Phillies Announce Starters for Opening Series Against the Nationals
As the days wind closer to opening day, the Philadelphia Phillies announced their starting rotation for the three-game series against the Nationals. For the Phillies, the team enters 2025 with a lot of pressure riding on the season and the performance of its current core. The current group of players has only seen one World Series appearance in three seasons together, going into their fourth season. With the fourth highest payroll in the MLB and a group of aging players, the Phillies will need to show some improvements come playoffs. Heading into 2025, however, the Phillies will return with one of the best rotations in the MLB, headlined by Zack Wheeler. Will the rotation be able to carry its weight for a team with World Series Expectations?
Thursday 3/27: Zack Wheeler
On opening day, the Phillies will look to their ace, Zack Wheeler, to lead the team to a hot start for 2025. This year is Wheeler’s second appearance as the opening day starter, as he started on opening day in 2024 against the Atlanta Braves. Since coming to the City of Brotherly Love in 2020, Wheeler has been dominant on the mound and the ace of the team. Last season, Wheeler had a 16-7 record to go along with a 2.57 ERA, the lowest in his career. His performance last season earned him second place in the NL Cy Young race and a spot on the All-MLB First team. Throughout his career in Philadelphia, Wheeler has been a reliable force on the mound as he is a two-time All-Star and has been top-15 in Cy Young voting four out of the five years he has been in Philadelphia. The Phillies will rely on Wheeler as the ace once again and to be a driving factor of the team’s success.
Saturday 3/29: Jesús Luzardo
In the second game of the three-game series against the Nationals, the Phillies will give the ball to Jesús Luzardo. Luzardo arrived to the Phillies this offseason in a trade from the Miami Marlins. In 2024, Luzardo struggled with health issues, which caused him to have a down year, resulting in a 5.00 ERA in only 66.2 innings. Outside of 2024, Luzardo served as a viable starter for the Marlins, having over 100 innings in 2022 and 2023. During those seasons, Luzardo earned a 3.32 ERA in 2022 and a 3.58 ERA in 2023. Luzardo will be inserted into the Phillies' rotation, looking to be the fourth or fifth pitcher in an elite rotation. The Phillies will look for Luzardo to return to his 2022 success and stay healthy on the mound for the season.
Sunday 3/30: Aaron Nola
In the final game of the first series, the Phillies will look to their homegrown ace to finish the series in Aaron Nola. Nola will enter his 11th year with the Phillies and serve his role as the sub ace of the team. Nola has made his success from being an ironman and consistently having over 150+ innings in a season. In his last eight years with the Phillies, Nola has had over 165 innings every year except for one, with that one season being Covid. In 2024, Nola earned a 3.57 ERA to go along with 197 strikeouts. Even with the statistics he put up in 2024, it does not reach the potential of what Nola can be. The Phillies will look for Nola to take up his consistent amount of innings and serve as a secondary ace behind Zach Wheeler.
