One of the great traditions in all of professional sports — Opening Day — is rapidly approaching, as all 30 Major League Baseball teams get set for what should be another wild and exciting season. The Philadelphia Phillies draw one of the more intriguing assignments in their own home opener, as they’ll be taking on a fellow prestigious organization, the Boston Red Sox, in what could be a very telling series for both squads to kick off the campaign.
Both veteran clubs are coming off lackluster 2014 campaigns, with the Phillies registering their second consecutive 89-loss season. In fact, that total is their highest amount of losses in a year since 2000, when they lost 97 games, but this is a group that appears poised to bounce back. The Red Sox, meanwhile, unexpectedly faltered a season ago, just one year after winning it all in 2013, as they unexpectedly finished in last in the AL East with an unfriendly 71-91 record.
Interestingly, tickets for this opening clash in Philadelphia from Citizens Bank Park are averaging only $179, according to TiqIQ. Furthermore, the get-in price is listed at a relatively low $38. In fact, you can purchase Citizens Bank Ballpark luxury boxes for the opening game for as low as $1,200, according to SuiteHop. That seems unusual for such a matchup between two storied baseball franchises, but it also could foreshadow what the Phillies are in store for this year if they are truly in a rebuilding mode. Nonetheless, it’s a crucial series for both teams in the very early going of 2015.
Both organizations could be trending back in the right direction. Philadelphia, for instance, still possesses an excellent starting rotation, still led by Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. While it’s still possible Hamels might be traded before the season begins, if he remains, the Phillies can boast one of the best aces in the National League, while Lee is also a veteran left-hander who has enjoyed much success over the past several years. Their starting pitching alone is enough to keep them in most games on any given day.
The Red Sox don’t have the same quality starting staff, but what they lack in pitching they make up for in offense, as despite losing Yoenis Cespedes in an offseason trade, this club still has a lot of power in their lineup, especially with the offseason additions of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, who will provide a significant upgrade to their infield. Furthermore, the Red Sox still have its usual cast of stars like David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, making for one of the more potent lineups in all of baseball.
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