Inside The Phillies

Series Preview: Philadelphia Phillies and Reds On Easter Weekend

The Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Cincinnati Reds on Easter weekend as they look to get back on track after a rough opening to the season.
Kade Kistner|
Series Preview: Philadelphia Phillies and Reds On Easter Weekend
Series Preview: Philadelphia Phillies and Reds On Easter Weekend

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Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies (1-5) will host the Cincinnati Reds (3-2) at Citizens Bank Park over Easter weekend. After a rough start to the 2023 MLB season, the Phillies will look to get back on track against an up-and-coming National League Central foe. 

Their first game, which was scheduled for Thursday, was postponed due to weather and was moved to Friday. 

Philadelphia has had issues with their pitching depth and now may be without first baseman Darick Hall and center fielder Brandon Marsh after both suffered injuries on Wednesday.

Here are this weekend's pitching matchups and what to expect:

Friday, April 7:

Hunter Greene (0-0, 8.10 ERA) vs. Zack Wheeler (0-1, 8.31 ERA)

Both of these starters are talented pitchers who had a rough go of it in their first outings. Zack Wheeler, a bonafide ace, had a very rough first start in which he tossed 4.1 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, against the Texas Rangers. 

If the Phillies hope to find success this season, it will have to come off the back of their co-aces Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. 

The latter gets his chance at redemption Friday. 

Saturday, April 8:

Nick Lodolo (1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Bailey Falter (0-1, 3.38 ERA)

Philadelphia didn't envision Falter as their fifth starter entering the 2023 MLB season, much less their third or fourth. But here they are. 

Lodolo, a former top prospect, is expecting to have a career season this year. It'll be a tough matchup for the Phillies on Saturday. Falter will have to perform at the best of his abilities while hoping the offense can muster enough to give him run support. 

Sunday, April 9:

Graham Ashcraft (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Taijuan Walker (0-1, 8.31 ERA)

Sunday is another matchup between a Reds pitcher who has started the season on a high note and a Phillies starter who has been lackluster. 

Walker gave up four earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched in his first start, not exactly the type of performance that inspires confidence in a new signing. 

Walker will look to get back on track on Easter Sunday and prove to the team and its fans he is worth the four-year, $72 million contract the franchise gave him this winter. 

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  8. Jimmy Rollins Describes Disrespectful Treatment by Ryne Sandberg
  9. Phillies Release 2023 Regular Season Schedule
  10. Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl.  During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated.  Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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