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  • Phillies spring training 2026: TV schedule, new rules, changes to NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Phillies spring training 2026: TV schedule, new rules, changes to NBC Sports Philadelphia

    After a cold, snow-filled winter in Philadelphia, the city is finally getting its first glimpse at spring, thanks to the Phillies.

    The Phillies’ 2026 spring training schedule kicks off Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., followed by their Clearwater debut Sunday at BayCare Ballpark, their Sunshine State home since 2004.

    Fans will be able to tune in to more spring training games than ever. Between NBC Sports Philadelphia, the MLB Network, 94.1 WIP, and the Phillies themselves, there will be a broadcast for all but three games of this year’s 30-game Grapefruit League schedule.

    Despite a roster that looks remarkably similar to last year’s squad, there are some interesting story lines for Phillies fans to follow this spring. Top of the list is how top pitching prospect Andrew Painter performs with a spot in the rotation up for grabs.

    There’s also Aidan Miller, the No. 23 prospect in baseball. The 22-year-old shortstop is expected to start the season in Triple-A, but will get some playing time at third base during spring training, according to my colleague Scott Lauber. That would set up Miller for an early promotion if Alex Bohm gets off to a slow start.

    As far as new faces, the most prominent is outfielder Adolis García, who is replacing Nick Castellanos and is just two seasons removed from hitting 39 home runs for the Texas Rangers.

    Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream Phillies spring training games:

    What channel are Phillies spring training games on?

    Phillies broadcasters Tom McCarthy (left) and John Kruk will be back again for NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    The bulk of the Phillies’ televised spring training games will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia, which plans to broadcast 17 games — nine on the main channel and eight on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. That’s a big jump from last year, when it aired 12 games.

    The schedule includes an exhibition game against Team Canada on March 4 serving as a warm-up for this year’s World Baseball Classic. The multicountry tournament begins on March 5 in Tokyo, and the Phillies will be well-represented — 11 players, including Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, will leave spring training early to participate.

    Returning for his 19th season as the TV voice of the Phillies is play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy, who will be joined in the booth by a familiar cast of analysts that includes Rubén Amaro Jr., Ben Davis, and John Kruk.

    MLB Network will broadcast six Phillies spring training games (though just two will be available in the Philly TV market due to blackout rules). ESPN won’t be airing any — the network is broadcasting just four spring training games on their main channel, and six more on its ESPN Unlimited subscription service.

    Radio listeners can tune into 94.1 WIP to hear 10 weekend games. Play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke is back for his 21st season calling the Phillies, joined once again by a rotation featuring veteran analyst Larry Anderson and Kevin Stocker.

    Cole Hamels will be back, but not Taryn Hatcher

    Former Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels (right) called nine games last season for NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    A little bit of Hollywood will be back in the Phillies booth this season.

    2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels will call a few spring training games for the second straight season, beginning in the middle of March. Hamels was something of a natural in the booth last season, calling the nine regular-season games he worked a “crash course” in broadcasting.

    “I tried to tell myself, ‘Don’t overtalk. Don’t be long-winded. Don’t just talk to talk,’” Hamels told The Inquirer in September. “I start watching the game and enjoying it, and I forget sometimes I have to talk.”

    Taryn Hatcher, seen here during a 2019 media softball game.

    One NBC Sports personality who won’t be back is Taryn Hatcher, who joined the network in 2018 and spent the past few seasons covering the game as an in-stadium reporter.

    Hatcher’s contract wasn’t renewed at the end of the year and NBC Sports Philadelphia eliminated the position, according to sources.

    Sadly, it wouldn’t be the first time. In the past few years NBC Sports Philadelphia has hired a number of in-game reporters they haven’t kept, including Jessica Camerato, Molly Sullivan, and Serena Winters. They also said goodbye to longtime Phillies reporter Gregg Murphy in 2020, who is now the team’s pre- and postgame radio host.

    Can I stream Phillies spring training games?

    For the second straight season, Phillies fans will be able to stream spring training games without a cable subscription.

    NBC Sports Philadelphia is available directly through MLB.com for $24.99 a month. You can also get the network as an add-on to your Peacock subscription for the same price, though you’ll need to have a premium plan, which runs $10.99 a month.

    You can also stream NBC Sports Philadelphia on Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, which will soon roll out a skinny sports bundle. And NBC Sports Philadelphia will stream its games on the NBC Sports app, but a subscription to a cable service is required.

    One streaming service where you won’t find the network is Fubo, which hasn’t broadcast any NBC channels since November due to a carriage dispute. NBC Sports Philadelphia is also not available on Sling TV or DirecTV Stream.

    For the third straight season, the Phillies will also exclusively stream a handful of spring training games from BayCare Ballpark for free on the team’s website.

    The team will also provide an audio-only feed for a few midweek road games that aren’t airing on WIP.

    Are there any new MLB rules in spring training?

    Umpires will have their balls and strikes face challenges this season.

    There aren’t any new rules in play during spring training, but MLB is fully rolling out its automatic ball-strike (ABS) challenge system ahead of its launch in the regular season. The Phillies plan on giving it a healthy test drive.

    The rules are pretty straightforward. Pitchers, catchers, or batters can challenge a ball or strike by taping their head immediately after the umpire’s call.

    Each team starts the game with two challenges, which they only lose when a challenge is unsuccessful. If a team has no challenges remaining and the game goes into extra innings, they’re awarded one per inning until the game is over.

    Phillies news and spring training updates

    Trea Turner fields a ground ball during spring training Wednesday.

    When is opening day for the Phillies?

    The Phillies will open the season against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.

    The Phillies are scheduled to open the 2026 season on March 26 against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, where the team will hang its 2025 NL East pennant.

    The Phillies have had several memorable openers since they were defeated, 4-3, by Old Hoss Radbourn of the Providence Grays on May 1, 1883. Here are nine of the more memorable season openers in franchise history.

    Phillies spring training TV schedule 2026

    • Saturday: Phillies at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Sunday: Pirates at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Monday: Phillies at Nationals, 6:05 p.m. (Phillies webcast, 94.1 WIP)
    • Tuesday: Phillies at Marlins, 1:10 p.m. (Phillies audio feed)
    • Wednesday: Tigers at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Thursday: Nationals at Phillies, 1:05 p.m.
    • Friday, Feb. 27: Phillies at Tigers and vs. Marlins (split team), 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Saturday, Feb. 28: Phillies at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Sunday, March 1: Yankees at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Tuesday, March 3: Phillies at Rays, 1:05 p.m.
    • Wednesday, March 4: Team Canada at Phillies (World Baseball Classic exhibition), 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Thursday, March 5: Red Sox at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+, MLB Network, Phillies audio feed)
    • Friday, March 6: Phillies at Pirates, 1:05 p.m. (94.1 WIP)
    • Saturday, March 7: Blue Jays at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (Phillies webcast)
    • Sunday, March 8: Phillies at Twins, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Monday, March 9: Phillies at Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. (Phillies audio feed)
    • Tuesday, March 10: Yankees at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Thursday, March 12: Blue Jays at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (Phillies webcast)
    • Friday, March 13: Orioles at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Saturday, March 14: Phillies at Yankees, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+, 94.1 WIP)
    • Sunday, March 15: Braves at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Monday, March 16: Phillies at Tigers, 1:05 p.m. (Phillies audio feed)
    • Tuesday, March 17: Twins at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Wednesday, March 18: Phillies at Braves, 1:05 p.m. (Phillies audio feed)
    • Thursday, March 19: Rays at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (Phillies webcast)
    • Thursday, March 19: Twins prospects at Phillies prospects, 1:05 p.m. (MLB Network)
    • Friday, March 20: Tigers at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
    • Saturday, March 21: Phillies at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
    • Saturday, March 21: Blue Jays prospects at Phillies prospects, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia+, MLB Network)
    • Sunday, March 22: Phillies at Yankees, 1:05 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP)
    • Monday, March 23: Rays at Phillies, 12:05 p.m. (Phillies webcast)
  • Jabari Walker’s conversion, Tyrese Martin’s addition part of Sixers’ post-trade deadline roster tinkering

    Jabari Walker’s conversion, Tyrese Martin’s addition part of Sixers’ post-trade deadline roster tinkering

    Tyrese Martin was in the crowd of Allentown’s new PPL Center in October 2014, when the 76ers played a preseason game in the city for the first time in 40 years. The teenage Martin even got a photo with K.J. McDaniels, then a Sixers rookie.

    Fast forward more than a decade, and Martin on Thursday morning stood in a back hallway of Xfinity Mobile Arena following his first shootaround as a Sixer.

    Martin, a 26-year-old combo guard, joining the NBA team closest to his hometown on a two-way contract potentially completes the Sixers’ post-trade roster. They also signed veteran point guard Cameron Payne, the former Sixer who had been playing in Serbia, to a rest-of-season deal and forward Dalen Terry to a two-way contract. Those moves fill the roster spots vacated when the Sixers traded Jared McCain and Eric Gordon at the deadline earlier this month and converted forwards Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker from two-way contracts to standard deals.

    Cameron Payne is happy to return to Sixers: ‘When your focus is in the right place, things like this happen’

    Martin was inactive for Thursday’s 117-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, with coach Nick Nurse noting that the coaching staff “obviously [has not] seen hardly any of him yet.” Terry, who signed his deal just before the All-Star break, also did not play.

    Payne, however, immediately got back on the floor. Though he missed all three shot attempts, the 31-year-old totaled five of the Sixers’ 17 assists in less than 10 minutes.

    “I’m figuring them out,” Payne said of his new teammates. “… I feel like we played fast when I was here [for the end of the 2023-24 season], but they play a lot faster now.”

    Nurse said before Thursday’s loss that he also views Martin primarily as a point guard. He averaged 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 37 games with the Brooklyn Nets, then was released to free up roster spots at the trade deadline.

    Before a November game against the Sixers, Nets coach Jordi Fernandez described Martin as a “grown up” and “rock star” inside Brooklyn’s deep rebuild and was a player to whom coaches could direct young teammates and say, “Look how he does it.” Nurse on Thursday also commended Martin’s basketball IQ, along with his 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame.

    Yet on a Sixers team vying for playoff positioning — their 30-25 record is sixth in the Eastern Conference entering Friday — Martin most believes he can make an immediate impact as a defender who can pressure the ball and pick up 94 feet.

    “Just play tough,” Martin said. “I think that’s where I can find myself fitting in real fast on this team.”

    Martin’s opportunity became possible once the Sixers signed Walker to a standard contract on Thursday. After Walker could not play in the Sixers’ previous four matchups because he had exhausted his 50 active NBA games allowed on a two-way deal, he acknowledged “worrying a little bit” about his future while spending time with loved ones during the All-Star break.

    But while Walker was sidelined, Nurse recognized that the Sixers “really need” the 6-foot-8, 235-pounder’s physicality as a rebounder and interior defender. Walker totaled four points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal — including a second-half highlight sequence when he hit a three-pointer, then corralled a steal and lofted an alley-oop pass to Adem Bona — in 10 minutes, 16 seconds of his return game against Atlanta.

    Barlow, meanwhile, remained in the starting lineup with Paul George still suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. Nurse was pleased both players had their contracts converted this month because “they just earned it, and they deserved it.”

    “Young, hungry, playing-hard guys that I think we can have in our organization,” Nurse said. “We want [players like that]. I’m glad those guys got rewarded — both of them.”

    Those contract conversions — plus other recent examples, such as Justin Edwards last season and Ricky Council IV in 2024 — demonstrate that the Sixers will use two-way players who provide value. Martin appreciates such evidence of opportunity. He took the floor for an early pregame on-court session Thursday and said he is working to quickly learn staffers’ names.

    Nurse is unsure when Martin could see game action, with the Sixers entering a stretch of three road matchups in four nights. Yet Martin’s addition could complete the Sixers’ post-trade deadline roster, and it allowed him to join the NBA team closest to his hometown.

    “We’ll get into what my path and my thing is for the rest of the season going forward,” Martin said. “But right now, I’ll just do what I’ve done when I was in this situation before and bet on myself.”

  • Has Villanova’s winning streak opened the door for new NCAA Tournament seeding? Yes and no.

    Has Villanova’s winning streak opened the door for new NCAA Tournament seeding? Yes and no.

    The NCAA Tournament is coming to Philadelphia for one of its eight opening-weekend sites, and Villanova made sure to plan for the occasion.

    The Wildcats hosted four games at Xfinity Mobile Arena last season but scheduled only two home games there this season — the second of which is Saturday evening vs. No. 5 Connecticut. NCAA rules prohibit a team from playing tournament games in a venue where they host more than three home games, and the lowest seeds typically are rewarded geographically with first- and second-round locations.

    It was rather ambitious planning for Villanova, given that the Wildcats had a new coach and a new roster and hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2022. And it remains lofty even now, after a six-game winning streak has Villanova at 21-5 overall and 12-3 in the Big East. The Wildcats are almost guaranteed to snap that tournament drought, but they remain unlikely to get to a seeding that would reward them with some home cooking in the first and second rounds.

    “There is a path,” ESPN bracket master Joe Lunardi said Thursday when asked if Villanova could get as high as the No. 4 line, but when asked how realistic it was, Lunardi said “minimally.”

    Lunardi spoke via phone from an interesting location, given the subject of the conversation. He was in Indianapolis, where a mock NCAA Tournament selection exercise with media members was taking place. In his own bracket projection, Lunardi had Villanova 25th as of Thursday morning, otherwise known as the top seventh seed on his big board. The Wildcats were 28th, the lowest possible seventh seed, and slotted in Buffalo to face 10th-seeded Auburn in the first round when the mock committee went through its process Thursday, 24 days from Selection Sunday.

    The mock committee ranked the top 20 seeds and placed the last four at-large teams into the field, but it used computers to seed most of the rest of the bracket. Of note, those computer models had Temple, which is tied for sixth in the American Conference, winning its conference tournament and getting into the field.

    What did Villanova’s women learn in their loss to No. 1 UConn? The game truly is ‘four quarters.’

    Back to Villanova and to Lunardi’s bracket … not much has changed since Jan. 28, when we last caught up with him to assess the Wildcats’ tournament path. They were a No. 7 seed then, and while they moved up a few spots on the seeding line, they’re a No. 7 seed as of Friday even after reeling off six consecutive wins following their overtime road loss to UConn on Jan. 24.

    Similarly, Villanova was 34th in the NCAA’s NET rankings on Jan. 28 and 29th on Friday. And at KenPom, the Wildcats were 27th on Jan. 28 and 27th on Friday. That is life in the 2025-26 Big East. Six wins in a row doesn’t move the metrics much.

    Kevin Willard has Villanova in line for an NCAA Tournament bid in his first season on the Main Line.

    “They’re certainly looking the part,” Lunardi said. “The problem is, the dirty little secret, the league standing is flat if not declining.”

    The mock bracket on Thursday had just three Big East teams in the field of 68: UConn, St. John’s, and Villanova.

    Villanova has just three Quad 1 wins to date: Wisconsin, the road win at Seton Hall, and last Saturday’s road win at Creighton. That game was a Quad 2 game until Creighton knocked off UConn on Wednesday and moved back into the top 75 of the NET rankings. It could slip back into Quad 2 territory if Creighton moves back in the rankings. As it stands, the Wildcats have just two more chances at Quad 1 victories in the regular season: Saturday vs. UConn and next Saturday at St. John’s.

    Why are those opportunities important? As of Thursday morning, the top 21 teams in the NET rankings all had four or more Quad 1 wins. NET standings don’t necessarily translate to tournament seeds, but it’s hard to imagine Villanova climbing high enough in any tournament bracket without adding another regular-season Quad 1 win and another one or two en route to cutting the nets down at Madison Square Garden after winning the conference tournament.

    It’s not impossible, just not all that likely.

    Villanova recruited Devin Askew in high school. Six years and five schools later, he’s fueling the Wildcats.

    What the winning streak has done, though, is shift the floor a little bit. As of three weeks ago, getting a No. 9 or 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament seemed just as likely as a No. 6 seed. Now, a No. 6 seems much more likely than a No. 10.

    “Six is a great spot because you should win your first game, and it’s not too heavy of a lift in the second game,” Lunardi said. “And you avoid the one [seed].”

    “They’re going to wear white,” he said later, implying that Villanova seems like it’s on a path to be, at worst, a No. 8 seed and be the de facto “home” team in its first-round game.

    Home just probably won’t be South Philly. How does a mid-March trip to Buffalo sound?

  • After a breakout season, Olwethu Makhanya is ready to be a leader for the Union

    After a breakout season, Olwethu Makhanya is ready to be a leader for the Union

    Olwethu Makhanya is just 21 years old, and this year will be his second as a regular player for the Union. But in a centerback unit with so many newcomers, that’s enough to qualify him as a veteran.

    In fact, it’s enough to qualify him as a rising leader. Though Japhet Sery Larsen and Geiner Martínez are both older, Makhanya is the only one of the expected regulars who has played in Bradley Carnell’s system, and knows the Union’s standards on and off the field.

    “We had two important players from the back line leaving the team,” he told The Inquirer, referring to centerback Jakob Glesnes and left back Kai Wagner. “So that leaves people like me who were here last season to try and take on leading, try to help the new guys coming in to understand what we try to do. So yeah, I feel like it’s a new challenge for me to try and be a leader, and lead the new guys.”

    No position on the field requires more chemistry than centerback. Whether in a group of two (as the Union use) or three, each player must know where the others were, are, and will be, and often without being able to talk about it in real time.

    Olwethu Makhanya (right) defending Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers during last year’s playoffs.

    That made it crucial to get Makhanya and Sery Larsen as many reps together as possible in the preseason, and that seemed to be achieved over the Union’s five games. Martínez arrived later, but he played in the last two games and was on the field with Makhanya in each.

    “I feel like five games is enough,” Makhanya said. “Obviously it’s not going to be perfect from the start, but I feel like it’s going to be enough at least to prepare us for the start [of the season].”

    Quinn Sullivan ‘would love to be the face’ of the Union. When he returns from a torn ACL, he just might be.

    He has also enjoyed getting to know Sery Larsen and Martínez off the field.

    “They’re very good people,” Makhanya said. “They’re already blending in with the team. Very good human beings, they work hard, [are] willing to learn, and that’s all we need as a team.”

    Japhet Sery Larsen (right) in action during one of the Union’s preseason games.

    Selflessness within the group

    Though Glesnes’ departure impacts Makhanya most directly, Wagner’s departure matters, too. There are no true left backs on the Union’s roster right now, and though the club is actively shopping for a new starter, they haven’t signed one yet.

    For now, Frankie Westfield and Nathan Harriel are platooning at the spot, since each has past experience there. Makhanya has had to adjust to that, and will have to adjust again when the new signing arrives.

    Andre Blake begins his 13th season with the Union, still waiting for fate to finally smile on him

    “Looking at the way that we play, the system, the style of play,” Makhanya said, “I feel like the guys that we have at the moment … everyone can be able to play those positions. As long as they’re able to take in the instructions from the coach, we should be fine.”

    Longtime Union fans will know that it’s been a regular theme in these pages over the years that the Union need to have more than two starting-caliber centerbacks, so they can be rotated over the season to stay fresh. That will be very important again this season, with the club’s return to the Champions Cup now and MLS’s Leagues Cup in late summer.

    Geiner Martínez is the other major new addition to the Union’s centerback group this year.

    Any player wants to play, of course, but veterans know the importance of the long haul. So it’s to Makhanya’s credit that he’s willing to take a seat for a night if needed.

    “I’d be OK,” he said. “As long as it’s something that’s going to help the team, I’d be fine with it.”

    Cavan Sullivan looks ahead to what should be his biggest year yet with the Union

    It’s not surprising that Makhanya has grown a bond with manager Bradley Carnell. Along with both being South Africa natives, Carnell took a leap of faith to make Makhanya a starter last year when he hadn’t played a second for the first team yet.

    That faith was rewarded with a major role in the Union winning the Supporters’ Shield, and doing so with a return to the stingy defense they cherish.

    Bradley Carnell on the Union sideline during a game last year.

    “I feel like the relationship I have with him is really amazing,” Makhanya said. ”He’s a great human being, he’s a good teacher, his instructions are very clear, he’s a very understanding person. So because of who he is, it it’s very easy to work with him.”

    Bradley Carnell opens up about what drives him and his tactics as Union manager

    Is South Africa watching?

    Asked what his goals are for this year, Makhanya started with some humor.

    “Firstly for myself, I think I’m going to score a couple of goals this season on set pieces,” he said. He scored twice last year, including a dramatic game-winner in the U.S. Open Cup round-of-16 comeback against Red Bull New York.

    But Makhanya meant it when he said he wants to improve his aerial presence this year and “get a few headers” on free kicks and corners. He proved it right away, too, with a headed goal off a corner kick in the season-opening win at Defence Force FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

    “And then for the group, we obviously have very high expectations, because we already know what we can do,” he said. “So we’re just trying to maintain that and try to find a way forward, and we take it a game at a time.”

    The Union weave Philly history into the design of their latest jersey ahead of the World Cup and America 250

    There could be one more goal, too, beyond the Union. South Africa’s national team is in the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010. Fans and media back home have noticed Makhanya’s success, and have criticized the Bafana Bafana’s staff for thinking less of MLS than perhaps it should.

    Carnell, who played for his country at the 2002 tournament, is well aware — and not pleased. Makhanya was diplomatic about it when asked, at least at first.

    “I mean, not even being part of the national team last season was kind of disappointing for me, you know, but it’s just a motivation at the same time,” he said. “So yeah, it’s something that’s been in my mind that I’m looking forward to.”

    But he added a few choice words a moment later.

    An analysis of the Union’s roster at the start of the season, with new players in the mix

    “I think they do [look at MLS], but I feel like they don’t really have that much respect for the league,” Makhanya said. “So I guess that’s why I’m maybe not part of the squad, but I can’t really know.”

    If he starts this season as well as he played last year, there might be even more people hoping for a better answer.

  • The Big Picture: High school hoops, Phillies spring training, and the best Philly sports photos of the week

    The Big Picture: High school hoops, Phillies spring training, and the best Philly sports photos of the week

    Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors pick the best Philly sports images from the last seven days. This week, there’s nowhere better to start than on the hardwood with the boys’ and girls’ high school basketball playoffs in full swing. There’s plenty from the college game and Phillies spring training as well.

    The Archbishop Wood student section cheers before the start of the Vikings’ Catholic League semifinal against Father Judge at the Palestra on Wednesday.
    Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe (left) knocks the ball away from UConn’s KK Arnold on Wednesday at the Finneran Pavilion. No. 1 UConn prevailed, 83-69.
    Neumann Goretti’s Marquis Newson dunks during the final minutes of its win against Bonner Prendergast in the Catholic League semifinals.
    Longtime coach Carl Arrigale leads Neumann Goretti back to the Catholic League final
    Archbishop Wood’s Jaydn Jenkins reaches for a rebound against several Father Judge players in their Catholic League semifinal game. Judge came out the winner.
    Cole Franklin of North Texas hits Temple’s Masiah Gilyard as he reaches for the ball Sunday at the Liacouras Center. The Owls fell, 65-62.
    Members of the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Westtown School rejoice after wining their Friends Schools League championships at La Salle University last Friday.
    Westtown girls’ and boys’ basketball teams secure a Friends Schools League title
    Drexel’s Laine McGurk hits the deck as she fights for a loose ball against Elon last Friday. Drexel won, 68-59.
    Cardinal O’ Hara’s Megan Rullo (center) is fouled driving to the basket against Neumann Goretti’s Kamora Berry (left) and Reginna Baker during their Catholic League semifinal at Villanova. Rullo scored 22 points in a 51-33 victory.
    Friends’ Central School’s Zya Small (11) fights for the basketball with Westtown School’s Ishana Sundararajan during the Friends Schools League title game.
    Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (center) is silhouetted along with some of his teammates as they wait during a drill at spring training in Clearwater, Fla.
    Phillies coach’s infield drills take an unconventional approach to practice a basic skill: Watching the ball
    Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs plays around for his portrait on photo day at spring training.
    Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter poses for a portrait during photo day in Clearwater, Fla.
    Veteran right-hander Aaron Nola warms up in the outfield at spring training on Wednesday.
    Justin Crawford, a rookie outfielder known for his speed, runs the bases during a drill at Phillies spring training on Tuesday.
    Hoping for a bounce-back season, pitcher Aaron Nola (center) talks with his Phillies teammates in Clearwater, Fla.
    Phillies shortstop Trea Turner takes part in a drill that involved bouncing a tennis ball off a mask during spring training.
    Bryce Harper says Dave Dombrowski’s ‘not elite’ comment is ‘kind of wild to me still’
    First baseman Bryce Harper (right) interacts with new Phillies bench coach Don Mattingly during the first full-squad workout on Monday.
    Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado goes through a workout on Saturday.
    Pitcher Taijuan Walker looks on during a spring training workout on Sunday.
    Hot feet: Closer Jhoan Duran walks off the mound after a bullpen session during spring training on Sunday.
  • Sponsors are becoming more visible at the Winter Olympics with product placement and arena shoutouts

    Sponsors are becoming more visible at the Winter Olympics with product placement and arena shoutouts

    MILAN — Eileen Gu and all the other freestyle skiers wait for their scores by a large Powerade-branded cooler, then glide away without taking a drink.

    Bottles of the blue sports drink are stacked in hockey penalty boxes. Even the tissues in figure skating’s drama-packed “Kiss and Cry” area are branded.

    One way the Olympics generally stand out is by the absence of advertising on courses, rinks, and slopes. But increasingly at the Milan Cortina Games, sponsors are creeping into the action.

    “We continue to open up those opportunities for partners,” International Olympic Committee marketing director Anne-Sophie Voumard said Wednesday, noting sponsor products can now “organically be present” more widely.

    The change has seemingly accelerated since French luxury goods maker LVMH prominently placed its Louis Vuitton brand at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    “It seems like there’s been an increasing need and desire from the sponsors for the IOC to show greater value in the TOP [the Olympic partners] program,” Terrence Burns, who has worked for the Olympic body in marketing and consulted for sponsors and hosting bids, told the Associated Press.

    There’s product placement on TV, even if it is still restrained compared to most American sports. Spectators inside the Olympic arenas hear shout-outs by the announcers and see logos on the big screen.

    It’s all happening as sponsors eye fresh opportunities for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

    The IOC is looking to create extra value in its TOP program, which has been a financial success for the organization over four decades. There are 11 TOP sponsors in Milan, after peaking at 15 in Paris. Revenue in 2025 dropped a bit to $560 million in cash and services compared to $871 million in 2024.

    Watching a hockey game in the arena is different

    An Olympic hockey game looks clean and non-commercial on TV to NHL fans used to seeing sponsors on the boards. It’s a little different in the venue.

    “This is the Corona Cero wave!” roars an announcer, attaching an alcohol-free beer brand to efforts to liven up fans at a quiet afternoon game with a wave around the arena.

    An automaker gets a mention with the “Stellantis Freeze Cam” and an interview with a boxer during the intermission between periods is “thanks to Salomon,” a skiwear brand that signed a sponsor deal with the Milan Cortina organizing committee.

    Burns thinks the logos in Olympic arenas are a morale booster for sponsors, but worth relatively little compared to the big campaigns they typically launch in the year before the Games.

    “I think it’s a psychological ‘Attaboy’ to see your brand on a board somewhere in and around the Olympics,” Burns said. ”I get it, but show me how that helps you sell more things.”

    A long-term trend ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

    The Olympic Charter, a kind of constitution for the Games, says any logo in an Olympic venue must be approved “on an exceptional basis,” but the IOC has gradually relaxed its restrictions.

    “The Olympic world moves slow, and it should. It’s a 3,000-year-old brand, so they’ve got to be careful with it,” Burns said.

    Barely a decade ago, the “clean venue” policy was so strict that IOC staff checked the hand dryers in arena bathrooms to make sure they had their manufacturer’s brand covered with tape.

    For the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, restrictions on athletes promoting their personal sponsors on social media were relaxed after a legal challenge in Germany.

    The Paris Olympics saw medals delivered to the podium in Louis Vuitton-branded boxes before athletes were handed a phone for “the Olympic Victory Selfie, presented by Samsung,” a new tradition that’s continued at the Milan Cortina Games.

    Voumard, the IOC’s marketing director, acknowledged the need to “be mindful of the legacy of those [Olympic] Games and the uniqueness of the presentation.”

    New opportunities

    The Los Angeles Olympics will break new ground on sponsorship.

    For the first time, the IOC has approved the selling of naming rights for venues in a pilot program. The volleyball venue in Anaheim will keep its Honda Center name, just like it does for NHL games, and Comcast is putting its brand on a temporary arena for squash.

    Until now, stadiums named for sponsors have had to switch to generic names for the Olympics. The O2 Arena in London became the North Greenwich Arena for basketball and gymnastics in 2012, and a raft of French soccer stadiums got new names for 2024.

    Burns predicts the IOC might come under pressure from Los Angeles organizers to take further sponsor-friendly steps, and might need to push back on some requests to protect the Olympic brand.

    “It’s not unreasonable to think that LA would look to what happened in Paris with Louis Vuitton or even Samsung on a podium,” Burns said.

    “It’s their fiduciary responsibility to try to make as much money as they can. So they’re going to be looking for any and all opportunities to generate incremental revenue from sponsors. That’s the IOC’s role as a franchisor to protect that.”

  • Alec Pierce? Mike Evans? Germie Bernard? How would the Eagles replace A.J. Brown?

    Alec Pierce? Mike Evans? Germie Bernard? How would the Eagles replace A.J. Brown?

    Everyone is asking the wrong question with regard to A.J. Brown.

    It isn’t, “Should the Eagles trade him?”

    It’s, “Who will replace him?”

    You have to start there. It is the independent variable. You have to define it in order to solve the rest of the equation. You can’t have an opinion on how the Eagles should proceed with their All-Pro wide receiver if you don’t first have an opinion on what they should do without him.

    Feel free to take as much time as you need. Just make sure that you don’t dwell too long on the internal options. Right now, there aren’t any.

    Almost literally.

    Five questions about the Eagles that must be answered before the 2026 roster takes shape

    Aside from DeVonta Smith, the Eagles have exactly two pass-catchers under contract who had a target for them last season. Darius Cooper and Britain Covey combined for 11 catches on 112 yards. Other than that, your options are limited to 2024 sixth-round pick Johnny Wilson, who missed last season with a knee injury. The tight end room doesn’t even have anyone to turn on the lights.

    So … what’s the plan?

    The draft is not a serious option. Not where the Eagles are picking, at least. Last year’s draft yielded 11 wide receivers and tight ends who played at least 50% of their team’s snaps. Four of those players were selected before pick No. 23. Five others played for the Titans, Browns or Jets. Maybe they’ll be in a position to draft this year’s Emeka Egbuka (No. 19 to the Bucs in 2024). But they could just as easily end up with this year’s Matthew Golden (No. 23 to the Packers). The best way to get yourself in trouble on draft day is to try to solve this year’s problems.

    It isn’t outlandish to think Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard might be capable of what Deebo Samuel did as a rookie when the 49ers drafted him in 2019.

    That’s not to say they shouldn’t be looking. Nor that they won’t find some help. Alabama’s Germie Bernard would make a worthy target, even at No. 23. Whatever he measures at the combine, the game speed is there, as is the hybrid 6-foot-1, 204-pound frame. It isn’t outlandish to think he could do what Deebo Samuel did as a rookie after the 49ers drafted him at No. 36 overall in 2019: 57 catches, 802 yards, 14 carries, 159 yards. But to feel comfortable trading Brown, you need a lot more certainty than “isn’t outlandish.”

    Free agents? Sure, let’s talk. Alec Pierce would be a no-brainer. At 25 years old, the Colts wideout caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards with Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard at quarterback. He isn’t anywhere close to Brown as a singular talent. Still, if you combine him with a draft pick like Bernard, he could be part of a radical and positive identity shift in both the short- and long-term.

    Only one problem: The Eagles are one of 32 teams that can bid on free agents. A team like the Patriots can offer more cap room and a better quarterback and an acute need at the position. I’m skeptical the Eagles would win out.

    Eagles star tackle Lane Johnson will return to team in 2026

    The free agent crop is interesting even beyond Pierce and presumptive Cowboys franchisee George Pickens. Jauan Jennings and Mike Evans could replace some of Brown’s physicality in traffic and in 50/50 situations. Again, though, you have to wonder. Will players who have multiple options err on the side of a team with a run-heavy approach and Jalen Hurts at quarterback?

    The conundrum is the same as it was three months ago, when the annual pre-trade-deadline nonsense reached its crescendo. The dream that the Eagles might part ways with their WR1 died in a head-first collision with reality. However disgruntled Brown was, however diminished his skills were, nobody else on the roster would have done enough in his stead to survive such a move. To suggest otherwise was to betray a fundamental misunderstanding of how this Eagles passing offense works. It would not have functioned without him.

    Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had his first 1,000-yard season with Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers, and Riley Leonard throwing to him.

    True, the Eagles barely functioned with Brown. But that only matters if you think they should have given up on the season at the trade deadline. That’s what they would have been doing by trading Brown. Look at their track record without him. Brown missed four (meaningful) games in his first three seasons with the Eagles. The Eagles lost three of them, and they scored 15 points in the game that they won. In 2025, the Eagles scored 38 points against the Giants without Brown. They also threw the ball 20 times. Smith was the only wide receiver to catch more than one of them.

    Plenty of NFL teams have managed to win without two WR1 types. But we’ve never seen Hurts have to do it. Right now, the Eagles don’t even have a WR2 who is better than replacement level. Keep in mind, the Eagles already have a hugely pressing need at tight end. They could need to spend big bucks to retain Jaelan Phillips, or to sign a replacement. In the draft, they will be hard-pressed to turn down an opportunity to add another offensive lineman to their feeder system.

    The preponderance of the circumstances says the Eagles probably shouldn’t trade Brown. Life would be a lot easier if they didn’t need to. The onus is on the case for how they can do so and survive. If you can make one, I’m sure they’d love to hear it.

  • The U.S. men’s hockey team’s semifinal highlights Friday’s Olympic TV schedule

    The U.S. men’s hockey team’s semifinal highlights Friday’s Olympic TV schedule

    After the drama of the U.S. women’s ice hockey team’s come-from-behind win in the gold medal game Thursday, the spotlight now shifts to the men’s tournament for the rest of the Olympics.

    The quality of the United States’ 2-1 overtime win over Sweden in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, and the other three games that day, showed why it’s so great to have NHL players back on the big stage.

    On Friday, the tension will rise even more. The Americans will face a Slovakia squad that has just seven NHL players but topped a group with Sweden and Finland and routed Germany in the quarterfinals, 6-2.

    The San Jose Sharks’ Pavol Regenda scored twice, and Flyers fans might recognize a few names from rival NHL teams: New Jersey’s Šimon Nemec, Washington’s Martin Fehérváry, and Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovský.

    NBC will carry the U.S.-Slovakia game live at 3:10 p.m. Philadelphia time. USA Network will have the other semifinal, a star-studded Canada-Finland matchup, joining it in progress at 11:50 a.m. It starts at 10:40 a.m., with the entire game streamed on Peacock.

    Other big events Friday include a U.S.-Switzerland women’s curling semifinal, starting at 8 a.m. on Peacock. USA will join it in progress at 8:45. It’s the first time that a U.S. women’s curling team has made an Olympic semifinal in 24 years — and this group includes a Delaware County native, Broomall’s Taylor Anderson-Heide.

    Everyone loves Olympic curling — and some people even think it looks easy. Our reporter found out how hard it really is.

    There’s also women’s speedskating’s 1,500 meters. The United States’ Brittany Bowe will hope to challenge Dutch star Femke Kok, who won gold in the 500 meters and silver in the 1,000. Bowe might also hope for a little stardust from her new fiancée, U.S. women’s hockey star Hilary Knight, after Knight popped the question in Milan earlier this week.

    Friday’s Olympic TV schedule

    As a general rule, our schedules include all live broadcasts on TV, but not tape-delayed broadcasts on cable channels. We’ll let you know what’s on NBC’s broadcasts, whether live or not.

    NBC

    • Noon: Bobsled — Two-woman first run
    • 12:15 p.m.: Freestyle skiing — Men’s aerials final (tape-delayed)
    • 1 p.m.: Speedskating — Women’s 1,500 meters (tape-delayed)
    • 1:30 p.m.: Freestyle skiing — Men’s halfpipe final
    • 3:10 p.m.: Ice hockey — United States vs. Slovakia, men’s semifinal
    • 8 p.m.: Prime time highlights including long track and short-track speedskating, bobsled, and freestyle skiing
    • 11:35 p.m.: Late night highlights including biathlon and freestyle skiing

    USA Network

    • 4 a.m.: Freestyle skiing — Women’s ski cross qualifying
    • 4:30 a.m.: Freestyle skiing — Men’s aerials qualifying
    • 6 a.m.: Freestyle skiing — Women’s ski cross final
    • 7:30 a.m.: Freestyle skiing — Men’s aerials final
    • 8:45 a.m.: Curling — United States vs. Switzerland women (joined in progress)
    • 10:45 a.m.: Speedskating — Women’s 1,500 meters
    • 11:50 a.m.: Ice hockey — Canada vs. Finland, men’s semifinal (joined in progress)
    • 2:15 p.m.: Short-track speedskating — Women’s 1500 meters and men’s relay finals

    How to watch the Olympics on TV and stream online

    NBC’s TV coverage will have live events from noon to 5 p.m. Philadelphia time on weekdays and starting in the mornings on the weekends. There’s a six-hour time difference between Italy and here. The traditional prime-time coverage will have highlights of the day and storytelling features.

    As far as the TV channels, the Olympics are airing on NBC, USA, CNBC, and NBCSN. Spanish coverage can be found on Telemundo and Universo.

    NBCSN is carrying the Gold Zone whip-around show that was so popular during the Summer Olympics in 2024, with hosts including Scott Hanson of NFL RedZone. It used to be just on Peacock, NBC’s online streaming service, but now is on TV, too.

    South Jersey’s Isabeau Levito finishes 12th, fellow American Alysa Liu claims gold medal at Olympics

    Every event is available to stream live on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app. You’ll have to log in with your pay-TV provider, whether cable, satellite, or streaming platforms including YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Sling TV.

    On Peacock, the events are on the platform’s premium subscription tier, which starts at $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year.

    Here is the full event schedule for the entire Olympics, and here are live scores and results.

  • 🦅 Lane’s coming back | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🦅 Lane’s coming back | Sports Daily Newsletter

    The Eagles might have gotten the best news of their offseason. Lane Johnson, a no-doubt Hall of Famer someday, told The Inquirer on Thursday that he would be back for the 2026 season, ending speculation about whether he might retire.

    Eagles fans are well aware of how important the right tackle is to the offense. In Johnson’s 13 seasons, the team is 110-57-1 when he plays and 18-27 when he does not. Ask Saquon Barkley if he missed Johnson when the Pro Bowl tackle sat out seven games this season and missed parts of others.

    Of course, Johnson will be 36 in the next season and he’s coming off a Lisfranc foot fracture in Week 11. He avoided surgery, though, and he has shown the ability to overcome major injuries in the past. Now the Eagles wait for the other shoe to drop: Oft-injured guard Landon Dickerson has hinted at retirement as well, and we’re waiting to see if he’ll return. Jeff McLane has the full story.

    — Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Game on: What to watch

    Phillies manager Rob Thomson (left) and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will have few roster decisions to make over the next four weeks.

    Spring training games don’t count. But don’t tell that to Dylan Moore, the 33-year-old utility man fighting for a bench role with the Phillies.

    The Phillies will play 30 spring training games, including a March 4 exhibition against Canada’s entry in the World Baseball Classic. That’s a lot of faux innings for a team that has few jobs up for grabs.

    Here, then, is an attempt to answer a few roster questions entering Saturday’s opener against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., based on reporting from the first eight days of camp.

    These Phillies starting pitchers are preparing for the “different feeling” that goes with competing in the World Baseball Classic.

    J.T. Realmuto is back for an eighth season with the Phillies. But for a week in January, he wasn’t sure he’d return.

    Back after the break

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey drives to the basket against Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker on Thursday.

    Tyrese Maxey returned from his All-Star Game appearance with a 28-point effort, but the Atlanta Hawks earned a 117-107 victory over the Sixers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Jalen Johnson, fresh off an All-Star appearance himself, led the way for the Hawks with 32 points.

    Outside looking in

    Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae has not played since Jan. 26, with Rick Tocchet instead electing to play Noah Juulsen.

    Flyers fans have been clamoring for Emil Andrae to play after the Swedish defenseman was benched for five straight games heading into the Olympic break. They may soon get their wish.

    “He’s been really sharp in these three practices that he’s been back for,” says defense coach Todd Reirden. “I know he came back a little bit earlier and did some other skating. He’s doing everything he can to get himself in a situation where he’s fighting to be in that lineup every night.”

    Andrae’s future with the team is an uncertain one with the NHL trade deadline approaching on March 6. We’ll see if he’s back in the lineup when the Flyers return to game action against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

    ‘I did my best’

    Isabeau Levito competes in her free skate on Thursday at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

    Figure skater Isabeau Levito, the 18-year-old pride of South Jersey, placed 12th at the Winter Olympics in Milan, the hometown of her mother. Levito’s teammate, friend, and fellow Blade Angel, Alysa Liu, emerged with the gold medal.

    Levito had an uncharacteristic fall on her opening triple flip but otherwise skated a beautiful long program on Thursday. “I did my best,” she said afterward.

    After the U.S. women’s hockey team won the gold medal with an overtime victory against Canada, the spotlight turns to the men’s team in the semifinals. Here’s the Olympic TV schedule for today.

    Sports snapshot

    Father Judge’s Ahmir Brown heads up the court during a 52-46 victory against Archbishop Wood in the Catholic League semifinals.

    Our best sports 📸 of the week

    West Philadelphia’s players shower coach Adrian Burke with water after a 68-47 win against Dobbins in the Public League semifinals at John E. Glaser Arena on Tuesday.

    Each Friday, Inquirer photo editors will pick our best shots from the last seven days and share them with you, our readers. This week, it’s hoop, hoop hooray: Photos include high school boys’ and girls’ basketball playoffs, college hoops as well, and plenty from the Phillies at spring training.

    What you’re saying about burning questions

    We asked: What’s your burning Philly sports question? Among your responses:

    The fans of all Philly sports teams are passionate, but it is the Eagles who draw the most passion. Their most burning off season question is “are the Eagles trying hard to trade A.J. Brown before next season?” … Does the Eagles brass see him as a locker room cancer with more negative value to the team than the value of his performance on the field? And how confident are they that the new offensive coaching staff can turn around his mental attitude toward performing consistently at his best? There are some who believe that the same question could be applied to Jalen Hurts. — John W.

    Will the Phillies have enough to repeat as Eastern Division champs? Can the Eagles adapt to a new offensive scheme and remain a legit Super Bowl contender? Is Joel Embiid done? — Bob C.

    The Palestra played host to the Catholic League semifinals on Wednesday.

    What, if anything, can be done to have at least one Big Five (I’m not talking to you, Drexel) doubleheader each year at the Palestra.? Streamers, banners, the whole works. Or even a doubleheader with one nationally popular team. Everyone would get totally into it. Sorry to live in the past, but those were the greatest times I ever had. Cold outside, hot, sweaty and noisy inside. And everyone celebrating Philadelphia basketball, no matter which school they were from or rooting for. — Tom L.

    Two questions. Ready to spend in the 100 millions for Bo Bichette, but unwilling to spend even a small percentage of that to keep Harrison Bader, who so impressed all Phillies fans during his short time here? And is Sirianni truly the coach who can bring the Eagles back to the Super Bowl? This past season I think he failed to lead when the going was the toughest and leadership was most needed. — Everett S.

    What’s wrong with the Flyers? As usual they have become irrelevant. — Bill M.

    Is this still Bryce’s team, or has Schwarber overtaken him as the star of the organization? — Anthony P.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff McLane, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, Ellen Dunkel, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Rob Tornoe, Jeff Neiburg, Sean McKeown, Colin Schofield, Conor Smith, and Dylan Johnson.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading, as always, and I’ll see you in Monday’s newsletter. — Jim

  • Phillies roster questions going into the first spring game: Fifth starter, bullpen picture, and more

    Phillies roster questions going into the first spring game: Fifth starter, bullpen picture, and more

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — On the eve of spring training games, an annual reminder: They don’t count.

    Not really. Stats are kept, but mostly as a formality. Hits don’t carry over into the season. Strikeouts are little more than a sugar rush for a pitcher. Win some, lose some, even tie some, and everyone’s record resets on March 25.

    What do you do, then, if you’re Dylan Moore? A veteran of seven major league seasons, the 33-year-old utility man must have a good camp to make the Phillies’ opening-day roster after signing a minor-league contract 17 days ago.

    The Phillies’ Trea Turner was still the fastest man in the league at 32. And it’s not due just to ‘genetics.’

    Try telling him Grapefruit League games aren’t really real.

    “To make an impression, you’ve got to be able to take it seriously and play it like it’s a game that’s meaningful,” Moore said Thursday after facing pitchers in live batting practice. “Because it is, you know? You want to see where you’re at, which is why you never want to go less than [full effort] just because it doesn’t matter. But yeah, it’s a balancing act.”

    The Phillies will play 30 spring training games, including a March 4 exhibition against Canada’s entry in the World Baseball Classic. That’s a lot of faux innings for a team that has few jobs up for grabs.

    Here, then, is an attempt to answer a few roster questions entering Saturday’s opener against the Blue Jays in neighboring Dunedin, based on reporting from the first eight days of camp:

    Andrew Painter is a leading candidate to occupy a spot in the Phillies’ season-opening starting rotation.

    Who will take the fifth (starter spot)?

    Zack Wheeler played catch from 120 feet the other day and is scheduled to do so again Friday while incorporating more spin on the ball. The Phillies haven’t said when he will progress to a mound.

    “He’s doing very well,” manager Rob Thomson said.

    But nothing has changed. Five months after having a rib removed to relieve pressure on a vein that was compressed between his collarbone and rib cage, Wheeler won’t be ready to start the season on time, which creates a vacancy in the starting rotation.

    With free agency looming next year, Alec Bohm is prepared to bat cleanup (again) for Kyle Schwarber or Bryce Harper

    Upon returning from the World Baseball Classic, Cristopher Sánchez (Dominican Republic), Aaron Nola (Italy), and Taijuan Walker (Mexico) will join Jesús Luzardo in the starting rotation. Nobody will say it, but the last spot is Andrew Painter’s to lose.

    Painter didn’t pitch in 2023 or ’24 because of a torn elbow ligament that necessitated Tommy John surgery. But after a healthy, 118-inning season in the minors, most of which came in triple A, he’s unburdened by usage restrictions this spring.

    Ideally, the Phillies want Painter to not only earn his spot but also to keep it once Wheeler returns. Either way, it’s time for the 22-year-old (turning 23 in April) to step forward.

    “Obviously Painter had a tough year in triple A,” Bryce Harper said, referring to a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts. “That first year coming back from Tommy John is really tough. I’m hoping he bounces back this year. We need him to.”

    Lefty reliever Kyle Backhus has a chance to win a spot in the bullpen after coming over in a trade with the Diamondbacks.

    How does the bullpen shape up?

    Get to know this name: Kyle Backhus.

    The Phillies acquired Backhus from the Diamondbacks for a minor-league outfielder on the same day in December that they sent Matt Strahm to the Royals for reliever Jonathan Bowlan. Backhus has minor league options, but Thomson mentioned him last month as a bullpen candidate.

    And the hitters, including Trea Turner, who faced Backhus in live batting practice Thursday were impressed with the sidearming lefty, who had a 4.62 ERA in 32 games last season for Arizona.

    Brandon Marsh proved he ‘could crawl out’ of last season’s rough start. Now, he’s the Phillies’ longest-tenured outfielder.

    “They said he was tough to pick up,” Thomson said. “He starts from the third base side. He’s a crossfire guy. It’s a really low slot, so you don’t see that. It’s tough, really tough to pick up.”

    The Phillies haven’t had a lefty reliever with such a low arm slot in years. Thomson would like a third lefty in the bullpen, although he said it isn’t a necessity. Backhus would fit in behind José Alvarado and Tanner Banks.

    Orion Kerkering has been slowed in camp by a hamstring injury. But health permitting, closer Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, Alvarado, Kerkering, Banks, and Bowlan have seats in the bullpen.

    That leaves two spots for a pool of candidates, including Rule 5 pick Zach McCambley and out-of-options righty Zach Pop. Veteran lefty Tim Mayza and righty Lou Trivino are also in camp as nonroster invitees.

    But Backhus might have the early inside track.

    “Backhus is a completely different look for people,“ Thomson said. ”You want good stuff, you want strikes, but when you have different looks like that, it makes it a lot better.”

    Johan Rojas could make the Phillies’ roster as a reserve outfielder.

    Who gets the last bench spot?

    All the health-related caveats apply, but the opening-day lineup appears set: J.T. Realmuto (catcher), Harper (first base), Bryson Stott (second base), Turner (shortstop), Alec Bohm (third base), Brandon Marsh (left field), rookie Justin Crawford (center field), Adolis García (right field), and Kyle Schwarber (designated hitter).

    Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp are expected to claim seats on the bench, with another going to incumbent backup catcher Rafael Marchán or veteran Garrett Stubbs.

    That leaves one spot.

    Bryce Harper says Dave Dombrowski’s ‘not elite’ comment is ‘kind of wild to me still’

    Johan Rojas would provide speed on the bases and elite outfield defense, although the latter is less important without Nick Castellanos in right field. Marsh, Crawford, and García are all solid defenders. Also, Rojas has minor-league options and might benefit from everyday at-bats in triple A.

    Veteran outfielder Bryan De La Cruz has 58 career major league homers, seven of which came against the Phillies. De La Cruz and Pedro Leon are intriguing right-handed bats, but Sosa and Kemp bat from the right side. And as outfielders, De La Cruz and Leon lack positional versatility.

    And then there’s Moore, who has played everywhere except catcher and won a Gold Glove as a utility man for the Mariners in 2023. He said he signed with the Phillies to work with hitting coach Kevin Long. But he also recognized an opportunity.

    Phillies manager Rob Thomson (left), with Charlie Manuel during batting practice on Thursday, has one spot to fill for a bench player.

    “In past experience, having two utility guys — one who’s more depth to infield and one who’s more depth to outfield — is huge,“ Moore said. ”A guy that can do both is great. Sosa plays an awesome infield everywhere you put him, so maybe I could be more of the outfield guy.

    “This has been my career in a nutshell — play some, play not so much, and just stay ready. I feel like I’ve gotten pretty good at it, and I still have more in me.”

    With Harper, Schwarber, Sosa, and Rojas away at the WBC next month, there will be ample opportunity for Moore to prove it.

    And that’s the meaning of spring training games.