Phillies PTSD: Lineup is silent, bullpen coughs up 9 runs to the Atlanta Braves, Opening Day ruined

The Philadelphia Phillies started their 2024 Hunt for Red October with a miserable loss to the Braves by a final score of 9-3.

Zack Wheeler cruised through six scoreless innings and a two-run home run from Brandon Marsh off Spencer Strider gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead but the bullpen was an absolute nightmare. 

A look at Zack Wheeler's Fastball & Splitter Combo (Overlay). pic.twitter.com/V5HBSsIpcr

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 29, 2024

I’m not going to get into Rob Thomson’s decision to pull Wheeler after six with a 2-0 lead. It’s the first game of the season and the weather isn’t great in South Philadelphia. I know it was a questionable call at best but it’s not even a discussion point this early-on. 

Really not concerned about what’s expected to be Major League Baseball’s best bullpen either. Again, it was the first game of the season and the weather isn’t great. 

window is closed

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) March 29, 2024

Kidding. Obviously. However, if JT Realmuto is truly sick and tired of losing the NL East to the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies better bounce-back today at 4:05PM.

Matt Strahm lasted just 0.1 innings, allowing three hits, and two earned runs. Jeff Hoffman relieved Strahm and tossed 0.2 innings, walking and striking out one. 

Jose Alvarado completely imploded, allowing three hits and five earned runs. Connor Brogdon’s 2024 revenge tour was a mess. He lasted just 0.1 innings allowing two more earned runs and two walks. Yunior Marte closed out the day for the bullpen pitching one inning, allowing a hit and striking out one. 

The entire thing was a mess and luckily, we have 161 more games to get through before it’s all said and done. 

At the plate, things weren’t much better outside of Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Nick Castellanos, and Brandon Marsh. 

The top of the lineup had Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and JT Realmuto combine for a miserable 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts. 

Bohm went 2-for-4. Casty notched a hit and drove in a run in the bottom of the 9th but struck out three times, and Brandon Marsh drove in two for the Phillies via a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to give the Phillies a temporary 2-0 lead.

Brandon Marsh 2-Run Home Run: Phillies 2-0 lead over Braves

BRANDON MARSH. RING IT. 🔔#RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/c39wV8vgvs

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) March 29, 2024

Up Next for the Phillies: 

Aaron Nola is set to take the mound today at 4:05 PM against Atlanta Braves Max Fried as the Phillies look to get in the win column for the first time this season. 

Note – Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox will throw out the first pitch today. Get there early!

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