Opening Day!
The 2026 season begins today for the two-time defending National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies. We’ve got 162 games to determine if they can make that a three-peat, and then hopefully advance to the ultimate goal of a World Series title.
They’ll start things off with a relatively unfamiliar opponent from the American League. I realize that with 15 teams in each league, at least two teams are going to begin with an interleague matchup, but it still feels somewhat wrong not
to go against an NL team – if not a divisional opponent – to begin the season.
But since the schedule makers have given us the Rangers, it is the Rangers we shall discuss.
Texas Rangers
2025 record: 81-81 (Third place in American League West)
The last time they met
The Phillies visited Arlington in August 2025, and despite a history of poor play in Arlington over the years, the Phillies won all three games.
What’s the deal with the Rangers?
After a .500 season, the Rangers’ biggest change was firing manager Bruce Bochy and replacing him with Skip Schumacher. You may remember Schumaker winning the 2023 Manager of the Year award for leading the Miami Marlins to the playoffs, and getting fired a season later because Marlins gonna Marlin, and they lost 100 games.
As for the roster, the biggest additions came via trade, as they picked up two former NL East players in MacKenzie Gore and Brandon Nimmo. (Yes, we have to open the season against stupid Brandon Nimmo.) Offensively, they seem to largely be counting on better health and/or rebound seasons from players who disappointed in 2025, such as Corey Seager and Josh Jung. They also believe outfielder Wyatt Langford is ready to take another step forward on offense.
The starting rotation looks strong with Gore joining Jacob deGrom, Jack Leiter, and Nathan Eovaldi. (Or at least it will be strong if deGrom can have a second consecutive healthy season. Last year, was the first time since 2019 he made 30 starts in a season.) The bullpen looks less intimidating, as they’re counting on Robert Garcia and Chris Martin to handle the high leverage innings
Player spotlight: Andrew McCutchen
I always felt the idea of Andrew McCutchen on the Phillies was better than actually having him on the Phillies. When they signed the former MVP, he was no longer in his prime, but the hope was that he would be a strong presence in the clubhouse, and a viable contributor as the team’s leadoff hitter.
By most reports, he was a great teammate, but sadly, the results on the field didn’t match expectations. In 2019, he was playing well before his season was prematurely ended by a knee injury. In 2020, he got off to a slow start recovering from that injury and didn’t get going until the abbreviated season was close to over. In 2021, he had a solid season with the bat, but the former Gold Glover had become a liability in the field.
The next season, the Phillies chose to instead pursue Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos (They batted .500 on that decision) and let Cutch head to Milwaukee. Afterwards, he went back to Pittsburgh for a few seasons, putting up decent offensive numbers but slowly declining to the point where he was basically a replacement player in 2025.
At 39 years of age, there wasn’t high demand for Cutch’s services, but he came to camp with the Rangers as a non-roster invitee, and thanks to a strong showing in Spring Training, made the team.
Opening Day memories
For some reason, this is the third time the Phillies and Rangers have squared off on Opening Day. (Does MLB like having contrasting red, white, and blue color scheme going at it to start the season?) The first time was in 2014, which seemed to be a mismatch with Cliff Lee facing someone named Tanner Scheppers.
Last year, I wrote about how it can feel depressing when you don’t have a legit Opening Day starter. It’s much nicer to see Cristopher Sanchez get the ball the first game rather than the likes of Jeremy Hellickson (Hellickson had a cromulent career, but nobody was mistaking him for an ace) or Omar Daal. (On the other hand, I still love me some Robert Person, who started Opening Day in 2002!)
Anyway, the Phillies knocked Scheppers around, but surprisingly, the Rangers did the same to Lee. But thanks to big days by Ben Revere and Cody Asche (Another reminder that Opening Day is rarely predictive) and a grand slam by Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies prevailed 14-10. (This was not a harbinger of things to come for neither the 2014 season nor the Phillies-Rangers rivalry. The Phillies finished in last place and would lose their next nine games against the Rangers.)
The Phillies also visited Texas to open the season in 2023. The game started off nicely, with the Phillies getting off to a 5-0 lead, only to have Aaron Nola and the bullpen implode in a nine-run fourth inning. The Phillies lost and would lose their next three games as well.
I was trying to remember what happened on Opening Day last year, and I was drawing a blank. That’s especially embarrassing since I was in attendance at the game in Washington. (A lot easier to get Opening Day tickets down there!) It was the one where everyone was striking out (and blaming the shadows) until the late innings when the Phillies unloaded against the Nationals’ bullpen.
Opening Day is supposed to be a time for optimism but let me tell you: The Washington fans were not feeling positive about their chances that season. (And they were right! The Nats sucked last year!)
Remembering a guy who used to play for the Rangers
In 1992, the Rangers traded for A’s outfielder Jose Canseco. The former MVP expressed a desire to team with Rangers’ first baseman Rafael Palmeiro as the “new Bash Brothers,” but Canseco’s time in Texas is more remembered for PED use, injuring himself while pitching, and letting a ball bounce off his head for a home run.
Pennant year song battle!
As a new feature this year, I’ll be picking songs from a year in which the Phillies won the NL Pennant and pitting them against each other. (I may try to challenge myself and pick songs somehow related to the series at hand!) The winner stays on until defeated.
Here We Are Again – Debroy Somers, 1915
Coming from the year of the Phillies’ first ever National League title, the song seemed appropriate for the start of another season.
Ghost – Justin Bieber
In honor of the least popular change to Citizens Bank Park, here’s Justin Bieber’s hit from 2022.
Vote now!
If you have any favorite songs from 1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, or 2022, feel free to suggest them in the comments.
Closing thought
It’s Opening Day! Even if you don’t like what the Phillies did this past offseason or don’t like their chances to win it all, who cares? Everyone is 0-0, and you can let yourself dream a little! Go Phils!
