Phillies vs Rangers — Opening Series Preview
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) prepares to warm up during spring training. Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The boys are back.
The Phillies begin the 2023 regular season today in Arlington, Texas against the Rangers. This will not be an easy start to the regular season by any means, as the Phils will have to face the top-3 pitchers in one of the best rotations in baseball, including familiar foe, Jacob DeGrom, on Opening Day. This somewhat new-look Phillies lineup will have to be on their game right out of the gates.
This season, the Phillies will be the defending National League Champions and will be looking to return to Red October baseball after ending their 11-year playoff drought last season. The Rangers this season have higher expectations than in years past. They are part of what is shaping up to be a tough AL West, however, they are dark-horse playoff favorites for many experts.
Game 1
Thursday 3/30 @4:05 (NBC10)
Game 1 of this series will feature of pair of aces: Aaron Nola vs Jacob DeGrom. Most likely, however, neither of these two pitchers will have that long of a leash.
Nola only threw 13.1 innings this spring and will probably be on some type of pitch count for his 1st start. He is also coming off a season where he pitched more than he ever had in his career, and pitched into November as well. As for DeGrom, he only made 2 starts this spring after dealing with some left-side tightness, and should also be on a pitch limit. This will be his Rangers debut after he signed a monster 5-year/$185 million deal with the team back in December.
For the Phillies, that means we should get a pretty good look at this newly-constructed bullpen which is expected to be among the best in baseball this season. Guys like Craig Kimbrel, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez, and Jose Alvarado may have to carry the load early on this season for Philadelphia, as no starting pitcher got a lot of work this spring.
This game will be the Phillies debut for Trea Turner and potentially for spring training average leader Jake Cave. With Rhys Hoskins out for the season with a torn ACL, Cave will now have a chance to get consistent playing time with the big club.
Game 2
Saturday 4/1 @4:05 (FOX)
Game 2 will feature another great pitching matchup: Zack Wheeler vs Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi is part of the new-look Rangers rotation that will look to carry them to their first playoff birth since 2016.
Wheeler pitched in just 4 games this spring but pitched a little on the backfields as well. It will be interesting to see if Wheeler is on a pitch limit in his first start of 2023. Eovaldi had a great spring for Texas. He had 19 strikeouts in just 15.1 innings and a 2.35 ERA. This will be his Rangers debut as well after he was signed to a 2-year deal by Texas in free agency.
This will be both teams’ first national TV broadcast of the season. The game will be aired on FOX as a part of their Saturday baseball coverage that will be featured on the network throughout the regular season.
Game 3
Sunday 4/2 @7:08 (ESPN)
The Phils will get their first look at a lefty starter in game 3 of this series, as they will face Martin Perez. The Phillies will send fellow lefty, Bailey Falter, to the mound in this game.
In 2 starts vs the Phillies last season, Perez dominated. He went 1-0 and did not give up a run in 13 innings of work. He struck out 10, walked 7, and gave up 10 hits
I found it interesting that Rob Thomson elected to go with Bailey Falter in this game rather than Taijuan Walker. Perhaps the thought for this one was to have Walker face the Yankees on Monday since New York’s lineup is riddled with power righties. Meanwhile, the Rangers lineup is more evenly constructed power-wise.
Another possibility for Thomson’s decision is to break up the lefties. With Matt Strahm slated to start Tuesday in the Bronx, the Phillies skipper may not have wanted the Yankees to see back-to-back southpaws, especially considering the similar deliveries that Falter and Strahm have.
This will be the first time of many that the reigning NL Champs will be featured on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball this season.
Potential Starting Lineups
Philadelphia Phillies:
Trea Turner (SS), Kyle Schwarber (LF), J.T. Realmuto (C), Darick Hall (1B), Nick Castellanos (DH), Bryson Stott (2B), Alec Bohm (3B), Jake Cave (RF), Brandon Marsh (CF)
Texas Rangers:
Marcus Semien (2B), Corey Seager (SS), Nate Lowe (1B), Adolis Garcia (CF), Robbie Grossman (RF), Josh Jung (3B), Jonah Heim (C), Mitch Garver (DH), Ezequiel Duran (CF)
