NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 26: A general view of the field prior to the first inning between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Citi Field on March 26, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you abide by the old Brooklyn Dodgers adage ‘Wait Til Next Year’, or are looking to plan your next baseball bucket list destination on your quest to visit all 30 major league stadiums, today is for you. Earlier today, Major League Baseball officially released their regular season schedule for 2027 as the Mets prepared for to begin their second half schedule. The Mets will kick things off on the road in Miami against the Marlins on Thursday, March 2d, and play six games away from home before celebrating their home opener at Citi Field against the Giants on Friday, April 2.
Other games and series of note:
The Mets will host the cross-town rival Yankees over Memorial Day weekend and will head to the Bronx for the Yankee Stadium-hosted portion of the Subway Series immediately after the All-Star break
The Mets end April and begin May with a six-game road trip against the division rival Braves and Phillies.
Brandon Nimmo will make his long-awaited return as a visiting player when the Rangers travel to Citi Field on April 23 (the Mets play the Rangers in Texas this season).
The team’s longest road trip of the year is a ten-game swing that takes them through St. Louis, Arizona, and Los Angeles (NL) in late June and early July, concluding with a four-game set against the Dodgers around July 4.
The Mets have two nine-game homestands next year: One in June (Padres, Nationals, and Brewers), and one in August (Nationals, Braves, and Cardinals)
The Mets will play what will likely be their final series in Sacramento in April, as the Athletics are set to move into their Las Vegas home in 2028.
The Mets head to Fenway Park for three with the Red Sox in July.
Interleague matchups at Citi Field include the Angels, Blue Jays, Rays, Yankees, White Sox, and Mariners
The Mets finish the year with a six-game homestand against the Pirates and Cubs, with the final game happening on September 26.
The big question, of course, is whether there will actually be baseball games come March, or at all in 2027. With the labor dispute almost certainly leading to the owners locking out the players, it remains to be seen whether this will spill over into the regular season. With the owners lobbying hard for a salary cap, which appears to be a non-starter for the players, losing games is a real possibility, which would bring us the first non-162 game MLB schedule since 2020.
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to officially expire on December 1. The last work stoppage in 2021-2022 lasted 99 days (December 2 2021 until March 10 2022) and ended with the season being pushed back by a week, although they were able to salvage a full 162-game schedule thanks to double headers and a slight extension of the original schedule.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 11: Atlanta mascot blooper rides a 4-wheeler prior to the start of the MLB game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Atlanta Braves on April 11th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
One more night without Atlanta Braves baseball and then we’re back to the grind from now through September and hopefully October as well. The good news is that help appears to be on the way as Ronald Acuña Jr. had himself a pretty big day on rehab assignment as he picked up a hit, walked two times and scored two runs.
The one hit was a big one as Acuña hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning.
Additionally, Ha-Seong Kim picked up an RBI and Andrew McCutchen took a walk so there’s your recap as far as big names go. Here’s hoping that we’ll see Acuña hit the ground running upon his return and that Ha-Seong Kim can do something (well, anything) once he returns as well.
The only MLB game happening tonight is taking place in Philadelphia right now. As I’m typing this, the Mets are up 1-0 in the fourth inning on the Phillies so we’ll see if that holds up. It’s on ESPN if you want to check that out.
Outside of that, I’ve picked up EA Sports’s College Football 27 and I’ve been having fun with that on my downtime. If you like sports games then I’d check it out if I were you.
The floor is yours, folks. Let’s have a good evening!
Tony Vitello has hit some rough patches during his first season with the Giants. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But Buster Posey, the legendary Giants catcher turned president of baseball operations, isn’t publicly blaming Vitello. This was evident in Posey’s response when asked about Vitello during a Thursday appearance on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” show.
“My frank evaluation is Tony and his staff are doing a really good job,” Posey said.
He then added, “You mentioned people want to grab articles, and clickbait, and stuff. Maybe they’ll say, ‘Buster says Tony’s staff is doing a great job, and they’re 15 games under .500.’ But I get to be there every day, I get to see their interaction, I get to see their work; I get to see them trying to solve this puzzle that we’re in right now.
Buster Posey has had some challenging times during the 2026 season. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
“So, I think Tony and his staff are doing a great job,” Posey said.
Perhaps it would have been unfair to expect Posey to call out Vitello publicly for their team’s struggles so far this season. Although some Giants fans are calling for Vitello to be fired, Posey’s display of confidence shows that Vitello is probably not on the hot seat yet.
But the bottom line is that Vitello’s team has underperformed. And given that he signed a three-year contract that’s worth $3.5 million annually, there’s an expectation that he’ll produce wins in San Francisco.
Vitello has struggled communicating at times with his players after leading the University of Tennessee’s baseball program. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Tony Vitello’s tough Giants start isn’t just about San Francisco’s record
While 41-55 is not where anyone associated with the Giants expected to be, Vitello’s subpar start isn’t just about San Francisco’s position in the NL West standings.
Vitello has been under fire for having poor communication with his players, including when starting pitcher Tyler Mahle wasn’t informed that he was limited to 85 pitches in the Giants’ June 29 loss to the Diamondbacks.
How Vitello communicated with the Giants’ roster was a major point of interest heading into the 2026 season because Vitello arrived after leading the University of Tennessee’s baseball program.
Therefore, Vitello’s communication with his team is under the microscope. And the chatter around Vitello’s standing will only get louder if the Giants continue to struggle in the second half of the season.
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The Philadelphia Phillies moved up the start of their Thursday, July 16 game against the New York Mets from 7:05 to 6:10 p.m. ET, with air quality expected to worsen as the night continues from Citizens Bank Park. The air quality index 45 minutes before game time was 176, or very unhealthy. It is scheduled to peak at 180 by 9 p.m., according to Accuweather, as the Phillies and Mets play the lone game on the schedule following the All-Star break.
Yet MLB faces more significant problems Friday.
With all 30 teams in action, air quality is forecast in the "dangerous" range as games begin in Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee. The Guardians play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:10 p.m. in Cleveland, where the current air quality is 350 and forecast to be 313 at game time Friday.
It is the same story in Chicago, where Major League Soccer's Fire postponed their Thursday game with the air quality at 597. It has since dropped to 304, still in the dangerous range, and is projected to remain at 299 as the Cubs prepare to open the second half with a 7:05 p.m. CT start against the Minnesota Twins.
The dangerous, or hazardous plateau begins at 301, which constitutes a health warning and outdoor activities are strongly discouraged, per the Environmental Protection Agency's standards. The Mets and Phillies are scheduled to play Thursday under a red, or "unhealthy" advisory, which the EPA defines as "some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects."
In Milwaukee, the AQI exceeded 600 for a time Thursday before settling in at 337 in the evening and is forecast to maintain a similar level before the Brewers play host to Miami on Friday night. The Brewers can close the roof at their home ballpark, but fans and employees getting to and from the game would remain a concern.
MLB has postponed or moved games on two occasions in recent years due to air quality. On June 7 and 8, games were postponed in New York, Philadelphia and Washington due to poor air quality. In 2020, a Seattle Mariners game was postponed – and then relocated to San Francisco – after the Mariners and Athletics played through poor conditions.
The league does not hew exclusively to AQI in making such calls. Yet there are numerical thresholds where protocols and levels of scrutiny go into place, triggering deeper dives into current conditions and projected changes in air quality as MLB, in conjunction with the MLB Players' Association, consults with medical and weather experts.
Other markets will appear to avoid the worst of it. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees host games Friday evening, but a forecasted changed in wind directions is expected to improve the AQI in New York from 138 (unhealthy) to 56 (poor) by the time the Yankees play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Similarly, Boston is forecast to improve from 80 to a "fair" reading of 47 by gametime Friday.
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park.
Lance McCullers Jr.’s 14-year run with the Astros organization came to an end this week when he accepted a trade to the Brewers on Wednesday.
But waiving his no-trade clause was not a sure-fire decision.
A talk with Astros owner Jim Crane, however, made the call easier.
McCullers, in a sit-down with The Athletic, explained that the idea of playing for a different team was a mental hurdle he had to clear.
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I didn’t want to ever wear another team’s uniform,” McCullers said. “This organization took a chance on me when I was an 18-year-old kid. This has been my home ever since. My daughters were born here. This is where my wife and I will live forever. I never thought about playing somewhere else or being somewhere else, but I think all things, obviously, have to come to an end.”
The Astros, sitting at 47-51 and three games back in a relatively weak American League West, decided an offer to send McCullers and lefty Colton Gordon for prospect Jayden Fielder — the son of former All-Star Prince Fielder and grandson of Cecil Fielder — was the right call for all sides.
Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees to close out the eighth inning in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images
In the end, the 2012 Astros first-round pick knew it was time to move on. McCullers said Crane made him understand that now was an opportunity for a fresh start with a Brewers team that’s five games in front in the National League Central.
“I spoke to Jim Crane on Monday and we both thought — he thought — that this was going to be a good opportunity for me and that it would leave the Astros in a good situation leading up to the deadline and for the rest of the year,” McCullers said. “I have a lot of respect for Mr. Crane. And out of that love and respect, I told him on the phone that I would waive it.”
McCullers played a critical role in several deep postseason runs by the Astros, famously recording the final 12 outs of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees en route to Houston’s first World Series win.
He signed a five-year, $85 million extension with the Astros in 2021, but injuries have largely kept him off the field. He’s only thrown 94 2/3 innings since the end of 2022, 39 1/3 of which have come this season.
McCullers is hopeful things will work out for both Houston and Milwaukee.
“Ultimately, I think it’ll be a good decision on both sides,” he added.
As the Mets floundered through June and early July, David Stearns insisted they were not ready to sell just yet. They were going to give themselves time to see if they could recover before making the decision to buy or sell. Plus, with the draft looming, offices around the sport were distracted with preparation.
But as the second half begins Thursday night, it seems the time has come: A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and the obvious, Juan Soto, isavailable. That doesn’t mean everyone will go. But it means the Mets will listen on just about everyone, which is in keeping with what people familiar with their thinking have signaled for weeks.
That the Mets are fielding calls already suggests they will be spreading out their sell-off over several weeks, rather than waiting until the week of the deadline when the market has settled and time constraints create a more frenetic process. Some executives argue that selling earlier, before more teams have identified themselves as buyers or sellers, can increase returns and take advantage of immediate desperation while demand is low.
The Mets, it seems, will be testing the theory.
The most likely players to go remain those on expiring contracts. Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter are as sturdy lefty relievers as the current market has to offer. Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes are likely to be coveted by the many contenders who need starting pitching.
Despite Peralta’s struggles and Holmes’s current injury, both should bring the Mets a helpful return - in part because it will be relatively easy to determine whether the Mets are getting more in a trade than they would holding on: Both Holmes and Peralta would likely receive a qualifying offer at the end of the season, meaning any return for either would have to eclipse the value of the compensation pick teams receive if players who decline the qualifying offer go elsewhere.
The Mets could still extend Holmes, according to people familiar with their thinking who anticipated conversations with Holmes’s agent to occur between the draft and the deadline. While Stearns’s front office has been reluctant to give long-term deals to starting pitchers in his tenure, Holmes’s early career years as a reliever mean he has fewer innings on his arm than the usual 33-year-old starter with ace capabilities.
As for players with control beyond this season, Luke Weaver will be one of the best relievers available in terms of 2026 performance, and the fact that he will be under control through next season should make him enticing for contenders with money to spend. Huascar Brazoban will also have some suitors, but the Mets do need to build their bullpen around someone in 2027.
They also need someone to catch for them next year, though Francisco Alvarez’s plus-power and Luis Torrens’ steady defense could both draw interest in a still-forming catching market. That both have control beyond this year means the Mets would need to receive more value in return than the value one or either would provide next year.
As for other players under control beyond this year, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio could be attractive for teams with immediate or future infield needs. An executive with one current contender said they plan to check on Baty’s availability, and Mauricio currently has no clear path to big league playing time, either.
And as for Francisco Lindor, no one has given any indications the Mets are shopping him, though no one has said he is off the table either. He is an MVP-caliber player making MVP-candidate money for the next five seasons. Any team wanting to make a deal will likely need not only to be able to pay him that money, but also give the Mets a return that includes viable 2027 big league talent. Few teams seem willing and able to meet those asks. But with a noticeably weak free agent market for hitters looming, it feels unwise to rule anything out.
The Home Run Derby saw plenty of baseballs leave the yard — and even more viewers leave the broadcast.
MLB’s annual dinger demonstration’s debut on Netflix drew just 5.3 million viewers, marking the lowest total since 2003, when the event saw 5.2 million spectators, according to Sports Business Journal.
It was also a drop from last year’s event — in which American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh reigned supreme — that drew 5.7 million viewers on ESPN.
This year’s spectacle saw not just a new network but also a revamped format that eliminated timer-based rounds for hitters in favor of swing total.
Cardinals star Jordan Walker came back to win the 2026 Home Run Derby, upsetting Philadelphia’s own Kyle Schwarber. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The format paved the way for a thrilling finish inside Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park as Cardinals slugger Jordan Walker came back to upset Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.
The event also drew criticism from viewers for its presentation and the inclusion of Will Ferrell, with one fan calling it “one of the worst home run derby broadcasts I have ever watched.”
Actors Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Tatro served as commentators for Netflix on the field before the start of the 2026 Home Run Derby. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Sports Business Journal added that Netflix did well with younger viewers but lost a segment of the older demographic.
Netflix will have the derby for at least two more years after signing a three-year, $50 million contract with MLB to stream the event.
Yankees star Ben Rice was among the contestants in the Derby. Getty Images
Next year’s All-Star Game and Home Run Derby with be at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Clay Holmes is getting closer to seeing actual game action.
After watching Holmes have a successful live in Brooklyn on Tuesday, interim manager Andy Green said the right-hander looked like himself before giving a positive update on the Mets starter.
"Assuming everything moves forward, he’s inching closer to going out to an affiliate and pitching in a rehab assignment," Green said. "Everything depends on the day-to-day, but he’s inching closer to that."
Green didn't have a target date for the rehab, but said Holmes' next step depends on how he recovers and how he feels. Holmes will throw a side between his live on Tuesday and whenever he sees game action, but once he checks every box, the organization and Holmes will commit to the start of the rehab assignment.
However, Green said they are not rushing Holmes to come back, and if the 33-year-old needs more time, they'll give it to him.
"Nothing wrong with taking a couple of extra days [before rehab begins]," Green said. "[Holmes is] doing well."
Before his injury, Holmes was the Mets' most consistent pitcher. He pitched to a 4-4 record and a 2.39 ERA.
Green also gave a short update on Luis Robert Jr. The outfielder is working out with the Syracuse Mets on Thursday before he plays in Friday's game.
If everything looks good and Robert comes out of it okay, the first-year Met could rejoin the team "relatively soon."
Major League Baseball released its full-season schedule for the 2027 campaign on Thursday.
Whether the season starts on time, of course, remains very much in question, with the league and the players’ union locked in a contentious CBA battle that is likely to lead to a lockout when the current CBA expires Dec. 1.
The Dodgers are scheduled to open the 2027 season against the Braves. Steve Cukrov – stock.adobe.com
For now, though, let’s live in a perfect world in which the year kicks off as scheduled.
Here are highlights of the Dodgers’ 2027 schedule:
Opening Day
The Dodgers will open at home once again, welcoming the Braves to town for a Thursday Opening Day game on March 25. That will be followed by a Friday off-day, before the series concludes on Saturday and Sunday of that weekend.
The Dodgers and Braves crossed paths in the playoffs in the 2018, 2020 and 2021 seasons, and could do so again this October, with both teams leading their division at the All-Star break.
Longest road trip
The Dodgers’ longest road stretch will come quickly, with a 10-game swing against the Rockies, Dbacks and Padres during their first road trip of the season April 1-11.
It could help the division race take shape early on.
Jackie Robinson Day
As usual, the Dodgers will be home when MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, hosting the Rockies for the occasion as part of 13 consecutive intradivision games following their three-city trip.
Will Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman (5) and Mookie Betts (50) celebrate another World Series ring ceremony in 2027? MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Home rivalries
The Dodgers will stage their first home series against their chief NL West rivals, the Giants and Padres, in May, with the Giants visiting for four games May 6-9 and the Padres coming to town for three May 21-23.
Holiday games
The Dodgers will be home for several holidays, including Easter Sunday (March 28 against the Braves), Mother’s Day (May 9 against the Giants), Juneteenth and Father’s Day (June 19-20 against the Marlins) and Independence Day (July 4 against the Mets).
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The Dodgers will visit each of the league’s two oldest venues in 2027, going to Fenway Park for three games against the Red Sox May 14-16 and Wrigley Field for four games against the Cubs June 3-6.
The Angels are scheduled to visit Dodger Stadium after the All-Star break next season. Oak City Drone – stock.adobe.com
Freeway Series
The Dodgers and Angels will play a pair of three-game Freeway Series against the Angels, first going to Anaheim May 28-30 before hosting the Angels following the All-Star break July 16-18.
World Series rematches
Time will tell if the Dodgers can get back to the World Series for a third consecutive season this year. But they already have two recent World Series rematches on the books for the second half of next season, with the Yankees and Blue Jays coming to Dodger Stadium Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 13-15, respectively.
Stretch run
The team’s September slate is full of potentially important division matchups, including visits from the Padres (Sept. 10-12) and Dbacks (Sept. 16-19), and a season-closing road trip to Colorado and Arizona (Sept. 21-26).
Apr 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; F-16 ’s fighting falcons of the 140th wing of the Colorado Air National guard fly over Coors Field before the opening day game between the Philadelphia against the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Earlier this afternoon, the Colorado Rockies announced their preliminary 2027 schedule.
Assuming there is no interruption due to negotiations between the MLBPAA and the owners, Opening Day is slated for March 25th.
The Rockies are set to begin the year on the road once again, but this time they are on the West Coast, facing the San Francisco Giants in a three-game set right out of the gate followed by another three-game set against the San Diego Padres.
They will then return home on April 1st for a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and a three-game set against the Miami Marlins. This will mark the fifth time in franchise history that the Rockies have faced the Dodgers at Coors Field for the Home Opener, and the first time since 2022 where they lost 5-3. They then took the next two games 3-2 and 9-4, though, respectively.
As always, the Rockies will play 13 games against the NL West. They will also play one home and one road series against the other teams in the NL, and at least one series with each AL team. The Rockies will host the New York Yankees for three games on July 26-28, and will welcome the Chicago Cubs to Coors Field for Father’s Day weekend (June 18-20). The Toronto Blue Jays will spend July 4th in Denver.
In addition to hosting the Yankees and Blue Jays, the Rockies will also have interleague matchups at home against the not-Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Angels. In fact, the Pittsburgh Pirates series from May 17-19 is the only home NL series in May.
Finally, the All-Star break will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago from July 12-15.
Opening Day is only 252 days away! Which series are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
Opening Day always brings optimism. The White Sox will hope the excitement at Rate Field on April 1, 2027, carries all the way to a return to the postseason. | (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
All right, White Sox fans, grab a pen and brace yourselves: Major League Baseball just dropped the 2027 schedule. Opening Day is set for a Wednesday night, March 24, with an exclusive Netflix game, though nobody knows who’s actually playing. It will be the earliest Opening Day in MLB history. The rest of the league gets going the next day, March 25. Of course, with a lockout looming, don’t bet the house on baseball actually happening that night, but hey, dream big.
Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2027, in Detroit, where the White Sox will start the 2027 season against the Tigers. The South Siders last opened a season in Motown on April 8, 2022. Chicago lost 5-4 when closer Liam Hendricks blew the save in the ninth. Good times.
Funny enough, that 2022 opener was supposed to be at home against Minnesota, but a lockout shuffled the deck and sent the Sox to Detroit instead. Sound familiar?
Opening at home vs. Milwaukee
The Good Guys will head back to Chicago for their home opener at Rate Field on Thursday, April 1, against the Brewers. The last time the White Sox hosted the Brewers on Opening Day was April 9, 1990, at Old Comiskey Park. It was the final Opening Day ever played there before the wrecking ball took the old girl down. The South Siders won 2-1 in front of a crowd of 40,008 with Bobby Thigpen getting the first of his eventual record-setting 57 saves that season.
Crosstown Series vs. Cubs
The 2027 Crosstown Series against the Chicago Cubs includes two sets: the White Sox will visit Wrigley Field from Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18, before hosting the Cubs at Rate Field from Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8. The Cubs currently hold a slim edge, 77-75, in the Crosstown Classic since interleague play began in 1997. Fortunately, three games remain this season, so bragging rights are still up for grabs.
Interleague play
Interleague play means 16 three-game sets for the Sox, half at home, half on the road. Here’s the rundown:
Home series against
Milwaukee Brewers (April 1, 3-4), San Francisco Giants (April 16-18), St. Louis Cardinals (May 3-5), Miami Marlins (May 14-16), Philadelphia Phillies (June 7-9), Arizona Diamondbacks (July 9-11), Chicago Cubs (August 6-8), and San Diego Padres (September 24-26).
Road series against
Los Angeles Dodgers (April 26-28), Pittsburgh Pirates (May 21-23), Cincinnati Reds (June 29-30, July 1), Chicago Cubs (July 16-18), Colorado Rockies (August 13-15), New York Mets (August 27-29), Atlanta Braves (September 10-12), and Washington Nationals (September 17-19).
Holiday baseball
Memorial Day brings the Tampa Bay Rays to Chicago on May 31. For Independence Day, the Sox head to Texas to tangle with the Rangers on July 4.
Regular-season finale
The regular season wraps up with a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres from September 24-26.
2027 All-Star Game in Chicago
The 2027 MLB All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 13, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Tickets & broadcast information
Dates, times, and complete broadcast information will be released in the coming months. Deposits for 2027 season tickets can be placed now by calling 312-674-1000 or visiting whitesox.com/seasontickets.
NOTE: As always, the schedule remains subject to change throughout the offseason.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 3: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park on July 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Carson Benge – RF
Jorge Polanco – DH
Jared Young – 1B
Brett Baty – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Christian Scott – RHP
Phillies lineup
Trea Turner – SS
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Bryce Harper – 1B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Alec Bohm – 3B
Bryson Stott – 2B
J.T. Realmuto – C
Gabriel Rincones – RF
Justin Crawford – CF
Aaron Nola – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 6:10 PM EDT TV: ESPN Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Citizens Bank Park felt like the inside of Jeff Spicoli’s van Thursday night.
The air was tinged with the drifting smoke of Canadian wildfires as the Phillies and New York Mets got back to work in less than ideal conditions after the All-Star break.
Early in the day, Major League Baseball considered postponing the game because of poor air quality. There was a hitch, though. This was the only game on the schedule as the All-Star break continued for 28 other teams, and ESPN was in the house to broadcast the game nationally.
Damn the lungs! Play ball!
The start time was moved up an hour to 6:10 p.m., but that didn’t help the Phillies much as they lost, 4-1, to the Mets.
The air was a murky gray at first pitch. Conditions worsened as the game went on. Umpires checked with players to see if they were OK throughout the game.
Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh said it was tough to see a line drive by Jorge Polanco in the eighth inning. Marsh ended up making the play.
“The conditions played no part in the final result,” he said. “They played through the same stuff we did. We just have to be better.”
By definition, Aaron Nola turned in a quality start for the Phillies. That’s what you call it when a pitcher goes six innings or more and allows three or fewer earned runs.
But Nola’s quality start featured a few low-quality pitches. Three of them landed over the wall.
While Nola did manage to keep his team in the game, the offense did not capitalize. The Phillies, who rank dead last in the majors with a .302 on-base percentage, had just four hits and they left runners on the corners in a 1-0 game when Marsh struck out to end the sixth.
Marsh, who was leading the National League with a .338 batting average on June 7, is hitting .167 in July. He is down to .297 for the season.
He did line out to left in his final at-bat of the night.
“That last one felt really good,” he said. “Something I can build off. I felt good after that last one, for sure.”
Mets starter Christian Scott held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked none and struck out seven.
Nola pitched into the seventh inning. He walked four and struck out six. He got some big outs, like when he pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth. He allowed six hits, but three of them were solo homers. One came on a slider, one on a sinker and one on a four-seam fastball.
“The stuff feels good,” Nola said. “The solo home runs hurt me. I feel like that’s how it’s gone this year and last year. I make a mistake over the plate and they don’t miss it.”
Nola said the move-up in start time did not affect him. He had been at the ballpark long before the time change was announced.
But he acknowledged: “It was really smoky. Not ideal. But it is what it is. It’s an outdoor stadium. You have to get the game in and play through different conditions.”
Nola was at 90 pitches through six innings. Friday night in Detroit, manager Don Mattingly hooked the right-hander after five innings and the bullpen imploded. This time, Mattingly stuck with Nola for the seventh and the right-hander gave up back-to-back homers to Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez (his second of the game) to put the Mets ahead, 3-0.
“So, I take him out too early and leave him in too long,” Mattingly said in response to a question about how he’s handled Nola the last two starts. “I take each game for what it is. He was throwing the ball good. If he’d struggled in the sixth, I would have been more proactive. But he threw the ball so well in the sixth, I felt good about him there.”
The Phillies had just three hits through the first seven innings. Trea Turner clubbed a solo homer in the eighth, but it was too little too late, even before the Mets padded their lead against reliever Seth Johnson in the ninth.
The air was hazy at the start of the game. Still, a crowd of 40,109 turned out. By mid-game, the air quality worsened. Center City, usually eye-grabbing day or night, was not visible as a low cloud hung over the ballpark. All that was missing was Bela Lugosi. Or Jeff Spicoli’s van. Or some Phillies’ offense.
More smoke is in the forecast for Friday, but the two teams are off. The series resumes Saturday, when rain is in the forecast.
For the White Sox offense, it has become a tale of two hands. | (yourtherapysource.com)
The homestand before the All-Star break went to wild extremes. Sure, being swept in the first series was in part because Boston is a pretty good team despite its record. And sweeping the second one was in part because the A’s are awful, especially with their best hitters out or slumping.
But the handedness thing was something else again. It was only a few years ago that the White Sox killed lefties. Now they just roll over and play dead. That final week painted a vivid picture of the situation.
The Red Sox started three back-of-the-rotation lefties. The White Sox scored one run, zero runs, and one run.
The Athletics used a lefty opener in the first game, and he retired all five batters he faced. Then they brought in a righty — the constipation-relief-sounding bulk reliever — and the Sox scored 14 runs. In the next game, against a regular left-handed starter, the White Sox scored one run. In the finale, against a pretty decent right-hander, they scored nine.
Even stranger, the Sox lineup without Munetaka Murakami doesn’t, on the surface, explain the wide disparity of handedness.
Or does it? Let’s take a look.
THE TWO EXTREMES
GRAND CANYON WIDE: Anyone who wonders why Will Venable will sit .300+ hitting All-Star left-handed hitter Tristan Peters for far-below-the-Mendoza-line Junior Perez against southpaws need only take a look at Peters’ platoon splits, which are as wide as they come:
Vs. RHP: .324/.376/.523, for an amazing .899 OPS, a batting average that would be third in MLB
Vs. LHP: .111/.172/.111, for an abysmal .284 OPS, which is less than half the lowest OPS in the majors this year
Note that his three hits against lefties are all singles and were probably all bunts. Maybe they don’t have lefty pitchers in Banana Ball.
BACKWARDS: When Colson Montgomery bashes a lefty, Steve Stone is inclined to act surprised. He shouldn’t be, because lefty Colson has reverse splits, and pretty big ones at that:
Vs. RHP: .206/.294/.433, an OPS of about-average .727
Vs. LHP: .250/.319/.546, a fine OPS of .866, with a higher percentage of homers and doubles, but also more K’s per AB
How can that be? Maybe because his main weakness is high heat, which doesn’t have a handedness factor. Or maybe because he also has trouble with breaking balls under his hands, which are harder for a southpaw to throw.
LET’S LOOK AT THE REST
Overall, in big-league ball, platoon splits are actually quite small, statistically. It’s no doubt because managers play the righty-lefty game so much and don’t bat especially vulnerable players like Peters. Still, right-handed batters hit righty pitchers for a .692 OPS and lefties for .750, only slightly more. Same small difference for lefty hitters, .679 OPS against lefties, .731 vs. righties.
For the White Sox, in descending bWAR order, bearing in mind that WAR is a cumulative stat, so those with fewer games played will be at a disadvantage:
Miguel Vargas, 3.3 bWAR, All-Star, bats right-handed, power hitter you’d expect to have large splits
Vs. RHP: .233/.338/.454, .792 OPS Vs. LHP: .272/.395/.583, .978 OPS
Fairly pronounced splits, but no real weakness either way.
Chase Meidroth, 1.9 bWAR, bats right-handed, contact hitter you’d expect to have small splits
Vs. RHP: .247/.325/.342, a satanic .666 OPS Vs. LHP: .320/.381/.466, nifty .847 OPS
Bit of a surprise, right?
Munetaka Murakami: 1.8 bWAR despite losing time, bats left-handed, a pure power hitter
Vs. RHP: .250/.383/.595, sky-high .978 OPS Vs. LHP: .190/.342/.413, still an above-average .754 OPS despite low BA thanks to homers and walks
Pretty much what you might expect, especially since the fear he couldn’t hit heat was misplaced, but he does have a problem with breaking pitches unless they hang, in which case they travel very, very far.
Sam Antonacci: 1.6 bWAR despite starting season late, bats left-handed, mostly a contact hitter
Vs. RHP: .314/.405/.475, nifty .881 OPS in part thanks to 11 doubles Vs. LHP: .193/.292/.211, really bad .503 OPS
Did you realize Antonacci was that bad against lefties? I sure didn’t. Helps explain the team’s failures in that direction since he’s the spirit of the outfit.
Vs. RHP: .204/.200/.388, OPS. 588 Vs. LHP: .273/.319/.591, very solid .910 OPS
Yet somehow, he, Vargas, and Meidroth aren’t enough to close the handedness gap.
Braden Montgomery: 0.1 bWAR, but only up for 29 games so far, switch-hitter
Vs. RHP: .233/.325/.438, above-average .761 OPS Vs. LHP: .226/.242/.290, very poor OPS .532
An important note is that he draws lots of walks from righties, but, in a small sample size of 31 trips to the plate, has just one walk the other way, against 10 strikeouts.
Kyle Teel: 0.0 bWAR, bats left-handed, only 51 AB, so too small a sample size to count, but he does have pretty big splits in the normal direction, as he also had last year.
Andrew Benintendi: -0.2 bWAR, bat left-handed
Vs. RHP: .251/.313/.458, OPS .772 Vs. LHP: .182/.229/.212, but he’s rarely allowed to bat against lefties, just 33 AB
Interestingly, Benintendi has a career OPS of .703 against lefties, and had big reverse splits last year. Maybe he forgot how to hit them, or they learned how to pitch him.
Luisangel Acuña: -0.2 bWAR, contact hitter, speedster, bats right-handed, even though Chris Getz thinks he’s a switch-hitter
Vs. RHP: .229/.286/.277 for a .563 OPS Vs. LHP: .258/.265/.288 for a .553 OPS
Note the much higher average against lefties, as you’d expect. But almost no walks from them, so almost the same OPS either way.
Junior Perez and Drew Romo: Not worth worrying about
SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN?
Well, there are reasons the White Sox hit right-handed pitchers better, but there sure aren’t enough reasons to explain the huge difference on the team level. They just have to hope opponents don’t decide to bring lefties up from the minors or out of the bleachers whenever the Sox are on the schedule. Or that they learn how to hit lefties better.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 21: General view of Chase Field before the MLB game on May 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The D-backs’ 2027 Home Opening Day on Friday, April 2 vs. Miami Marlins kicks off the home slate and a 6-game homestand against the Miami Marlins (April 2-4) and Los Angeles Dodgers (April 5-7). The second homestand, from April 16-21, will feature 3-game sets against the San Diego Padres (April 16-18) and Chicago Cubs (April 19-21).
Fan-favorite home holidays return with Mother’s Day Weekend against the Texas Rangers (May 7-9), Father’s Day Weekend against the Boston Red Sox (June 18-20) and 4th of July Weekend against the San Francisco Giants (July 1-4).The 2027 home schedule will wrap with a much-anticipated, season-ending, 6-game divisional showdown against the San Diego Padres (Sept. 21-23) and Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 24-26).
The D-backs will open the season on the road with a week’s worth of divisional matchups against the San Diego Padres (March 25-28) and San Francisco Giants (March 29-31). The remaining NL West road showdowns are at the Los Angeles Dodgers (May 24-26), Colorado Rockies (June 21-23), San Diego Padres (August 9-11) and Colorado Rockies (August 20-22) before ending the season’s road schedule with a 7-game roadtrip to face the San Francisco Giants (Sept. 13-15) and Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 16-19).
The road slate also features visits to the New York Yankees (April 9-11), Philadelphia Phillies (April 23-26), Atlanta Braves (May 14-16), Milwaukee Brewers (May 28-30), Toronto Blue Jays (June 8-10), Chicago White Sox (July 9-11) and Chicago Cubs (August 16-18).
It’s kinda hard to look at the schedule and figure out what sections might be tough or not. I recall everyone looking at this year’s calendar and deciding they had “a brutal early schedule.” Turns out that the Tigers, Mets, Orioles and Blue Jays – currently eight, seventeen, five and six games below .500 respectively – were not exactly the tough opposition predicted. The Diamondbacks went 9-3 against those opponents. So I’m a little reluctant to make any predictions when we are still more than sixty games from the end of this season, never mind any changes which may then get made during the winter.
However, based on current standings, it looks like it may be difficult to get out of the gate quickly. There’s an early 12-game stretch where we face the Marlins, Dodgers, Yankees and then back to the Marlins again. Based on the current standings, that would be a tough couple of weeks. It’s then then followed by ten more against the Padres (still at .500, though well off their early page), Cubs and Phillies. All told, that’ll be 22 games where all but three are against teams currently – again, a lot of water under the bridge between now and then – in the top eight of the MLB standings. Though the Marlins are probably gonna Marlin and sell everyone off for 2027.
After that though, I wasn’t seeing too many other cases where we have more than two consecutive series against teams currently with winning records. Maybe we’ll have Corbin Burnes back as Opening Day starter? Let’s wait and see there though.
