​PHILADELPHIA − The Phillies returned from the All Star break a day before the rest of MLB in order to play the Mets in a nationally-broadcast game on ESPN.The July 16 game against the Mets kicks off the second half of the season in which the Phillies hope to continue their push to the playoffs. The Phillies (54-43) are tied for MLB’s best record since April 28 at 45-24. They hold a wildcard playoff spot if the season ends today, and trail the Atlanta Braves by 2 games in the NL East. They were 9 ½ back when Rob Thomson was fired on April 28 with the Phillies at 9-19.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBuy Philadelphia Phillies ticketsThe Phillies also were able to set their pitching rotation in order to get staff aces Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez a few extra days off. Sanchez, who pitched the first inning in the All Star game on July 14, likely won’t pitch until July 21 against the Dodgers. Wheeler, who turned down an All Star berth, is scheduled to pitch July 20, also against the Dodgers.That means RHP Aaron Nola (3-6, 5.75 ERA) is facing the Mets on July 16. He’ll be followed by LHP Jesús Luzardo (8-4, 3.51 ERA) on July 18 (there’s no game on July 17) and Alan Rangel (0-2, 4.19 ERA) on July 19, all against the Mets.The game begins at 7:10 p.m. and is broadcast on ESPN. Here are the starting lineups for the game:1 / 21Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies is introduced before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)Brad Keller, expected to be the Phillies’ late-inning reliever before closer Jhoan Duran, was placed on the 15-day IL with a right elbow UCL tear. To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, RHP Seth Johnson was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley. That type of injury could end Keller’s season, leaving the Phillies in need of a late-inning reliever before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJT Realmuto, CGabriel Rincones, RFJustin Crawford, CFCheck back later for the Mets’ lineupContact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the “Eye On The Eagles” newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.comThis article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Phillies announce Thursday lineup vs NY Mets, place key reliever on IL