an hour due to low air quality from wildfire smoke. Saturday’s start was pushed to 3:05 p.m. because of forecasted thunderstorms, with a 48\u2011minute rain delay in the seventh.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Sunday’s finale holds<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Mets\u2011Phillies series concludes Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.\u00a0<\/span>Nolan McLean<\/span><\/a> (6\u20116, 3.52 ERA) is expected to start for the Mets against <\/span>Alan Rangel<\/span><\/a> (0\u20112, 4.19 ERA) for the Phillies. The Phillies (55\u201144) sit second in the NL East. The Mets (41\u201158) remain in last place.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Phillies have now won 41 of 14 games started by Luzardo, Zack Wheeler, or Cristopher S\u00e1nchez. The Mets\u2011Phillies series has delivered drama, defensive miscues, power hitting, and a reminder that even a last\u2011place team can spoil a contender’s momentum. Sunday’s rubber match will determine which side takes the season series and carries that energy into the second half.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/h4>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>