Do not weep. The 2021 Major League Baseball season begins today, April 1, with a series of games beginning at 1:05 p.m. The day’s final game is set for 10:10 p.m., while the Phillies begin their 162-game marathon against division rival Atlanta Braves at 3:05 p.m.
Aaron Nola will make his fourth consecutive Opening Day start, this time against the Atlanta Braves, with Max Fried on the mound for the opposing team.
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Fried has faced the Phillies 11 times in his career and has struggled in seven appearances at Citizens Bank Park, surrendering seven home runs and issuing eight walks. Nola, on the other hand, has an 11-6 record in 20 career starts against the Braves and is frequently dominant against them.
The Season Of The Philadelphia Phillies In 2021 Has Arrived.
The first 13 games of the season will be played entirely against the National League East and its rivals, the Mets and Braves. If the team succeeds this year, it will have a significant impact on the rest of the season and the overall result next year.
The Phillies will have a five-game lead over both the Brewers and the Nationals when they begin a six-game homestand against the Braves and Mets. When they arrive, they will embark on a seven-game trip that will begin with three games in Atlanta and end with four games in New York.
Every divisional series is important. Even if the Phillies lose their next nine games in a row, they will still be in contention for the division. At worst, the Phillies only need to win six games to stay in the race. However, even if they win eight, they will be considered a winning team.
The Braves and Mets are the only teams capable of passing the Phillies in baseball’s best division, so a win here means even more to them. Yes, the Miami Marlins give the Phillies fits, but they have little chance of winning the division, in my opinion. The Washington Nationals made a few changes during the offseason, but their pitching did not improve.
Harper helped the Phillies win three straight games against the Braves in his first season in pinstripes, but the team went on to finish 81-81 in the final three months. The first series isn’t crucial, but it would be nice to start with divisional victories.
Immerse your wetsuit in water. It’s finally opening day. Philadelphia, let’s go!
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