Phillies Mets open second half early on ESPN tonight
The Phillies Mets rivalry restarts Major League Baseball's second half Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, the only game on the slate and exclusive on ESPN. First pitch moved from 7:10 p.m. ET to 6:10 p.m. ET due to air quality concerns in Philadelphia, opening a three-game NL East series.
Key Takeaways
- The Phillies Mets second-half opener is the lone MLB game Thursday and airs exclusively on ESPN.
- First pitch shifted to 6:10 p.m. ET from 7:10 p.m. ET because of air quality concerns in Philadelphia.
- Christian Scott (3.17 ERA) starts for New York against Aaron Nola (5.75 ERA) for Philadelphia.
- Some oddsmakers still lean Phillies at home, citing Nola's better expected ERA and Mets offensive struggles.
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When do the Phillies Mets play, and how can fans watch?
According to MLB.com, the Mets visit the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park to open the second half. It is the only contest on the day's MLB schedule and is available exclusively on ESPN.
Organizers moved first pitch up an hour to 6:10 p.m. ET after air quality concerns surfaced for later in the evening. The game still launches a three-game set between the NL East rivals.
Who is pitching in the Phillies Mets series opener?
New York will hand the ball to right-hander Christian Scott. The 27-year-old is back from Tommy John surgery and has posted a 3.17 ERA across 54 innings, showing the strikeout stuff Mets officials view as central to the club's future alongside Nolan McLean.
Philadelphia counters with veteran Aaron Nola. His 5.75 ERA marks a rough season, though MLB.com notes he was sharper in his last two starts before the break: five earned runs over 12 innings, 15 strikeouts, and only one home run allowed after surrendering two in each of his prior four outings.
Why are bettors still circling the Phillies Mets moneyline?
With most clubs idle until Friday, Sports Illustrated's daily betting column treated the Phillies Mets matchup as the only MLB board worth playing Thursday. The pick was Philadelphia at -127 as home favorites.
The case rested on underlying numbers more than surface ERA: Scott's 3.17 ERA pairs with a 4.51 xERA, while Nola's 5.75 ERA comes with a 4.22 xERA—suggesting Nola has actually pitched better by that metric. SI also pointed to New York's offensive struggles as further reason to trust the hosts.
Whatever the wagering chatter, the bigger story is simpler: baseball's second half begins with a rare national spotlight on one game, an early start forced by air quality, and a rivalry series that suddenly has the whole schedule to itself.