The usual anticipation surrounding the announcement of the Philadelphia Phillies’ Opening Day starting pitcher has been cut short this year. While there wasn’t expected to be much mystery anyway, the team has removed any speculation by confirming their choice well in advance.
As expected, Zack Wheeler will take the mound for the Phillies’ 2025 season opener against the Washington Nationals on March 27. Typically, manager Rob Thomson would make the call closer to the end of spring training, but this time, MLB.com has already listed Wheeler as the official Opening Day starter.
This marks Wheeler’s second consecutive Opening Day start, having taken over the role in 2024 after Aaron Nola’s six-year streak. There were no hard feelings from Nola, who had even advocated for Wheeler to pitch last year’s opener against the Braves, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
Wheeler delivered an impressive performance on Opening Day last season, pitching six scoreless innings with five strikeouts. However, despite leaving with a 2-0 lead, a bullpen collapse cost him a decision.
Over his five seasons in Philadelphia, the veteran right-hander has solidified his spot as the team’s ace. He holds a 59-32 record with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP, logging at least 32 starts in three of his four full-length seasons. Last year, he earned his second All-Star selection and finished as the NL Cy Young runner-up for the second time in four seasons. He posted a 16-7 record with a 2.57 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 200 innings, leading the National League with a 0.955 WHIP.
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