The Philadelphia Phillies had to wait an extra day to get the 2024 regular season underway, but now Opening Day is finally here. With Thursday’s home opener against the Atlanta Braves postponed due to wet, soggy weather passing through the Philadelphia area, manager Rob Thomson and his coaching staff had an extra night’s sleep to ponder the first lineup of the season.
Not that Thomson had much to think about. With a team full of returning starters, loaded with veteran stars, most fans could have guessed what the Opening Day lineup would look like. But now we have confirmation. The Phillies released the Game 1 lineup well ahead of the scheduled 3:05 p.m. ET start time when they will renew their fierce NL East rivalry with the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
One of the questions leading up to Opening Day was whether Kyle Schwarber would take his usual spot at the top of the order. We actually found out that answer on Thursday in Thomson media availability. According to Tim Kelly of Phillies Nation, Schwarber will indeed be leading off again, at least for today.
One decision that was made well ahead of time is the Phillies’ Opening Day starter. Ace Zack Wheeler will take the ball in what promises to be an epic showdown with Braves ace Spencer Strider.
Wheeler had a strong spring training, which included a hefty three-year, $126 million extension. The right-hander is making his first Opening Day start and faces the potent Braves offense, which he saw three times during the regular season in 2023. Wheeler held them to a .186 batting average and a .674 OPS last year, finishing with a 2-0 record, 3.32 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in 19 innings — including an eight-inning, 12-strikeout effort last May.
Spencer Strider, also making his first Opening Day start, is coming off an impressive 20-5 season in which he struck out 281 batters in 186 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old went 4-0 in four starts against the Phillies in 2023, logging 38 strikeouts in 26 innings and holding Phillies hitters to a .192 average and .512 OPS.
Without further ado, let’s get to the Phillies’ Opening Day lineup.
