​The second half of the 2026 MLB season begins with a primetime showdown between the Mets (40-57) and the All-Star host, the Philadelphia Phillies (54-43). Philadelphia went 4-2 versus the Mets this season and outscored New York, 34-22 over those two series.Philadelphia has had quite the turnaround during the first half. After firing Rob Thompson following a 9-19 start to the season, the Phillies have gone 43-29 since to position them 2.0 games back of the Braves for the NL East lead. Philadelphia finished June with some hot bats ranking second in runs scored (153) and fourth in home runs (43).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNew York ended the first half of the season with three-straight losses via a sweep by Boston. The Mets were outscored 13-4 in that series. After the first half of the season, the Mets find themselves 12 games back of a Wild Card spot. The offense hit .234 (26th) with the eighth-fewest runs scored, plus a 4.27 ERA (18th) and the second-fewest saves (16).Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGame details & how to watch Mets at PhilliesDate: Thursday, July 17, 2026Time: 7:00 PM ESTSite: Citizens Bank ParkNetwork/Streaming: ESPNNever miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.Odds for the Mets at the PhilliesThe latest odds as of Thursday:Moneyline: New York Mets (+109), Philadelphia Phillies (-131)Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+145), Mets +1.5 (-176)Total: 9.5Probable starting pitchers for Mets at PhilliesThursday’s pitching matchup (July 16): Aaron Nola vs. Christian Scott Mets: Christian Scott 2026 stats: 54.0 IP, 2-1, 3.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 65 K, 26 BBPhillies: Aaron Nola 2026 Stats: 97.0 IP, 3-6, 5.75 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 102 K, 31 BWho’s Hot? Who’s NotThe Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .301 with 102 hits, 15 home runs and 46 RBI over 339 at-batsThe Phillies’ JT Realmuto is hitting .206 with 47 hits and 53 strikeouts over 228 at-batsThe Mets’ Juan Soto is hitting .290 with 80 hits, 21 home runs, and 51 RBI over 276 at-batsThe Mets’ Fransisco Lindor is hitting .216 with 33 hits and 27 strikeouts over 153 at-batsRotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTop betting trends &