New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies – Where to Watch, Stream Info, TV Channel, and Live Updates (July 18, 2026)

Francisco Alvarez walked into the second half of the season and immediately announced himself. The Mets catcher hit two home runs in New York’s 4-1 win over Philadelphia to open the second half, with Brett Baty adding a third. That kind of performance from a young catcher — 11 home runs and a .259 average on the season — is the sort of thing that can shift momentum for a team that badly needs it.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, enters this one having dropped that opener but carrying the weight of a genuinely impressive run. The Phillies are 54-44, sitting three games back in the division, and their rotation has the kind of depth that makes them dangerous regardless of a single result. Zack Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, posting a 2.13 ERA with 108 strikeouts and 10 wins. Kyle Schwarber has 32 home runs and 59 RBI. This is a team built to win games in July.

The Mets are 16 games back and playing without several key contributors, but Alvarez’s performance is a reminder that individual talent can surface at any moment. Both teams have reasons to compete hard here.

New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies Game Information

Game Date: July 18, 2026
Game Time: 04:05 PM ET
TV Channel: SportsNet NY, NBC Sports Philadelphia, and MLB.TV – New York Mets
Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Philadelphia sits three games back in the division at 54-44, and every game against a divisional opponent carries weight in a tight race. The Mets, at 41-57 and 16 games back, are not in a position to chase the division, but they have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games — the same mark as the Phillies — which speaks to a team that is still competing. New York’s win in the most recent meeting showed they can match up with Philadelphia on a given night, and that makes this more than a formality for either side.

Philadelphia Phillies Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 54-44
Home Record: 25-22
Away Record: 29-22
Division Record: 10-13
Streak: 1 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .551

New York Mets Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 41-57
Home Record: 21-28
Away Record: 20-29
Division Record: 6-16
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .418

Stat Leaders

Philadelphia Phillies (54-44, #2 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Derek Hill, 0.327
RBI Leader: Kyle Schwarber, 59 RBI
Home Run Leader: Kyle Schwarber, 32 HR
Runs Leader: Trea Turner, 63 Runs
Hits Leader: Brandon Marsh, 102 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Bryson Stott, 17 SB
ERA Leader: Jhoan Duran, 1.38 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Cristopher Sánchez, 144 K
Wins Leader: Cristopher Sánchez, 11 W
Saves Leader: Jhoan Duran, 24 SV

New York Mets (41-57, #5 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Juan Soto, 0.292
RBI Leader: Juan Soto, 51 RBI
Home Run Leader: Juan Soto, 21 HR
Runs Leader: Carson Benge, 52 Runs
Hits Leader: Bo Bichette, 97 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Carson Benge, 16 SB
ERA Leader: A.J. Minter, 1.42 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Nolan McLean, 125 K
Wins Leader: Nolan McLean, 6 W
Saves Leader: Devin Williams, 14 SV

What to Watch For

Alvarez is the obvious name to watch for New York. His two-homer game to open the second half pushed his season total to 11, and at .259 with 24 RBI, he has been one of the more reliable offensive contributors on a Mets roster that has struggled to hit consistently. Juan Soto, listed as day-to-day with a calf issue, is a significant variable — his .292 average, 21 home runs, and 51 RBI make him the most dangerous hitter in the lineup when healthy.

For Philadelphia, the pitching staff remains the foundation. Wheeler’s 2.13 ERA is among the best marks in the league, and Cristopher Sánchez has been quietly excellent with 11 wins and 144 strikeouts. On the offensive side, Bryce Harper brings 20 home runs, 57 RBI, and 59 runs scored, while Trea Turner has crossed home 63 times this season — a pace that reflects how often he gets on base and creates problems.

The Phillies are also navigating some depth questions. Adolis García is on the 60-day injured list with a lat injury, and his absence in the outfield puts more pressure on the players around him to produce. Derek Hill, hitting .327, has been one of the more pleasant surprises in that mix.

Philadelphia Phillies Injury Report

Lou Trivino III – Back (D15) – The Philadelphia Phillies placed RHP Lou Trivino on the 15-day injured list with a right thoracic muscle spasm.
Brad Keller – Elbow (D15) – The Philadelphia Phillies placed RHP Brad Keller on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow UCL tear.
Johan Rojas – Elbow (D60) – The Philadelphia Phillies placed OF Johan Rojas on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow UCL repair.
Adolis García – Lat (D60) – The Philadelphia Phillies placed OF Adolis García on the 60-day injured list with a right latissimus dorsi tear.
Tanner Banks – Forearm (D15) – The Philadelphia Phillies placed LHP Tanner Banks on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm strain.

New York Mets Injury Report

Luis Robert Jr. – Back (D60) – The New York Mets transferred OF Luis Robert from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with lumbar spine disc herniation.
Juan Soto – Calf (Day-to-Day) – Soto left Thursday’s (Jul. 16) game against the Phillies due to a calf contusion.
Dedniel Núñez – Elbow (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Dedniel Núñez on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from his second career Tommy John surgery.
Tylor Megill – Elbow (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Tylor Megill on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow injury.
Justin Hagenman – Rib (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Justin Hagenman on the 60-day injured list due to a rib fracture.
Mark Vientos – Hand (D10) – The New York Mets placed INF Mark Vientos on the 10-day injured list with a right hand fracture.
Clay Holmes – Fibula (D60) – The New York Mets transferred RHP Clay Holmes from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to his right fibula fracture.
Austin Warren – Forearm (D15) – The New York Mets placed RHP Austin Warren on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.
Reed Garrett – Elbow (D60) – The New York Mets placed RHP Reed Garrett on the 60-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.

Philadelphia Phillies Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 18, 2026 vs New York Mets
July 19, 2026 vs New York Mets
July 20, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 21, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 22, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 24, 2026 vs New York Yankees
July 25, 2026 vs New York Yankees
July 26, 2026 vs New York Yankees
July 27, 2026 at Miami Marlins
July 28, 2026 at Miami Marlins

New York Mets Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 18, 2026 at Philadelphia Phillies
July 19, 2026 at Philadelphia Phillies
July 20, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers
July 21, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers
July 22, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers
July 24, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 25, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 26, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers
July 27, 2026 vs Atlanta Braves
July 28, 2026 vs Atlanta Braves

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.