Sports

If not now, when? Phillies vs. Mets series preview

June 26, 2026

Source: Yahoo Sports · Read on source site

May 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Phillies could have easily been swept by the Washington Nationals. They generally played poorly for most of the four-game series, but thanks to some late-inning magic against a garbage fire bullpen, they ended up winning the series.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Speaking of garbage fires, there’s the New York Mets. Since defeating the Phillies last Thursday, they’ve lost six games in a row, some of them in embarrassing fashion. But hey, at least some people in the stadium managed to enjoy themselves.

These Norwegian fans are having the time of their lives watching Cubs-Mets 🙌 🇳🇴

(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/J0VJAi2nk3

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 24, 2026However, if there’s one thing the Mets have been able to count on in recent years, it’s beating the Phillies at Citi Field. The Phillies have lost ten straight games at the stadium including two games in the 2024 NLDS. With the Mets in freefall, if the Phillies can’t find a way to win a game this weekend, it seems possible that they might never win there again.

class="wp-block-paragraph">…..And as I was writing this, it was announced that the Mets have fired manager Carlos Mendoza.

Steve Cohen on the Mets moving on from Carlos Mendoza:

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Carlos Mendoza for his leadership and unwavering commitment. He represented this organization with integrity and dedication throughout and I wish him and his family all the best.… pic.twitter.com/HTnHZ20RkZ

— SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) June 26, 2026This is not a positive development for the Phillies, as the Mets may likely experience a “new manager bounce” this weekend. On the other hand, it gives me a reason to use this clip:

Opposition research: Mark VientosIn 2024, the Mets thought they had a young star on their hands. In his first full season, Mark Vientos put up an OPS of .837 with 27 home runs. And he went on to destroy the Phillies in the NLDS, going 9-16 with two home runs.

MARK VIENTOS TWO-HOMER GAME 💪 #NLDSpic.twitter.com/84fcmB6F6e

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2024He’s continued to perform well against the Phillies. Last year, he batted .313 with two home runs against them, and in the series last week, he was 2-5 with a homer. However, he hasn’t hit all that well against anybody else in that time, and combined with horrendous defense, he’s been one of the least valuable players in the league.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Things aren’t trending in Vientos’ direction either. He’s batting just .179 in June and went 1-10 in the series against the Cubs.

Statistically, Mark Vientos has been the WORST player on the Mets this year.

🔹️OPS: .649 🔹️OAA: -7 🔹️wRC+: 82 🔹️fWAR: -0.7

At this point, should the Mets be looking to trade Vientos? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4vkHrqsoEF

— Locked On Mets (@LockedOnMets) June 26, 2026Defensively, the Mets accepted that he couldn’t hack it at third base so they moved him to first this season. However, he’s proven to be equally bad there, committing a league high six errors. Mets fans are now openly pining for Pete Alonso.

Immediately after Mark Vientos made an error at first base, the New York Mets fans started chanting “Pete Alonso” 😭 pic.twitter.com/9ozIHoodby

— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) June 26, 2026Does any of this mean that he won’t have a few big hits against the Phillies this weekend? Of course not!

Hating on the MetsThere’s not that much I can write about the Mets that their own fans haven’t already said.

Most embarrassing team in baseball pic.twitter.com/IOJMEjNARr

— Unbiased Mets Fan (@TheMetsX) June 26, 2026"I'm not going to go nuts and get angry right now because we're beyond that. This is way beyond the anger stage."@sal_licata reacts to the Mets' four-game sweep at the hands of the Cubs:

➡️ @Hondapic.twitter.com/3Kx9k6PwU3

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) June 26, 2026Is there a way to forfeit the next 82 games?

— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) June 25, 2026Let’s see what Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld has to say about that.

That's a shame. #Seinfeld / S06E01 The Chaperone pic.twitter.com/US0ghBOKCV

— Seinfeldism (@Seinfeldism1) March 17, 2026TriviaLast week’s answer: The three relievers to earn wins in the Phillies’ sweep of the Mets in September 2007 were Tom Gordon, Antonio Alfonseca, and Geoff Geary. MG77 and Morris Buttermaker each named one of them.

class="wp-block-paragraph">This week’s question: The Phillies last win at Citi Field was a 12-2 romp on September 20, 2024. Which Phillie had four hits and four RBIs in that game?

Vote for the Phillies! Just not necessarily the ones you expectedIt’s kind of hilarious that Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott have all reached the second round of All-Star voting while Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber did not. While Marsh clearly deserves inclusion on the team, it wasn’t that long ago that fans wanted both Bohm and Stott traded away for anything they could get. (Can you imagine the reaction at the end of April if someone told you that Alec Bohm might be an All-Star?)

Alec, Brandon, and Bryson are one step closer to starting the All-Star Game in Philly 🤩

FINAL VOTING BEGINS MONDAY pic.twitter.com/31UPfoTklh

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 25, 2026Harper and Schwarber both have a good chance to be named to the team as reserves, although they could always get excluded due to the “every team gets a guy” role and whether or not Dave Roberts feels he has to choose a rookie with six starts under his belt.

Additional thought about the seriesLate inning comebacks are really fun, and the Mets also do not have a great bullpen. (Sure, it’s better than the Nationals’ relief group, but I don’t think it’s possible to be worse.) That said, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Phillies to simply get out to an early lead and sustain it for the entire game.

class="wp-block-paragraph">They should have an opportunity to score early runs. The Mets are calling up rookie Zach Thornton to start one game, and it seems likely either Kodai Senga or Christian Scott will get the ball at some point. Either way, the Phillies won’t be facing a top-notch array of pitchers this weekend.

class="wp-block-paragraph">I am slightly worried that the Mets can’t possibly continue to play as poorly as they have been, and they might be somewhat motivated by getting their manager fired. On the other hand, the Phillies can’t keep losing every game at Citi Field, right? In the end, while I’d love to see the Phillies extend the Mets’ misery, I think I’d be happy if they can come away with one win this weekend. That’s not too much to ask for, right?

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