Philadelphia Phillies probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. New York Mets, June 20

The Philadelphia Phillies (45-30) welcome the rival New York Mets (45-30) to Citizens Bank Park on Friday. The division foes have a three-game series on tap, with the lead in the National League East hanging in the balance.

The Phillies are surging at the perfect time to take advantage of the scuffling Mets. At this time last week, the Phillies were trailing the Mets by 5.5 and things looked dire in Philadelphia. But the tide has turned, with the Phils winning three straight series and eight of their last 10 games after finishing off a 3-1 series win in Miami on Thursday. They have climbed back in it and enter Friday tied with New York for the division lead.

The Mets have lost six straight after suffering series sweeps at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves. The last time these two teams met, the Mets swept out the skidding Phillies in three games at Citi Field.

The entire series will be broadcast nationally, so no familiar NBC Sports Philadelphia for Phillies fans this weekend. Apple TV+ has tonight's game, with Saturday's game on FOX and the finale on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

Phillies vs. Mets probable pitchers, June 20

Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.76 ERA) will open the series for the Phillies. The perennial Cy Young contender has a sparkling 0.89 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 88 innings. He has thrown two quality starts since returning from the paternity list, allowing just two earned runs in 12 innings of work. When Wheeler faced the Mets in April, he gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision.

Blade Tidwell (0-1, 14.73 ERA) will counter for the Mets. The 24-year-old right-hander has made just one MLB start, which came on May 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed six runs on nine hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. The former second-round pick is 4-4 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) in Triple-A.