Phillies name Zack Wheeler Opening Day starter

For the second straight year, Zack Wheeler will be on the bump for the Phillies on Opening Day.

On Monday afternoon, manager Rob Thomson told reporters, including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, that Wheeler will start on March 27 in D.C. against the Nationals.

The decision comes as no surprise. Wheeler hasn’t just been the Phillies’ ace in recent years. He’s also become one of baseball’s premier starters.

Last year, the right-hander finished second to Atlanta’s Chris Sale in NL Cy Young Award voting. It was the second time in four seasons Wheeler was the runner-up for the award.

Wheeler finished 2024 with a 2.57 ERA in 200 innings with 224 strikeouts. On Opening Day against the Braves a year ago, Wheeler pitched six innings, allowing no runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Wheeler will be opposed by left-hander MacKenzie Gore, who Washington announced as its Opening Day starter on Monday morning.

How the Phillies will line up their rotation after Wheeler is still unknown. But given the order this spring, it seems like Jesús Luzardo could follow Wheeler, followed by Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez.