Phillies reveal Opening Day starting rotation with clever choice for home opener
We know at least four of the Phillies’ starters to begin the 2025 season.
We all knew that ace Zack Wheeler was going to be the Philadelphia Phillies’ Opening Day starter. Even before they officially announced it, the 2024 NL Cy Young runner-up was already listed as the starter for Game 1 when the Phillies visit the Washington Nationals on March 27.
The real question we were all wondering was who would follow the staff ace in the Phillies’ starting rotation to begin the 2025 regular season. Manager Rob Thomson seemingly had an embarrassment of riches to choose from in setting the order of his starters. He could choose between career Phillie veteran Aaron Nola, the up-and-coming Cristopher Sánchez, newcomer Jesús Luzardo and, until just recently, Ranger Suárez.
We all knew that ace Zack Wheeler was going to be the Philadelphia Phillies’ Opening Day starter. Even before they officially announced it, the 2024 NL Cy Young runner-up was already listed as the starter for Game 1 when the Phillies visit the Washington Nationals on March 27.
The real question we were all wondering was who would follow the staff ace in the Phillies’ starting rotation to begin the 2025 regular season. Manager Rob Thomson seemingly had an embarrassment of riches to choose from in setting the order of his starters. He could choose between career Phillie veteran Aaron Nola, the up-and-coming Cristopher Sánchez, newcomer Jesús Luzardo and, until just recently, Ranger Suárez.
Thomson ended the guessing on Friday afternoon when he announced the Phillies’ first four starters of the season, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Lochlahn March. The left-hander Luzardo will follow Wheeler in the Phillies’ second game of the season, while the right-hander Nola will close out the series in Washington as the No. 3. Despite Nola having seniority, Thomson obviously made the choice to separate the righties and avoid throwing three lefties in a row.
Phillies set Opening Day starting rotation with Cristopher Sánchez lined up for the home opener
The lefty Sánchez will take the ball for the Phillies’ home opener at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, March 31. Facing off against the visiting Colorado Rockies, the choice to slot the 28-year-old in at home makes perfect sense after seeing his lopsided home-road splits last season.
