Starting Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, the visiting New York Mets and host Philadelphia Phillies will face off in a four-game series that could bring clarity to the National League East race. This is the final meeting between the two rivals in the 2025 regular season.
Current NL East Standings:
- Philadelphia Phillies: 83-60 (+7 GB)
- New York Mets: 76-67 (7 GB)
- Miami Marlins: 66-77 (17 GB)
- Atlanta Braves: 64-79 (19 GB)
- Washington Nationals: 58-84 (24 ½ GB)
With just 19 games remaining, the Mets face an uphill battle to close a seven-game gap. A sweep in this series is critical if they harbor hopes to win the NL East for the first time since 2015.
Game Schedule:
| Date | Start Time | Starting Pitchers | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 8 | 6:45 p.m. ET | RHP Nolan McLean vs. RHP Aaron Nola | SNY, NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Network |
| Sept. 9 | 6:45 p.m. ET | LHP Sean Manaea vs. LHP Ranger Suárez | SNY, NBC Sports Philadelphia |
| Sept. 10 | 6:45 p.m. ET | RHP Clay Holmes vs. LHP Cristopher Sánchez | SNY, NBC Sports Philadelphia |
| Sept. 11 | 7:15 p.m. ET | LHP David Peterson vs. TBD | Fox |
Notably, the Mets struggle against left-handed pitchers, ranking 13th in wOBA against them this season. Both teams have starters hoping to bounce back from disappointing individual seasons.
Three Key Points:
- Mets’ Long Odds: The Mets have just a 1.3% chance of winning the division, despite holding the tiebreaker against the Phillies with a 7-2 record this season.
- Phillies Dealing with Injuries: Philly is missing key players like Zack Wheeler and Trea Turner due to injuries, affecting their playoff outlook significantly.
- Juan Soto’s Resurgence: Once seen as a disappointment this season, Juan Soto has returned to form, boasting an impressive OPS and ready to impact the series.
Prediction
The Mets may clinch a victory against Nola in the opener. However, the Phillies will leverage their lefty starters and home-field advantage to succeed in Games 2 and 3, leading to a series split. A four-game tie should ensure that the Phillies secure their second successive division title.
