Philadelphia, we are in the last sprint to Opening Day! In nearly one week, the Bank will be full, the peanuts will be flowing, and the long race to October will commence.
The Phillies are in a great position to start the 2024 season. The team is coming back with a vengeance, with new weapons, and with a hunger to win. We can start the season with confidence after the way the organization handled the offseason and how the players are performing in spring training.
This offseason, the Phillies solidified their belief in their starting pitchers, spending $298 million to resign Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million contract and extend Zack Wheeler for three years, $126 million. For depth, the Phillies also signed former Braves first-rounder and young left-hander Kolby Allard.
To address the outfield questions, the Phillies brought in utilityman Whit Merrifield as a backup outfielder who can also compete for a starting spot. Their most recent addition is outfielder Jordan Luplow, who the Phillies signed to a minor league deal. Luplow adds depth and could make an appearance in the majors as a backup outfielder.
We put out our first Opening Day roster projections at the beginning of spring training. Now that we are much closer to Opening Day let's see who makes the cut in our roster projection 2.0.
Phillies 2024 Opening Day roster projection 2.0: Outfield remains a mystery
Phillies Starting Rotation
- Zack Wheeler
- Aaron Nola
- Ranger Suárez
- Taijuan Walker
- Cristopher Sánchez
The starting rotation will be as we thought, with Zack Wheeler getting the nod as the Opening Day starter over Aaron Nola this year. Wheeler and Nola are a one-two punch, but with Wheeler's dominant performances in the playoffs and a new pitch to add to his repertoire, he takes the title as the Phillies' No. 1 starting pitcher.
Ranger Suárez is solidifying himself as a true No. 3 with his impressive spring training outings. If Suárez can stay healthy, he projects to be just as, if not more, valuable to the team this year as last year, in the regular and postseason — especially if he keeps utilizing his curveball, which has been his best strikeout pitch.
After missing out on a few free-agent pitchers, the Phillies are holding their trust with Taijuan Walker and Cristopher Sánchez as the anchors of the rotation. Walker had a decent year last year but wasn't trusted to see the mound in the playoffs. However, he has experience and can at least help get the team to the postseason. Sánchez, on the other hand, is young and inexperienced, but he had a breakout year last year and a good spring. Things could look different at the Trade Deadline, but for now, we believe in Walker and Sánchez.