Phillies vs. Pirates Game 1: Preview & Starting Pitchers – May 15

Bryce Harper & Oneil Cruz (Photos by Imagn Images)

Phillies vs. Pirates Game 1: Preview & Starting Pitchers – May 15

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated May 15, 2026 9:11 AM ET

Phillies vs. Pirates: The Philadelphia Phillies will have a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. Game 1 takes place at PNC Park on Friday night.

Philadelphia comes into this series with 13 wins from their last 18 games. They beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Thursday to take the three-game set at Fenway Park. As a result, the Phillies improved their record for the season to occupy second place in the National League East.

Pittsburgh also recovered from a bad end to April, taking 8 wins in 12 games this month. They picked up a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park on Thursday afternoon to claim the series on home turf. The Pirates are fourth in the NL Central despite a 24-20 record.

5 straight series wins for your Fightin' Phils #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/5DxF1TCzAU
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 15, 2026

Phillies vs. Pirates Game 1: TV Channel, Streaming & Radio

Here’s how to watch Friday evening’s matchup:

First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET
TV channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCSP
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Radio: Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan, 94 WIP, iHeart App
Streaming option: MLB App (Paid), MLB webcast.com (Free).

Kyle Schwarber (Image Credits: Imagn)

Phillies vs. Pirates Game 1: Starting Pitchers

Aaron Nola is the starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1. The 32-year-old right-hander is still searching for consistency since returning from a long injury layoff last year. He holds a 2-3 record with a 5.14 ERA over 42.0 innings and 44 strikeouts.

Braxton Ashcraft takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. The 26-year-old is enjoying an excellent season, building on a promising rookie campaign in 2025. Despite a 2-2 record, he has a 2.77 ERA over 48.2 innings with 52 strikeouts and a 1.048 WHIP.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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