Phillies' Opening Day Roster Won't Stay the Same For Long

The Phillies have set their initial 26-man roster, but changes are expected in the coming weeks.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:11pm by Ben Kaplan

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The Philadelphia Phillies have finalized their Opening Day roster, but it is unlikely to remain intact for long. The team made several key decisions, including keeping Rafael Marchan as the backup catcher over Garrett Stubbs, and adding veteran Tim Mayza and rookie Kyle Backhus to the bullpen. Orion Kerkering will start the season on the injured list, while Zach Pop secured the final bullpen spot. The Phillies' roster is expected to see more changes in the coming weeks, especially once ace Zack Wheeler returns from injury in mid-to-late April.

Why it matters

The Phillies' roster moves highlight the fluid nature of major league rosters, especially early in the season. Decisions on backup catchers, bullpen roles, and injured players can have a significant impact on a team's performance and depth. As the Phillies look to build on their 2022 playoff appearance, managing their roster effectively will be crucial.

The details

The Phillies' roster decisions included keeping Rafael Marchan as the backup catcher over the more experienced Garrett Stubbs, adding veteran lefty Tim Mayza and rookie Kyle Backhus to the bullpen, and placing Orion Kerkering on the injured list to start the season. Zach Pop secured the final bullpen spot, but could be the first to go when Kerkering is ready to return. The Phillies will also have to make decisions on their rotation once ace Zack Wheeler returns in mid-to-late April.

  • The Phillies' Opening Day is Thursday, March 30 against the Texas Rangers.
  • Orion Kerkering is expected to be activated on April 10, when first eligible.
  • Zack Wheeler could return from injury by mid-to-late April.

The players

Rafael Marchan

A 27-year-old catcher who made the Phillies' Opening Day roster as the backup to J.T. Realmuto.

Garrett Stubbs

A 33-year-old catcher who was in competition with Marchan for the backup role but did not make the Opening Day roster.

Tim Mayza

A veteran left-handed reliever who the Phillies added to their bullpen after he ended last season with the team.

Kyle Backhus

A 27-year-old rookie left-handed reliever who made the Phillies' bullpen with his unique low-sidearm delivery.

Zach Pop

A right-handed reliever who secured the final bullpen spot but could be the first to go when Kerkering is ready to return.

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What they’re saying

“Just his angle is really tough. If he throws his fastball in on righties, it's going to be really tough to turn on that just because it's coming in with so much angle. That's something he's been working on this spring, being able to front-hip righties with the fastball and not just throw it away. And also he's working on a changeup.”

— J.T. Realmuto, Catcher

What’s next

The Phillies' first roster change should come two weeks sooner than last year, when Kody Clemens was designated for assignment on April 23. The team will also have to make a decision on their rotation once Zack Wheeler returns from injury in mid-to-late April.

The takeaway

The Phillies' early roster moves highlight the fluid nature of major league rosters, especially at the start of the season. Managing the roster effectively, including decisions on backup catchers, bullpen roles, and injured players, will be crucial for the Phillies as they look to build on their 2022 playoff appearance.