Take The Divison Lead Back — Series Preview: Mets at Phillies, June 20-22

By the end of the weekend, the Philadelphia Phillies could be back in first place in the National League East.

After taking three of four games in South Beach against the Miami Marlins, the Phillies return to the City of Brotherly Love for a three-game series. It will be against the team’s biggest rival, the New York Mets.

The Mets have been a thorn in the Phillies’ side for years, and as of recently, were defeated in the 2024 NLDS, and were swept in a three-game series earlier this season in Queens. This season, the Mets have been in first place in the division for the majority of the season, but the Phillies have remained in the hunt.

New York is coming into South Philadelphia on quite a losing streak, as they’ve been swept in back-to-back series by the Rays and the Braves for six straight losses. Meanwhile, the Phillies have won seven of their last eight, which puts them in a tie for first place in the division.

This weekend will be a big one for both teams, as the Mets will attempt to remain at the top of the East, while the Phillies will not only play for some revenge from earlier this year, but will try to jump back to the top of the division and possibly the top of the National League as a whole.

Starting The Series Hot

This isn’t a want but a need. Friday night’s opener has the Phillies’ ace Zack Wheeler on the bump going against a to-be-determined pitcher for the Mets. Winning the first game of the series will only help Philadelphia if they want any chance of taking this series over New York.

In 2025, Wheeler has been a stud all season, posting a 2.76 ERA and a 7-2 record, with 110 strikeouts over 88 innings pitched. He’s pitched into the sixth inning or later in every single start and has dropped his ERA significantly after skyrocketing into the fours to start the season.

Wheeler has been the Phillies’ best player all season once again, and they need to ride him to a game one win. Typically, the Phillies struggle to hit in games when they’re returning from a road trip, but this one is different. They have to give Wheeler run support, and they need to do it early to allow him to settle in. Starting the series off with a win will almost guarantee a series win, which would keep them in first place after this weekend.

Alec Bohm, Stay Hot

It’s been nearly two weeks since Bryce Harper went on the IL with a wrist injury, and when Harper went on the injured list, a big question for the Phillies offense was who was going to step up in the Showman’s absence? While the next two best batters in the Phillies lineup, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, have been huge helps, the real guy who has truly taken a huge step is third baseman Alec Bohm.

On May 2, Bohm was batting a slash line of .217/.246/.267 with a .513 OPS. His first month of the season was downright abysmal and inexcusable for a guy who they expect to be the best right-handed bat in this lineup, not named Trea Turner. He started the season in the four hole and was moved down to the eight spot, and his things weren’t looking great for him.

However, since then, Bohm has tweaked his approach and has settled into the 2025 season, and boy, has he been good. Bohm is hitting .291/.329/.411 with a .740 OPS, totaling seven home runs and 33 RBIs. In his last 30 games alone, he’s batting .331 and has hit 19 of his 31 RBIs in that span. He has moved back into the top of the batting order and has been a great piece to date behind Turner and Schwarber. If this version of Bohm continues for the rest of this season, the Phillies will continue to succeed.

Game Times and Broadcasts

Friday, June 20, 7:15 p.m. ET, Apple TV+, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Saturday, June 21, 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Sunday, June 22, 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Zack Wheeler (RHP, 7-2, 2.76 ERA) vs. Blade Tidwell (RHP, 4-4 (AAA), 4.76 ERA (AAA))

Game 2: Mick Abel (RHP, 2-0, 2.21 ERA) vs. Griffin Canning (RHP, 6-3, 3.80 ERA)

Game 3: Jesus Luzardo (LHP, 5-2, 4.46 ERA) vs. David Peterson (LHP, 5-2, 2.60 ERA)

By the Numbers

• Records
• Phillies: 45-30
• Mets: 45-30

• Run Differential 
• Phillies: 33
• Mets: 74

• Runs Scored Per Game 
• Phillies: 4.68
• Mets: 4.49

• Runs Allowed Per Game 
• Phillies: 4.23
• Mets: 3.49

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