We're only two weeks out from Opening Day and the beginning of the 2025 regular season. While the Philadelphia Phillies have big plans and goals to be playing deep into October this year, a championship-contending season starts with setting the Opening Day roster. Games in March and April mean just as much as the fraught-filled contests down the stretch in September, so who will manager Rob Thomson and his coaching staff decide to take with them when the team breaks camp and heads North at the end of the month?
When we made our first way-too-early Opening Day roster prediction in January, it looked like there were only a few roster spots up for grabs this spring. It still looks that way, although a couple of injuries have thrown a monkey wrench into the Phillies' plans. So what does the Opening Day roster look like, as we look into our crystal ball here in March?
Phillies 2025 Opening Day roster projection 2.0
Phillies Starting Rotation
- Zack Wheeler (RHP)
- Cristopher Sánchez (LHP)
- Aaron Nola (RHP)
- Ranger Suárez (LHP)
- Jesús Luzardo (LHP)
Nothing has changed here since January. With the addition of Jesús Luzardo, the Phillies have five solid starters — an ace and four No. 2s, as catcher J.T. Realmuto put it recently. The Phillies will enter the season with one of the best and deepest rotations in baseball.
The only other question is how Thomson will set his rotation after ace Zack Wheeler, who is already listed as the Phillies' Opening Day starter against the Washington Nationals on March 27. Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez has looked incredible this spring and could get the second start of the season before veteran Aaron Nola to help break up the Phillies' three lefties.
Phillies Bullpen
- Jordan Romano (RHP)
- José Alvarado (LHP)
- Orion Kerkering (RHP)
- Tanner Banks (LHP)
- José Ruiz (RHP)
- Joe Ross (RHP)
- Taijuan Walker (RHP)
- Nabil Crismatt (RHP)
With left-hander Matt Strahm's Opening Day status uncertain after his recent shoulder injury revelation, an extra spot in the bullpen might be up for grabs, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Veteran Taijuan Walker seems all but assured a spot now especially with how well his spring has gone thus far, unless the Phillies find a trade partner.
The final spot could go to any number of pitchers who have looked good this spring, including Devin Sweet, John McMillon and Nabil Crismatt, all right-handers. McMillon has shown some nasty stuff in his Grapefruit League action and Sweet is already on the 40-man roster, but both have minor league options.
We'll say that veteran Crismatt will get the first crack. The 30-year-old has allowed two runs over five innings of work and even canceled his plans to pitch in the World Baseball Classic qualifier for Colombia in hopes of making the Phillies' roster. He has five strikeouts and one walk in his four games.
Phillies Infield
- Bryce Harper (1B)
- Bryson Stott (2B)
- Trea Turner (SS)
- Alec Bohm (3B)
- J.T. Realmuto (C)
Yawn. As usual, the Phillies' starting infield is a boring topic. Not much is going to change here, barring an injury. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto are all sure things for their regular playing time. The Phillies will try to cut back Realmuto's time behind the plate but will still try to get his bat in the lineup as much as possible.
Now with a healthy elbow, second baseman Bryson Stott had a slow start at the plate but is now hitting .333 with a .538 on-base percentage buoyed by his eight walks to three strikeouts in 18 at-bats. Meanwhile, third baseman Alec Bohm is already hot with three home runs and slashing .320/.379/.760 in 25 at-bats.
Phillies Outfield
- Max Kepler (LF)
- Brandon Marsh (CF)
- Nick Castellanos (RF)
- Kyle Schwarber (DH)
Newcomer Max Kepler has had a nice spring and seems settled as the everyday left fielder, at least to begin the season. Kyle Schwarber will still be the designated hitter most of the time but could see more time in left this season with the Phillies looking for more lineup flexibility.
Brandon Marsh will be given most of the center field duties to start. It's probably his full-time job to lose if he struggles against left-handed pitching again this year. His job security might also depend on who the Phillies carry on the bench.
Phillies Bench
- Rafael Marchán (C)
- Edmundo Sosa (INF/OF)
- Johan Rojas (OF)
- Kody Clemens (INF/OF)
We're still giving Rafael Marchán the edge over incumbent backup Garrett Stubbs, thanks to Stubbs' remaining minor league option. Marchán is hitting .235 with a .644 OPS in eight at-bats. Stubbs has better numbers this spring, hitting .385 with a 1.067 OPS in 13 at-bats, but the Phillies run the risk of losing Marchán on waivers if they don't give him the first shot on Opening Day.
Edmundo Sosa is making himself even more valuable to the Phillies this season by spending time in the outfield this spring. Hitting .286 with an .842 OPS, Sosa has a lock on a bench spot.
Johan Rojas still hasn't played in the field in Grapefruit League action, thanks to a shoulder issue. But that hasn't stopped him at the plate. He's hitting .292 with a .953 OPS with a pair of home runs in 24 at-bats. The Phillies still say he'll be ready for the season. If that's true, he'll begin the year as the fourth outfielder. Otherwise, he'll be in Triple-A.
After frontrunner Weston Wilson hit the shelf with an oblique injury, the final bench spot looks like it might be Kody Clemens' to lose at this point. He leads the Phillies in hits, with 10 in 27 at-bats, slashing .370/.393/.704 with a pair of homers, a double and a triple.