By Sam Bush
The Phillies are gearing up to host the Miami Marlins for three games to kick off the 60-game sprint starting July 24, and they will actually compete against Major League teams much prior to that.
Starting on July 18, manager Joe Girardi‘s team will face the reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals for exhibition play at Nationals Park starting at 6:05 p.m.
The following day, the Phillies will return home to face another team from the area — the Baltimore Orioles, according to The Baltimore Sun. The July 19 exhibition does not currently have a start time.
Then, just five days later, will be Opening Day.
The Nationals and Orioles appear to have three exhibition games each, one against the Phillies and a home-and-home against each other. For now, it appears the Phillies have just the two games, on the road opposite the Nationals and at home against the Orioles.
The Phillies will not face the Nationals in the regular season until August 25, their 33rd of 66 days across the 60-game schedule.
