WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 27: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
What to Know
- The Phillies needed extra innings but they pulled out a 7-3 Opening Day victory over the Nationals.
- Zack Wheeler didn't skip a beat from last season. His final stat line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 97 P
- Alec Bohm broke the tie in the 10th inning with a two-run double. He went 2-for-5 on the day.
- Both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber hit solo home runs in the seventh inning.
- Jesús Luzardo will make his Phillies debut 4:05 p.m. Saturday when the club is back in action.
Follow along for live updates as the Phillies open the 2025 MLB season in Washington against the Nationals.
Phillies' revised batting order an important part of Opening Day win
By Corey Seidman
Zack Wheeler was brilliant, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homered, and Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto came through in the 10th to give the Phillies a 7-3 win.
WASHINGTON — The prevailing, modern thought around baseball is that batting order construction doesn't matter much.
On Opening Day, for the Phillies, it sure did.
Leading off Trea Turner rather than Kyle Schwarber forced the Nationals to use a right-handed reliever instead of a lefty to begin the seventh inning up by a run against the top of the Phillies' order.
It worked in the Phillies' favor as Bryce Harper took righty Lucas Sims deep to center field on the first pitch he saw, a low-and-in heater, and Schwarber put them ahead by doing the same to lefty Jose Ferrer two batters later.
Opening Day dub
Bohm gives Phils lead in 10th inning
First game of season is heading to extras
Incoming: Schwarbomb
A Harper homer to open the 2025 scoring
Wheeler dealing but offense struggling to find any success
Stott starts Gold Glove campaign early
Scoreless through three
Wheels at the ready
By Brooke Destra
Phillie Phanatic joins fans at season opener watch party
An inside look at Jesús Luzardo's baseball camp at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Phillies players inspired by the Eagles Super Bowl run
Future stars of the Phillies show their potential on the MLB Spring Breakout stage
The life and legacy of Phillies legend, future Hall of Famer Dick Allen
Let the Opening Day festivities being
Phillies fans hyped for season opener against Nationals
Trea at the top
As the Phillies get set for Game 1 of 162, Rob Thomson explains the decision to have Trea Turner bat lead off on Opening Day.
A look at the track record
By Corey Seidman
It's Year 6 as a Phillie for Zack Wheeler, who's allowed 0 or 1 run in 4 of his 5 season debuts with them.
Your Opening Day RAV4 is here
Watch Phillies PreGame Live
Our Opening Day coverage opens 3 p.m. with Phillies PreGame Live. You can watch on NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus or stream here.
PostGame Live will immediately air after the final out is recorded.
Mayor Parker wishes Phillies well to start season
Trea Turner in the leadoff spot for Phillies
Nationals lineup:
Abrams SS
Wood LF
Garcia Jr. 2B
Bell DH
Lowe 1B
DeJong 3B
Ruiz C
Crews RF
Young CF
Start us off, Ace
Phillies Opening Day coverage
Turner leading off in Phillies' Opening Day lineup
By Corey Seidman
Jimmy Rollins believes that the Phillies are still the best team in the NL East, despite losing to the Mets in the 2024 NLDS.
Trea Turner? Kyle Schwarber?
In Game 1 of 162, it's Turner in the leadoff spot against Nationals left-hander Mackenzie Gore.
The Phillies have been interested in seeing what their offense can look like with Turner leading off. Manager Rob Thomson has said that for now, Turner will lead off against lefties and Schwarber against righties.
Schwarber has led off in 83.6% of his plate appearances as a Phillie and he's certainly performed, setting the major-league record last season in leadoff homers while also leading the National League with 106 walks. Pretty valuable skill set atop a lineup.
