Spring training is in full swing, and the Philadelphia Phillies are well into Grapefruit League action. With less than a month until Opening Day of the 2024 MLB regular season, we can look ahead to what that magical first weekend of games holds for baseball fans.
The Phillies are heading into 2024 with close to the same roster they finished 2023 with, save for the addition of free agent utilityman Whit Merrifield. They'll be looking to get off on the right foot and put themselves in a position to make another long playoff run, with aspirations of another World Series appearance. The team will break camp after their final spring training game on March 25, and head north to open the regular season in Philadelphia against the division rival Atlanta Braves.
When do the Phillies play on Opening Day 2024?
In a rematch of the last two National League Division Series, the Phillies and Braves will face off for a 3:05 p.m. ET first pitch on Thursday, March 28.
The teams will get the Friday off (saved as a make-up day if Opening Day is postponed by weather) and resume on Saturday with a 4:05 p.m. ET start. The final game of the series will go at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday. Here's the schedule for the three games:
Game 1: Thursday, March 28 at 3:05 p.m. ET
Game 2: Saturday, March 30 at 4:05 p.m. ET
Game 3: Sunday, March 31 at 1:35 p.m. ET
The three-game series kicks off the season in style and is sure to be the beginning of a fierce battle for the top of the NL East. Despite the Braves being the favorites for the division, the Phillies believe they have the team to topple the reigning division champions.
If you're wondering what the Opening Day and Opening Weekend promotions are this year, we have you covered with a rundown of the Phillies' promotions and giveaway schedule for the season.
Who will start Opening Day for the Phillies?
At this point, one of the remaining questions for the Phillies is who manager Rob Thomson will hand the ball to for the coveted Opening Day start.
He'll have to choose between career Phillie Aaron Nola, who would set a club record with his seventh straight Opening Day start, or staff ace Zack Wheeler. Both are good picks, and you can be sure whoever doesn't get the first start will line up for the second game of the series.
After the Braves leave town, the two teams won't meet again until early July for a three-game set in Atlanta. Their final meetings of the season will come at the end of August, with seven games between Aug. 20 and Sep. 1.
Who knows, perhaps they'll meet in the NLDS for a third straight year.