The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets have battled atop the National League East all season long, but the Phillies have grown a solid lead in the division since the All-Star break.
The Phillies hold an eight-game lead over the Mets with 18 games remaining in the regular season after a 1-0 win on Monday night, powered by pitcher Aaron Nola.
Since Nola returned form injury on Aug. 17, the Phillies starter has struggled, giving up 18 earned runs across 19.1 innings pitched. However, on Monday night, Nola was excellent, and even got the better of Mets' star Juan Soto in his sixth and final inning.
Nola Sends Message to Juan Soto, Mets
Nola put on a clinic at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, twirling six shutout innings, and giving up just three hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters.
Two of those seven strikeouts came in the sixth inning when Nola opened the frame with a strikeout of Soto and ended the frame with a strikeout of outfielder Brandon Nimmo.
"They're good hitters," Nola said (h/t MLB.com). "I've faced them a lot. Just to get those guys out, especially to get Soto, was big."
Nola got Soto, and he did so with a cutter. It was the only cutter Nola threw all game, out of his 94 pitches. So, why did it work?
"Just something he hadn't seen before," Nola said (h/t MLB.com).
Aaron Nola threw exactly one (1) cutter tonight. It was on this 1-2 pitch to Juan Soto -- and he struck him out swinging.
— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) September 9, 2025
Nola mixed it up a bit tonight and kept the Mets guessing, none more so than here against Soto. pic.twitter.com/t9icx8DkDo
Nola's battery mate, J.T. Realmuto, called for the rarely used cutter, knowing he needed to find something new to get the Mets' star out.
"He's that type of hitter, where sometimes you have to think outside the box a little bit. He hadn't seen one yet, so he wasn't going to be looking for it," Realmuto said (h/t MLB.com). "When I called it, I took kind of a deep breath, because if it doesn't work out, then you really kick yourself for it. But Aaron threw a great pitch there, and it worked out for us."
Nola has been able to contain Soto throughout the two stars' matchups. The Mets' star is hitting .233 against Nola, but does have a .952 OPS with three home runs and seven RBI.
Soto has also drawn 16 walks against Nola compared to just 11 strikeouts. Nola then finished the frame with his fastest sinker of the night to strikeout Nimmo, who also has a career .233 average against the Phillies pitcher, but Nimmo has struck out 23 times in 60 at-bats.
A win against the Mets would be big, but seeing Aaron Nola look comfortable and in control on the mound again is even bigger.
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) September 9, 2025
What a night from the veteran. pic.twitter.com/yVtxMDNdB7
"I haven't had a game like this in quite some time," Nola said (h/t MLB.com). "But I was able to put the team in a position to win and throw some zeros in there, and the bullpen came in and did their job."
The Phillies have been waiting for a performance like that out of Nola. Philadelphia needs Nola to find his stride as the postseason approaches and Zach Wheeler being out for the season.
The Phillies and Mets get back at it on Tuesday for the second of their four-game series, which is their final matchup of the regular season.