The Phillies and Mets meet at Citi Field on Friday, September 18, 2026. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET, and this one is exclusive to Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball) — it will not air on any traditional cable or broadcast channel.
Game Info
- Matchup: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets
- League: MLB
- Date: September 18, 2026
- First Pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Citi Field, New York
- TV: Apple TV — Friday Night Baseball (exclusive)
How to Watch
This game is a Friday Night Baseball exclusive on Apple TV. It is not available on standard cable or over-the-air channels. MLB.TV does not carry national exclusive broadcasts — this is not a blackout situation, these games simply are not part of that package.
For fans who want their local team’s feed outside of this game, here’s where each club normally broadcasts:
- Phillies local: NBC Sports Philadelphia / NBCSP+ · over-the-air on NBC10 (select games) · streaming on PHILLIES.TV · also available blackout-free locally inside the MLB app
- Mets local: SNY · over-the-air on PIX 11 (WPIX) · streaming on SNY · also available blackout-free locally inside the MLB app
Note on MLB.TV: It remains an out-of-market product. A separate local in-market subscription (~$19.99/month or ~$99.99/season) is available inside the MLB app for 22 of 30 clubs and is blackout-free for home games. National partner exclusives (Apple TV, Netflix, Peacock, FOX, ESPN) are not included in any MLB.TV tier.
Where to Watch by Region
- 🇺🇸 United States — 7:15 p.m. ET: Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball, exclusive)
- 🇻🇪 Venezuela — 7:15 p.m.: Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball, exclusive)
- 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic — 7:15 p.m.: Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball, exclusive)
- 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico — 7:15 p.m.: Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball, exclusive)
- 🇲🇽 Mexico — 5:15 p.m. CT: Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball, exclusive)
How Each Team Enters
- Philadelphia Phillies: 85-68 (.556)
- New York Mets: 69-84 (.451)
Starting Pitchers
- Phillies — Andrew Painter (RHP): 3-9, 5.54 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 100 strikeouts in 115.1 innings
- Mets — Zac Thornton (LHP): 4-5, 3.44 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 55 strikeouts in 73.1 innings
What to Watch For
Philadelphia arrives at Citi Field with an 85-68 record and a clear postseason goal: lock down their position in the standings with just weeks left in the regular season. The Mets, sitting at 69-84, are playing for pride at home and looking to finish strong before the curtain falls on their year.
The pitching matchup tilts toward New York. Zac Thornton brings a sharp 3.44 ERA and a tidy 1.16 WHIP to the mound. Andrew Painter, meanwhile, has had a rougher go of it — a 5.54 ERA and 1.44 WHIP tell that story. On paper, the Mets have the edge on the hill tonight.
This article will be updated after the final out with the result, key plays, and video highlights.
