It's deja vu for the Phillies, who spent last June surging up the standings following the firing of Joe Girardi and positioning themselves to contend. There was no major change this year, but with Bryce Harper back in the fold, Philadelphia has again overcome a slow start to enter the postseason conversation. Can the Mets stop the Phillies in their tracks?
It's been no secret that the Mets are one of baseball's most disappointing teams, sitting closer to last in the NL East than first, and pressure is mounting on Buck Showalter's team to start showing signs of life.
Pete Alonso's early return from a wrist injury gave the Mets some hope last weekend, but it's going to take much more than his power bat for New York to move back into contention.
The Phillies' starting rotation has been the biggest reason for the team's recent success, and Rob Thomson will send Taijuan Walker (7-3, 4.31 ERA) to the mound Friday. Walker will go up against Mets rookie Kodai Senga (6-4, 3.53 ERA).
MORE: Watch 'Friday Night Baseball' tonight on Apple TV+ (free trial)
Here's what you need to know to watch the Phillies host the Mets on Friday night.
What channel is Mets vs. Phillies on tonight?
- Live stream: Apple TV+
Fans looking for some Friday baseball can log in to Apple TV+, the exclusive home of "Friday Night Baseball" for the 2023 MLB season.
What time is Mets vs. Phillies tonight?
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
Mets vs. Phillies from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia is set to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Apple TV+ will have pregame coverage throughout the day with curated articles for each team and MLB. Fans can watch the "Countdown to First Pitch" pregame show 15 minutes prior to the start of the game.
Apple TV+ will broadcast another game on Friday night: Pirates vs. Marlins from LoanDepot Park in Miami. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.
How to live stream Mets vs. Phillies
- Live stream: Apple TV+
Mets vs. Phillies will be available exclusively through Apple TV+, but there are still different ways to stream the game. Apple TV+ is available to stream on your phone, tablet, computer and smart TV, as well as streaming devices such as Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV stick.
MORE: How MLB All-Star Game voting works
How much does Apple TV+ cost?
The service starts at $6.99 a month in the U.S. Yearly subscriptions begin at $69. In Canada, a monthly subscription is $8.99 CAD.
Last season, the service was free for those trying to watch "Friday Night Baseball," but that is no longer an option. Apple does offer a seven-day free trial for new sign-ups, but you will need a subscription to watch MLB's "Friday Night Baseball" games beyond that.
The service is also home to the hit show "Ted Lasso," among other original series. It also operates MLS Season Pass, which allows fans to watch every MLS game without blackout restrictions, for an additional fee.
Apple TV+ 'Friday Night Baseball' 2023 schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Friday, June 23 | Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins | 6:40 p.m. |
| Friday, June 23 | New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, June 30 | Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, June 30 | Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Angels | 9:30 p.m. |
| Friday, July 7 | Atlanta Braves vs. Tampa Bay Rays | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday, July 7 | Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins | 8 p.m. |
| Friday, July 14 | Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, July 14 | San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, July 21 | St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs | 2:20 p.m. |
| Friday, July 21 | San Diego Padres vs. Detroit Tigers | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday, July 28 | Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, July 28 | Los Angeles Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays | 7 p.m. |