Phillies Face Dodgers in Suspenseful Season Opener Today

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Philadelphia Phillies host the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for the second game of a series on Saturday, April 5, at Citizens Bank Park, starting at 4:05 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action live on FS1 or via various streaming services offering free trials.

The Dodgers, who entered the game with an impressive 8-1 record, suffered their first loss of the season to the Phillies the previous day, falling 3-2 despite a late rally. Tommy Edman‘s two-run homer in the ninth inning nearly sealed a comeback but was thwarted when Chris Taylor was caught stealing.

Freddie Freeman will not be on the field for Los Angeles after suffering an ankle injury, which had previously troubled him throughout last season’s postseason run. Meanwhile, NL MVP Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate at the plate, holding a .324 batting average with three home runs and three RBIs. Edman has also been a standout, registering five home runs and nine RBIs while posting a .286 batting average.

The Phillies (6-1) achieved victory thanks to a strong performance from pitcher Jesus Luzardo, who struck out eight batters and allowed just two hits over seven innings. In the opening inning, Trea Turner scored due to a Dodgers error, and Philadelphia secured two additional runs with a single from Bryson Stott and a sacrifice fly from Brandon Marsh in the seventh.

Kyle Schwarber is contributing to the Phillies’ success with four home runs and eight RBIs, while shortstop Edmundo Sosa boasts the highest batting average in MLB at .600. However, third baseman Alec Bohm is struggling with a .226 batting average, though he has managed at least one hit in five of the last seven games.

Pitching for the Dodgers will be Roki Sasaki, who holds a record of 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA. He has struck out five batters but has been challenged by walks, yielding nine in his appearances. The Phillies will counter with Aaron Nola, also at 0-0, with an 8.44 ERA and eight strikeouts but allowing five earned runs in his outings.

As the game approaches, fans are looking for live streaming options. Services such as Sling TV and YouTube TV are popular choices for those seeking to view the game online. Be sure to check specific promotions, including free trials or discounts, to catch the excitement without a cable subscription.

In terms of betting, the odds for the game show the Dodgers at -108 on the moneyline, while the Phillies are slightly favored at -112. The spread sits at Los Angeles -1.5 and Philadelphia +1.5, with a total run over/under at 8.5.

Both teams maintain high expectations for the season, and with Philadelphia looking to keep their win streak alive, fans can anticipate an intense matchup as the Dodgers aim to bounce back from their first loss.