Phillies 2025 Opening Day starting rotation prediction 1.0: Who follows Zack Wheeler?
Here’s a look at how Rob Thomson might set up his rotation to begin the 2025 season.
Despite a relatively slow offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies did get a big upgrade to their starting rotation. By acquiring Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins in late December, the club added extra pitching depth in the form of a quality left-hander.
With the addition of Luzardo and solidified rotation pieces in Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez, the starting pitching staff is one of the organizational strengths as Opening Day inches closer.
Assuming all five of those arms are healthy come March 27, the first five pitchers are set. The question is, how will manager Rob Thomson deploy his juggernaut of a rotation to begin the 2025 campaign?
Phillies 2025 Opening Day starting rotation prediction 1.0
Here is our first prediction as to the direction Thomson may go. All five starters are quality arms, so the order of the rotation may not be dictated by talent alone. Mixing in three left-handed pitchers with Wheeler and Nola will also play a factor.
1. Zack Wheeler, RHP
Perhaps the most obvious decision that the Phillies will make leading up to Opening Day is handing the ball to their staff’s ace to get the season started. Since joining the Phillies prior to the 2020 season, Wheeler has been the rock of rotation. During his time in red pinstripes the right-hander owns a 2.94 ERA, a 2.96 FIP and a 1.03 WHIP.
