It's less than a week until MLB Opening Day. The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for another season that will hopefully result in a World Series. With those expectations come a few roster changes, most notably a couple of their top prospects making their major league debuts at the start of the regular season.
However, the core remains the same. The organization received criticism throughout the winter from the local media and the fanbase for "running it back" with a similar team to the last few seasons, which has underachieved in the postseason since making the 2022 Fall Classic. Whether fans like it or not, this core is the group of players the organization believes can win a championship. What will the Opening Day roster look like around them?
Phillies Opening Day roster prediction
Starting Lineup
Trea Turner, SS
Kyle Schwarber, DH
Bryce Harper, 1B
Alec Bohm, 3B
Bryson Stott, 2B
Adolis García, RF
Brandon Marsh, LF
J.T. Realmuto, C
Justin Crawford, CF
The Phillies' top three hitters will be Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper. Manager Rob Thomson may bat Harper second and Schwarber third to protect the first baseman with the best power-hitter in their lineup.
Bryson Stott should bat in the middle of the lineup in the fifth or sixth spot to begin the season. He has arguably been the team's top positional player offensively during spring training. Thomson will place a right-handed batter in the fourth spot, and if he's going to alternate between left and right-handed hitters throughout the lineup against right-handed starting pitching, Stott is a better option than Brandon Marsh in the fifth spot.
Adolis García would ideally be a good option to bat fourth for the Phillies, given the power-hitting ability that he showed in 2022-23 with the Texas Rangers. However, due to his struggles the last two seasons, and the fact that Alec Bohm is having a solid spring, the third baseman will likely be hitting in the cleanup spot to begin the season. If García shows glimpses of his consistency resembling his best offensive seasons, he'll move up in the batting order.
Rookie Justin Crawford will be an interesting fit as the Phillies' number nine hitter, given his strengths offensively, which are his speed and ability to wreak havoc on the base paths. The media will be intrigued whenever he hits first in an inning with the top of the lineup following.
Phillies Bench
Edmundo Sosa, INF
Otto Kemp, LF/INF
Rafael Marchán, C
Dylan Moore, UTL
Edmundo Sosa has been a reliable bench player the last few years, and that should continue. Thomson regularly deploys him at shortstop, second, or third base, depending on whether the starters are injured or have an off day.
Otto Kemp can be used in the infield, but played a bit in left field last year. The utility player will be used in a platoon with Marsh in left, and the second-year player will be used against left-handed pitching. Kemp has had a solid spring training, but how he'll perform in a bigger role is unknown, especially considering how underwhelming the Phillies outfield has been over the last few years.
Rafael Marchán is competing with Garrett Stubbs for the backup catcher spot. Marchán has more at-bats this spring than Stubbs and is younger, offering the club more upside should starter J.T. Realmuto miss time on the injured list. The team likes Stubbs' presence. Thomson has recently given him brief playing time in left field and at third base. This decision has created questions about whether the backup catcher will make the roster. The Phillies won't carry three catchers on their Opening Day roster. Marchán is the better option. The organization may lose one of them on waivers since neither has a minor league option.
Utility player Dylan Moore opted out of his minor league contract on March 19. The Phillies need to add him to their 40-man roster by March 21, or he'll become a free agent. Thomson likes to have versatile bench players, and Moore seems like a fit despite his struggles as a hitter. If he becomes a free agent, the club may add a recently released player with a similar skill set to fill the bench spot.
Phillies Starting Rotation
Cristopher Sánchez
Aaron Nola
Jesús Luzardo
Taijuan Walker
Andrew Painter
The big name missing from the rotation is Zack Wheeler, who is still working his way back from surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome. He'll miss Opening Day but could return a few weeks into the regular season. Once he is ready, Taijuan Walker will be moved to the bullpen and used as a starter as needed.
Cristopher Sánchez is expected to be the Opening Day pitcher. He is coming off the best season of his career, as he finished as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award. Aaron Nola is aiming for a rebound year after the worst season of his career in 2025. He impressed in spring training during his starts with the Phillies and for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. His performance is key to sustaining Philadelphia's rotation depth this season.
Jesús Luzardo performed well in his first season with the Phillies. The team recently signed him to a five-year contract extension, giving them a solid starter who'll maintain the club's strength at the position. The most anticipated change in the rotation is the addition of their top pitching prospect Andrew Painter. All eyes will be on him during his starts, but fans shouldn't expect him to perform like an ace in every outing. Despite his projections as a future number one starter, the fan base needs to be patient with his development in his rookie season, especially with the organization's depth at the position.
Phillies Bullpen
Jhoan Duran
Brad Keller
José Alvarado
Orion Kerkering
Tanner Banks
Jonathan Bowlan
Zach Pop
Zach McCambley
Jhoan Duran returns as the Phillies' closer after being acquired at last year's trade deadline. He should be reliable in his role. Philadelphia hasn't had a reliable closer at the start of the season in recent years.
José Alvarado and Brad Keller will be their setup relievers. Alvarado had an off year, facing an 80-game suspension for a PED violation. After being unavailable for three months, the lefty suffered an injury in the final month of the season, which ended his year. The franchise added Keller during the offseason. He excelled out of the bullpen with the Chicago Cubs, as the club used him mostly as a reliever; he made only one start, the fewest of his career. He's expected to have a key role in the Phillies' bullpen this year.
Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks are back in middle relief roles. Jonathan Bowlan is a new addition, as the team acquired him for reliever Matt Strahm during the offseason. The right-hander had the most experience of his career in the majors last year with the Kansas City Royals.
Left-hander Kyle Backhus could make the Opening Day roster if Thomson prefers to have another lefty in the bullpen besides Alvarado and Banks. However, Backhus has minor league options, which Zach Pop doesn't, giving the right-hander an advantage to begin the season with Philadelphia.
Zach McCambley must remain on the Phillies roster this year as a Rule 5 Draft selection. The Phillies would have to offer him back to the Miami Marlins, his original team, if they don't want to keep him. He has done well for the team this spring, giving them more reason to give him a middle-inning relief role this year.