With March 28 quickly approaching, it is time for a Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day roster prediction. The Phillies open the regular season facing the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds in two three-game home series. Some tough decisions will need to be made when constructing the 26-man roster for Opening Day. This is because some of the players fighting for roster spots do not have any minor league options available. The number of minor league options a player has left will specifically come into play in the position battles the Phillies are having for bullpen spots and the starting center field job which impacts the bench.
Phillies Opening Day Roster Prediction
Starting Pitchers
Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez, Taijuan Walker, Zack Wheeler
The starting rotation seems to be set for the Phillies. While there have been rumors about the team potentially signing Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, it now looks like they will sign neither. It remains unknown whether Aaron Nola will extend his Opening Day start streak or if Zack Wheeler will get the honor. Ranger Suárez should be the third starter in the rotation. Either Taijuan Walker or Cristopher Sánchez will likely be the fourth starter with the other one being the fifth starter in the rotation. The ordering of Walker and Sánchez is the current debate about the five starters. Other than that, the rotation is set and ready to go for the 2024 season.
Relief Pitchers
José Alvarado, Max Castillo, Seranthony Domínguez, Jeff Hoffman, Orion Kerkering, Yunior Marte, Gregory Soto, Matt Strahm
There are two bullpen spots up for grabs that should go to Max Castillo and Yunior Marte. Castillo should win the Phillies long relief pitcher job, while Marte fills the other open bullpen spot. With Dylan Covey suffering an injury that may put him on the injured list to start the season, the long relief spot is wide open. The other competitors for the role include Spencer Turnbull, who some expect to get the job, as well as Kolby Allard and Nick Nelson. Castillo has a 5.63 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP with five strikeouts in three appearances this spring. Meanwhile, Marte has not allowed an earned run in five spring training appearances. Andrew Bellatti has had a good spring as well, but is not on the 40-man roster, giving Marte the advantage.
Catchers
The catcher position is set for the Phillies. While Aramis Garcia has had a good spring, it is not enough to surpass Garrett Stubbs to be the backup for J.T. Realmuto this season. Additionally, Garcia is not on the 40-man roster. Garcia has a .476/.542/.810 slash line with one home run and seven RBI in spring training. This will be the third season that Stubbs has been the backup for Realmuto. Stubbs has also had impressive numbers in spring training, with a .429/.529/.500 line, no home runs and two RBI. This is one of the positions where there is little to no debate on who should get a roster spot. The catching duo of Realmuto and Stubbs will continue for another season.
Infielders
Alec Bohm, Bryce Harper, Whit Merrifield, Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner
This is another position area with little to no debate. The starting infield of Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott on the left side and Alec Bohm and Trea Turner on the right side is one of the best in the game. On the bench, Whit Merrifield is listed as an infielder but can also play the outfield. Merrifield will probably get more starts in the outfield than the infield given the situation surrounding the starting center field job. Also in a bench role will be Edmundo Sosa, who can play three of the four infield positions. The lone infield position that Sosa has not played in the major leagues is first base. Sosa has also played in the outfield on a few occasions.
“Those two guys are trying to get as much work in now as possible.”@TMacPhils on how Trea Turner and Bryson Stott are meshing as a middle infield tandem and what this @Phillies lineup may look like at full strength.@alannarizzo | #HighHeat | #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/K4LKGJs64o
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 3, 2023
Outfielders
Nick Castellanos, Jake Cave, Brandon Marsh, Cristian Pache and Kyle Schwarber
Coming into spring training, Johan Rojas would have to earn the starting center field job, according to manager Rob Thomson. Based on how Rojas has performed at the plate in spring training, he has not done so. Rojas has a .161/.161/.258 line with no home runs and four RBI this spring. In the long term, it’s best for Rojas to start the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Meanwhile, Pache is earning the starting center field job with his success at the plate. Pache has a .294/.333/.647 line with two home runs and three RBI this spring. Having Rojas start the season in Triple-A means the open bench spot goes to Jake Cave. That way, the Phillies will also have a left-handed hitter on the bench that is not a catcher.
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