See the full Philadelphia Phillies schedule for the 2024 MLB season
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia Phillies open the 2024 season at home Friday against the Atlanta Braves.
Zack Wheeler will take the mound to start. Wheeler, who turns 34 in May, is coming off another dominant season in Philly after the team fell short in the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Earlier this month, Wheeler and the Phillies agreed to a 3-year, $126 million contract extension. Wheeler's extension gave him a $42 million annual average value, the highest ever by a Phillie and the highest AAV ever in a contract extension.
Wheeler is even working on a new pitch for the new season.
See the Phillies' full schedule:
Several players spoke to CBS News Philadelphia during spring training about the importance of getting off to a strong start this season.
"We haven't started good the past couple of years, and that's a big thing, is we want to start fast, and it feels like last year we started 0 and 4, 0 and 5, and we look up and we're ten games back, and it's something you don't want to do," second baseman Bryson Stott told sports reporter Pat Gallen during a recent Gallen of Questions episode.
RELATED: Citizens Bank Park promotions and giveaways during 2024 Philadelphia Phillies season
For fans, Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies have dozens of freebies and giveaways on the schedule, from T-shirts to hats and buy-one-get-one hot dog nights.
The park, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, also has a new mural, new concessions and fresh merch this season.