Start time, channel, how to watch and stream Texas Rangers game

It’s opening day for the Phillies, who begin their highly anticipated 2023 season on the road against the Texas Rangers without their MVP slugger, Bryce Harper

The Phillies opted not to put Harper on the 60-day injured list in hopes that the seven-time All-Star can return to the team as a designated hitter sometime before the end of May if he recovers from Tommy John surgery recovered. He was originally supposed to be back near the All-Star break in mid-July, but Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes reported Harper has responded so well to rehab that he could return by June.

For now, the Phillies will have to lean on the power of hitters Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, who will share the DH role until Harper returns. They also have a true leadoff hitter in shortstop Trea Turner, who looked impressive in both spring practice and during the World Baseball Classic, hitting a combined .435 with seven homers and 18 RBIs.

“It was amazing. Seems like he’s never going to get out,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said earlier this week. “Just leave him there. Box him. And send him to Texas.”

» READ MORE: Our 2023 predictions for the Phillies and MLB: Will Philly have a World Series Victory Parade?

Expectations are certainly higher for the team this season thanks to their surprise World Series run last year. All five Inquirer baseball insiders predict the team will win at least 90 games and make the playoffs, though they also believe the Phillies will finish behind the Atlanta Braves in the division.

That run begins Thursday in the first of 162 games. Aaron Nola is starting for the Phillies for the sixth straight season, and it could be his last if he and the team don’t agree on a new contract. Earlier this week, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said any talks about a contract extension will now have to wait until the season is over.

Facing Nola will be a familiar face to Phillies fans – former New York Mets ace and two-time NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom, who signed a five-year, $185 million deal with Rangers during the offseason. DeGrom is 9-1 with a 2.18 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 20 career starts against the Phillies

Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream the Phillies opening day matchup against the Texas Rangers:

When does the Phillies vs. Rangers opener start?

The Phillies’ season debut begins at 4:50 p.m. Eastern Time and will air live on NBC10

The game will be directed by Tom McCarthy, voice of the Phillies at NBC Sports Philadelphia, who is entering his 14th season in play-by-play mode. Joining him will be former first baseman John Kruk, who is in his sixth season of calling Phillies games after spending 12 years with ESPN.

As an added highlight for Opening Day, Phillies first base coach Paco Figueroa will receive a microphone during Thursday’s broadcast.

The game will also air on 94.1 WIP, with Scott Franzke and Kevin Stocker on the call. Gregg Murphy returns to handle pre- and post-game radio coverage.

» READ MORE: Rubén Amaro Jr. is back at NBC Sports Philadelphia, which also adds a new face

How can I stream Phillies opening day?

The game will be available on the MyTeams app and the NBC Sports Philadelphia website, but you will need a cable subscription. So far, there has been no news of a direct-to-consumer streaming option being offered by the network.

NBC10 is also available for free streaming with a digital antenna to viewers throughout the Delaware Valley. It’s also available in a variety of so-called skinny bundles, including Hulu With Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, Fubo, and YouTube TV.

Subscribers can also stream the game on ESPN+.

Expect a faster gameplay thanks to a major rule change

During spring training, MLB implemented a pitch clock — 15 seconds with empty bases and 20 seconds with runners on — that worked wonders, picking up the game’s slow pace.

The average length of a spring training game last year was 3 hours and 1 minute. This spring, when the pitch clock was up, it dropped to 2 hours, 35 minutes league-wide (Phillies Spring Training Games were slightly longer, averaging 2 hours, 46 minutes, according to MLB.com data).

“We’re going to have a game that’s under two hours in the first two weeks,” California Angels pitcher Tucker Davidson told ESPN.

There are two other rule changes this season – larger bases (an attempt to encourage stolen base attempts) and a ban on infield displacement (which prevents teams from stacking the infield with defenders).

» READ MORE: Trea Turner’s freshman spring with the Phillies makes him look underpaid even at $300m

Media coverage of the opening day

As with every Phillies game, Inquirer staff Scott Lauber and Alex Coffey will be streaming all the action live on Gameday Central. For coverage of the game, visit Inquirer.com/Phillies and our Sports Daily Newsletter.

Before the game, NBC10 will air a Welcome home Phillies Special at 2pm with Keith Jones, Jacqueline London, John Clark, Michelle Rotella, Tim Furlong and Frances Wang.

Telemundo62 is broadcast La Fiebre Roja from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., moderated by sports presenter Jaime Becerril.

Phillies Pregame Live — hosted by Michael Barkann and starring Rubén Amaro Jr., Ricky Bottalico and Ben Davis — will air at 2:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia. After the game, the crew returns Phillies Postgame Live.

Phillies opening day record

Overall, Philadelphia is 66-72-2 on opening day, dating back to the then-Philadelphia Quakers’ 4-3 loss to the Providence Grays in 1883. Yes, there were two ties — both the opening game in 1923 against the Brooklyn Dodgers and 1924 against the Boston Braves were called out for darkness because baseball stadiums didn’t have lights at the time.

The Phillies have never played the Rangers on Opening Day, and it is only the fourth time Philadelphia has faced an American League team early in the season since interleague play was introduced in 1997.

Philadelphia beat the Oakland A’s away from home on opening day of last season and marched all the way to the World Series, but it might not be wise to overestimate one game. After all, the Phillies lost on Opening Day in 1993, 2008 and 2009 — and won the National League pennant in all three years, including a World Series win in 2008.

Phillies’ schedule in March and April

The Phillies begin the season with six straight road games against the Rangers and New York Yankees before playing their home game on April 6 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Almost every April game will air on NBC Sports Philadelphia or NBC Sports Philadelphia+, although the next two games against Rangers will air on Fox and ESPN. There will also be two games streaming exclusively on Peacock and Apple TV+ in April.