Aaron Nola will have to wait at least another year before becoming the Phillies’ Opening Day starter, because manager, Pete Mackanin, said today that Jeremy Hellickson will get the nod on Opening Day against the Reds. It’ll be Hellickson’s first start on Opening Day in his career. “It’s definitely a huge honor,” Hellickson told reporters.
Hellickson has pitched in two games in spring training, and has a 1.29 ERA to show for it. Not too shabby. He’ll be a free agent after this season.
Hellickson taking the bump on Opening Day will allow Nola to pitch in the Phillies’ home opener, where we’re teaming up with Nick’s Roast Beef for one of the greatest pregame tailgates ever. Ever.
Get your tickets for the tailgate only here.
About The Author
Nick Piccone has covered Philly sports and events for over 14 years. He founded Bleeding Brotherly Love in April 2011, and renamed it Bleed Philly in 2013. In 2015, he joined Sean Brace in launching Philly Influencer, which quickly became a top Philly sports and culture website. He covered professional wrestling for PhillyVoice from 2015-2021, and co-launched The Straight Shooters podcast in 2015, covering the entire pro wrestling industry. He also produces content for Fox Sports Radio Philadelphia and the Villanova Sports Radio Network. He grew up in South Philadelphia and South Jersey, and is a graduate of Neumann University.
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Nick Piccone
