After playing nearly the first week of the season on the road (just as they have four of the last five seasons), today the Phillies open up Citizens Bank Park for the 2020 season. What a beeee-U-T-FULL day it is! Perfect for what would have been opening day.
It's a crusher, isn't it? First off, the weather's usually terrible for the home opener and we get a day like this. Second, the Phillies would have mopped up with the Marlins and then the Mets to start the season, it says right here. The Phillies would be looking for a third straight home-opening win.
So who's the opponent for the Fightins on the occasion of their 139th home opener? One of last season's wild-card entrants, the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brew Crew lost the wild-card game to the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals 4-3. Blew a 3-0 lead as the Nats scored three eighth-inning runs and that was it. Josh Hader, Milwaukee's elite closer, took the loss.
In the lineup, Yasmani Grandal left after one strong season and Mike Moustakas joined the Reds after hitting 35 homers in 2020. The Brewers have just two players remaining from last year's 1-8. Chief among them, 2018 MVP (and last season's runner-up) Christian Yelich.
Can you count on a lineup with that kind of turnover? One positive is second-year cleanup hitter Keston Hiura. He played in 84 games last season but if the second baseman meets expectations (30+ home runs, batting average near .300) maybe this lineup can withstand the key losses.
As for former MVP Ryan Braun, at this point in his career the 13-year veteran will split time at first base and in the outfield.
MLB
Brewers pitching? Brandon Woodruff's coming off an All-Star season in '19 but the rest of Milwaukee's rotation could be a weakness. They've got three new pieces in the rotation via free agency and trade, and Adrian Houser, had a 3.72 ERA in 18 starts for the Brewers last season.
Woulda been a great day ...
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