It’s time once again to take a crack at predicting the Opening Day lineup for the Philadelphia Phillies. We will be doing this every Friday leading up to the start of the 2013 season, with notes and explanations for changes in the logic being used for this.
As previously noted in my initial prediction, the following remains true:
Carlos Ruiz will be serving a 25-game suspension to start the season, so Erik Kratz is the best bet to get the start behind home plate.
Jimmy Rollins remains the solid bet to lead off and play short, as he has done regularly for years.
Cole Hamels remains our favorite to get the Opening Day start on the road in Atlanta, with Roy Halladay being slated for the home opener in Citizens Bank Park.
Since last week, these developments have caused some changes in my official prediction:
Just hours after posting the initial lineup prediction last week news broke that outfielder Delmon Young will be likely to begin the season on the disabled list. This will take Young out of my opening day lineup and leave a spot open for Domonic Brown and Darin Ruf for your corner outfield positions. We’ll stick with these young bats for now until something else changes.
Latest Opening Day Lineup Prediction
- SS Jimmy Rollins
- CF Ben Revere
- 2B Chase Utley
- 1B Ryan Howard
- LF Darin Ruf
- 3B Michael Young
- RF Domonic Brown
- C Erik Kratz
- SP Cole Hamels
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