The Phillies started off the 2025 regular season with a series vs the Washington Nationals. The Phillies come in with high hopes despite coming up short last October vs their hated rivals, the New York Mets. The Phillies took the series 2 games to 1.
Thursday’s game started out exactly how last season ended. The Phillies got great starting pitching from Ace Zach Wheeler who went 6 innings only giving up 2 runs and striking out 8. The offense couldn’t get anything going vs Nationals lefty Mackenzie Gore. The bats were silent against Gore, much like last October. The Phillies struck out 13 times in 6 innings vs Gore and only mustered one hit. The shadows were a factor, but 13 strikeouts is worrisome. The Phillies would wind up striking out 19 times in the 10 inning affair. The Phillies bats came alive as the Nationals went to the bullpen. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both hit home runs in the 7th inning. Schwarber, who led off most of the last couple of seasons batted cleanup on opening day, with Trae Turner leading off. The batting order will be a topic of much debate to start the season. The Phillies would tack on another run in the 8th on a wild pitch.
New acquisition Jordan Romano came in to pitch the 8th and immediately blew the 2 run lead. Not a great start for Romano, who the Phillies are hoping can take up some of the slack of the departed Jeff Hoffman.
The game went to extra innings where Alec Bohm came up big with a huge double to give the Phillies the lead and then JT Realmuto got a huge triple to break it open. Bohm coming up with 2 big hits is key, especially coming off of all the offseason trade rumors. Bohm is going to be a big key to this lineup. Game one was a struggle. I didn’t love all of the strikeouts but a win is a win, especially on opening day. Alvarado took the win, Poche took the loss in relief.
New acquisition Jesus Luzardo started Saturday’s game for the Phillies. He looked great striking out 11 in 5 innings. His only blemish was giving up a 2 run homer to Ruiz in the 2nd inning. The Phillies bats broke out starting with Stott’s 2 run shot in the 4th inning. They would also score 5 in the 6th with Schwarber delivering the big blow, a 3 run shot that scored Marsh and Sosa. It was a huge bounce back day for Brandon Marsh. Marsh went 3-5 with a home run and 3 RBI’S. This was big as Marsh went 0-4 with 4 k’s on opening day. Luzardo got his first win, Poche took the loss for the Nationals.
Sunday’s game was a listless performance by the Phillies. The bats were silent until the 9th. The Phillies salvaged one run in the last frame. Early in the game the Phillies had many opportunities but couldn’t cash in. Nola took the loss. He was solid in the first 3 innings, but started leaking oil in the 4th. He gave up a 3 run bomb to Josh Bell. He also gave up a 2 run shot in the 6th to Lowe. Nola is a solid piece of the rotation but he gives up the long ball. Death, taxes, and Nola giving up home runs are pretty much a given in many of his starts. Nola went 5.1 innings allowing 5 runs. He did strike out 8. Parker took the win for the Nationals as he went 6.1 innings, striking out 5. All in all a good opening series win for the Phillies. There is a little concern with injuries by Turner missing the last 2 games with a back tweak and Realmuto leeaving yesterday’s game early after fouling a ball off his foot. Neither injury appears too serious, though in Turner’s case backs can be finicky. The home opener is tomorrow at 3 vs the Colorado Rockies. The Phillies have a 3 game set with them before the World Champion Dodgers come in next weekend. Next weekend will be a big early season measuring stick for the Fightins. Bad day today, but as the song goes, “2 out of 3 aint bad.