March 30, 2023

Phillies lock in Opening Day lineup, roster against Rangers

Trea Turner will bat leadoff, Kyle Schwarber will handle DH duties, and Aaron Nola will make his sixth straight – and possibly last – Opening Day start for the Phils.

By Nick Tricome
PhillyVoice Staff

First pitch down in Arlington is inching closer, and with that, the Phillies' Opening Day roster and lineup have been locked in.

Trea Turner, the new star shortstop, will be batting leadoff, Kyle Schwarber will be the first to take up designated hitter duties while Bryce Harper is out, and Aaron Nola will make his sixth straight – and possibly last – Opening Day start for the Phils.

As a whole, not all that surprising of a starting lineup for Philadelphia, and the same goes for the initial 26-man roster.

Here is the club's look at both:

Game 1. #RingTheBell

📺: @NBCPhiladelphia
📻: @SportsRadioWIP
📱: https://t.co/HhDxScbmEV // https://t.co/vgbMhIMsON pic.twitter.com/93XiK1BNwJ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 30, 2023

Our 2023 #OpeningDay roster is set.#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/YxvOIIGnRc
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 30, 2023

The Phillies knew their lineup was going to take a hit with Harper sidelined as he continues to rehab from offseason Tommy John surgery, but they took another big one when first baseman Rhys Hoskins went down late in the spring with a torn ACL.

Thursday's beginning order still boasts plenty of pop though – between Schwarber, Realmtuo, Nick Castellanos looking for a bounce-back year, and an Alec Bohm with some added muscle – and plenty of varied looks too as the lineup runs R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L,L 1-9.

With an NL title to defend and World Series aspirations, the first test for the Phillies' bats will be up against old rival Jacob deGrom, who left the Mets for a free-agent deal with the Rangers over the winter.

The march all the way back to October begins at 4:05 p.m. ET.