Weekend Showdown: Phillies Host Undefeated Dodgers
Two of baseball’s elite teams collide this weekend at Citizens Bank Park as the Philadelphia Phillies, boasting a strong 5-1 start, welcome the undefeated 8-0 Los Angeles Dodgers for an exciting three-game series. Last year, the Dodgers and Phillies finished with the top two records—98-64 and 95-67, respectively—and they appear poised to remain among the league’s top contenders in 2025.
“We’ve got a solid rotation, a powerful lineup, and a reliable bullpen,” declared Phillies manager Rob Thomson to Phillies Nation in February, in response to questions about the Dodgers’ impressive offseason. “We’ll hold our own just fine.”
Below are the specific details for this week’s much-anticipated series in Philadelphia. Catch Saturday and Sunday’s games on regional streaming with fubo—try it for free!
| Date | Start time | Starting pitchers | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., April 4 | 6:45 p.m. ET | LHP Jesús Luzardo vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Apple TV+ |
| Sat., April 5 | 4:05 p.m. ET | RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Roki Sasaki | NBC Sports Philly+, SportsNet LA, FS1 |
| Sun., April 6 | 1:35 p.m. ET | LHP Cristopher Sánchez vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow | NBC Sports Philly, SportsNet LA |
This series promises three premier pitching duels, fitting given these teams’ spectacular rotations. Although Sasaki has faced early challenges in his big-league debut, Philadelphia might not be the ideal setting for a nervous rookie. Nonetheless, few pitchers can match the raw skill Sasaki possesses.
Here are five key insights into this weekend’s showdown between the Dodgers and Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, complete with a fearless forecast:
- The Dodgers’ Electrifying Start
With an 8-0 record, the Dodgers set a new benchmark for defending World Series champions, marking the longest unbeaten streak to begin a season. Shohei Ohtani’s walk-off homer on Wednesday etched this achievement into the history books.
- Freeman’s Absence
First baseman Freddie Freeman will sideline the Dodgers for this series against the Phillies. An ankle injury—a reminiscent issue from last year’s postseason—compounded by an unfortunate incident in the shower placed him on the injured list Thursday.
- Phillies’ Late-Game Offensives
The Phillies have unveiled a scoring quirk so far this season: they’ve failed to tally a single run in the initial three innings of any game yet have exploded for 23 runs from the sixth inning onward.
- Dodgers’ Southpaw Struggles
Though likely a fluke from limited data, the Dodgers have not fared as well against left-handed pitchers compared to their success against righties early on.
- Who’s Hot or Not?
The season may be young, yet it’s anyone’s guess which hot streaks signal true breakouts and which slow starts indicate troubling slumps. Notably, three Dodgers hitters are drawing attention for their strong starts this year.
Forecast: Anticipate the Dodgers’ impressive winning streak to halt on Friday, with the Phillies clinching two out of the three games this weekend.