What to Expect at 2019 Phillies Opening Day

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies have a new primary logo, a new-look team with an added All-Star caliber catcher, shortstop and right fielder, as well as a new areas for fans as part of ongoing upgrades to Citizens Bank Park.

There are a lot of reasons for fans to check out baseball action in South Philadelphia in 2019, starting with Opening Day, this Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. The following is a guide of what to expect, as the club kicks off its 137th season.

New Ballpark Destinations

Last season, the Phillies debuted The Yard, a new, 13,000-square-foot interactive kids' baseball experience at the former right field gate. This past offseason, the Phillies focused its attention across the stadium at third base.

At the former McFadden's sports bar, adjacent to the Third Base Plaza, is the redesigned, 24,500 square feet area called Pass and Stow. The area features an outdoor beer garden (Goose Island at the Park), brick-oven pizza (Foundry Pizza), a family-friendly sports pub, 44 TVs, and more. Also, the iconic Liberty Bell that once sat atop Veterans Stadium has been refurbished and installed outside Pass and Stow.

Adjacent is Shake Shack's first-ever sit-down restaurant experience at a sports venue. 

Pass and Stow will be open two hours before the start of each home game, and will remain open until postgame. Shake Shack will be open during normal home game hours.

Also new at Citizens Bank Park in 2019 is Questlove’s Cheesesteak, named after five-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Philadelphia native, and The Root's Questlove. The cheesesteak uses plant-based Impossible Meat.

“When I first tasted Impossible Meat in 2015, I became obsessed with the product and the company," Questlove said. “As a Philadelphian, of course, I take pride in a great cheesesteak. My team and I have developed a recipe using Impossible Meat that we hope will offer a delicious and sustainable alternative for all cheesesteak eaters.”

While Pass and Stow will be available at all 81 home games in 2019, and well into the future seasons, fans attending on Opening Day can also enjoy the Budweiser Block Party at the Third Base Plaza and Citizens Bank Way.

The block party will feature food samples from GIANT, Coca-Cola, Turkey Hill Dairy, J&J Snack Foods, Hatfield Quality Meats, and prizes from Cavity Busters, AT&T, XFINITY Mobile, CBS Radio and more. The Philadelphia Zoo will also have a Zoo on Wheels, life-size LEGO animal sculptures and giveaways.

Two other Citizens Bank Park 2004 Opening Day staples have been reworked, in addition to the former McFadden's location. The Phillies team store has been rebranded, from Majestic to New Era, while the Mitchell & Ness Alley Store in Ashburn Alley has been relocated.

Opening Day Itinerary
(subject to change, weather and wind permitting)

8:00 a.m. — New Era Phillies Team Store opens, with limited-edition Opening Day collectibles and apparel.

12:35 p.m. — All gates open. All fans will receive an Opening Day ralley towel.

12:10 p.m. — Phillies batting practice.

1:10 p.m. — Braves batting practice.

2:00 p.m. — Questlove will DJ at the Third Base Plaza.

2:26 p.m. — 2019 Phillies enter Citizens Bank Park and make “Leadoff Walk” onto the field.

2:35 p.m. — The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale will sing “Philadelphia, U.S.A.” and “America the Beautiful.” U.S. military representatives will unfurl a large American flag, while City of Philadelphia Police and Fire departments carry State flags.

2:40 p.m. — Braves introductions.

2:45 p.m. — Phillies introductions.

2:52 p.m. — Kane Kalas, son of late Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, will perform the National Anthem at Harry’s statue.

2:55 p.m. — The Frog-X Parachute Team, with former USN Leap Frogs, will parachute onto the field and deliver first balls.

3:02 p.m. — Ceremonial first pitches, featuring Questlove.

3:07 p.m. — Game's first pitch.

Seventh inning — The Delaware State Police's Sergeant Jonathon Packard will perform “God Bless America.”

Postgame — Questlove will DJ for 90 minutes at Pass and Stow.

Projected Starting Lineup, with 2019 Spring Training Stats
(non-Getty pictures by Frank Klose/SportsTalkPhilly.com)

1. LF Andrew McCutchen (R),
16 games, 45 at-bats, 8 runs, 13 hits, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 11 SO, .289/.319/.489

2. SS Jean Segura (R),
18 games, 51 at-bats, 7 runs, 14 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 8 SO, .275/.315/.373

3. RF Bryce Harper (L),
9 games, 17 at-bats, 6 runs, 4 hits, 1 double, 2 home runs, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 10 SO, .235/.500/.647

4. 1B Rhys Hoskins (R),
14 games, 36 at-bats, 3 runs, 8 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 9 SO, .222/.317/.333

5. C J.T. Realmuto (R),
15 games, 40 at-bats, 8 runs, 14 hits, 1 double, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 13 SO, .350/.372/.725

6. CF Odubel Herrera (L),
6 games, 16 at-bats, 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 double, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 4 SO, .313/.389/.750

7. 2B Cesar Hernandez (S),
10 games, 29 at-bats, 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 doubles, 2 BB, 7 SO, .241/.290/.310

8. 3B Maikel Franco (R),
17 games, 52 at-bats, 7 runs, 13 hits, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBI, 1 BB, 13 SO, .250/.278/.423

9. P Aaron Nola (R),
0-0, 5.19 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 8 2/3 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 11 SO, .265 OPP AVG, 1.50 WHIP