Phillies Return Kyle Schwarber to the Leadoff Spot for Game 2

The Philadelphia Phillies opened the 2025 season with Trea Turner at the top, for Game 2, it will be Kyle Schwarber back in the leadoff spot.

Schwarber returns to the lead-off position against Washington Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin at Nationals Park, with the first pitch set for 4:05 p.m. Jesús Luzardo gets the ball and makes his Phillies debut today.

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Schwarber routinely led off the past three years, but the team has decided to give Turner at-bats against left-handed starters in the top spot in the order.

Today, the team was originally set to go back to its 2024 look with Schwarber, Turner, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm occupying the top four spots in the order. Newcomer Max Kepler hits fifth, followed by J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh hitting ninth.

However, Turner had to be scratched from the lineup with back spasms, with Edumindo Sosa moving to shortstop and hitting ninth.  Everyone has moved up one spot with Bohm going from four to No. 2.

Luzardo, who finished spring training with an ERA of 9.49, will make his first regular-season start for the Phillies after coming over in a December trade and will face this lineup for Washington.

Luzardo could be in line to rack up a bunch of strikeouts today, after he punched out 16 batters in 12.1 Grapefruit League innings.

The Phillies will finish up their three-game set tomorrow in Washington with Aaron Nola making his 2025 season debut.  The Phillies will make their debut at Citizens Bank Park on Monday with Cristopher Sánchez getting the start.