By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
As the newly-renovated Citizens Bank Park opens its doors for its 15th season, the Philadelphia Phillies (1-4) and RHP Nick Pivetta will partake in a home opener matchup against southpaw Caleb Smith and the Miami Marlins (2-4) Thursday afternoon.
Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion head coach Doug Pederson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, among many other traditional home opener festivities, such as Kane Kalas, the late Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas' son, singing the National Anthem. The venue will debut "The Yard," a 13,000-square-foot interactive kids' baseball experience located in right field in Ashburn Alley, featuring: a new wiffle ball field, Hatfield Phanatic Hot Dog Launcher, a 30-foot Phanatic climbing wall, a new bullpen speed pitch and a new Turkey Hill ice cream bar. The new left field plaza will feature enhancements such as the relocated Wall of Fame and other new call-backs to Phillies history, a relocation and redesign of Bull's BBQ, and new patio seating. Visit phillies.com for a complete list of home opener festivities.
Manager Gabe Kapler's squad dropped their third straight game on the Facebook-streamed series finale against the New York Mets on Wednesday, 4-2. Nick Williams' RBI ground out and Carlos Santana's steal of home in the third was the club's only offense, while the Mets scored a pair of runs in the first and sixth, via a two-run home run by Yoenis Cespedes and a two-run triple by Amed Rosario. Starter Aaron Nola lasted five innings (87 pitches) and allowed two runs on four hits, four walks and four strikeouts.
The Phillies are 3-11 thus far in home openers at Citizens Bank Park. Last year, the Phillies fell 7-6 to the Washington Nationals on April 7, despite putting up six unanswered runs after falling behind by seven runs through five frames. The Phillies have lost six straight home openers, with their last win coming in a 5-4 victory against Brett Myers and the Houston Astros in 2011 behind the late Roy Halladay.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Miami Marlins (2-4) | Philadelphia Phillies (1-4) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Caleb Smith | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (0-0, 1.69 ERA) | (0-0, 6.75 ERA) | ||||
LHP Caleb Smith, Age: 26
- Career vs. PHI: N/A
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: N/A
Smith will make his fourth career start and 11th career appearance overall. In nine games last season with the New York Yankees as a rookie, Smith went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA, 18-10 strikeout-t0-walk ratio and 1.661 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings. The Marlins acquired Smith on Nov. 20, 2017, along with first baseman Garrett Cooper, for RHP Michael King and international signing bonus pool money.
The Huntsville, Texas, native's eight strikeouts on March 30 tied with Dillon Peters and the late Jose Fernandez for the second-most strikeouts by a Marlins pitcher in their club debut, according to MLB.com. The lefty received a no-decision in the outing, allowing just one run – a home run – against the Chicago Cubs through 5 1/3 innings and 100 pitches (68 strikes).
- Career vs. MIA: 1-1, 8.66 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 17 2/3 IP, 24 H, 17 R, 17 ER, 5 HR, 6 BB, 16 SO, 1.698 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 4-3, 5.34 ERA, 12 G, 12 GS, 64 IP, 65 H, 40 R, 38 ER, 15 HR, 20 BB, 76 SO, 1.328 WHIP
Pivetta will make his second start of 2018 and his fifth career start overall against the Marlins. The right-hander helped the Phillies to their only win of the new season thus far on March 30, allowing three runs in four innings against the Atlanta Braves on 73 pitches (45 strikes).
In his most recent start against the Marlins on Sept. 12 of last season, Pivetta surrendered seven runs (all earned) on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts through five frames. This raised his career ERA against the Marlins from 7.11 to 8.66.
Starting Lineups:
| Miami Marlins (2-4) | Philadelphia Phillies (1-4) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Lewis Brinson | R | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | LF | Derek Dietrich | L | 2 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 3 | 2B | Starlin Castro | R | 3 | RF | Scott Kingery | R |
| 4 | 1B | Justin Bour | L | 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | 3B | Brian Anderson | R | 5 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 6 | RF | Cameron Maybin | R | 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 7 | SS | Miguel Rojas | R | 7 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 8 | C | Bryan Holaday | R | 8 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
| 9 | P | Caleb Smith | R | 9 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 3:05 p.m.
- TV: NBC10
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Scott Kingery will bat third in right field in what will be his fourth unique position in just his fifth career game on Thursday.
- The Phillies have won six of their last seven games against the Marlins dating back to August 31 of last season, outscoring and outhitting manager Don Mattingly's squad 44-23 and 83-59, respectively. Last season against the Marlins, the Phillies went 6-3 at home and 5-5 away at Marlins Park.
- Heading into April 5, the Phillies rank 14th among the National League's 15 teams in runs (14), last in hits (30), 14th in RBI (13), last in batting average (.183), and 14th in on-base (.273), slugging (.293) and OPS (.565) percentages.
- Pivetta's start will mark the 172nd straight game that the Phillies featured a right-handed starting pitcher, matching a franchise record set on May 25, 1907, to June 24, 1908. Adam Morgan was the club's last southpaw starting pitcher on Sept. 28, 2016.
- Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto is 3-6 lifetime against Pivetta with three doubles, two RBI and a walk. Outfielder Derek Dietrich has homered against the Phillies right-hander, whereas 1B/OF Carlos Santana (1-2) is the only Phillie to have previously faced Smith.
What's Next:
- Friday, April 6, 2018: Off day
- Saturday, April 7, 2018: vs. Miami Marlins, 6:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- LHP Dillon Peters (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
