Phillies Intrasquad Game Draws Bigger Crowd Than Guardians Opener

This blog post dives into the Philadelphia Phillies’ lively intrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday night. It was a fan-filled final tune-up before the NLDS kicks off this Saturday.

Strong pitching from Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola, a packed Citizens Bank Park, and a chance for manager Rob Thomson to iron out lineup details—this event had it all. It worked as both a charity showcase and a crucial postseason warmup.

From injury updates to defensive tweaks, this wasn’t just practice. You could feel the Phillies making a statement: they’re ready for October baseball.

Phillies Draw Massive Crowd for Charity Scrimmage

Citizens Bank Park buzzed on Wednesday night as over 31,000 fans showed up for the Phillies’ $10 charity intrasquad game. That crowd even topped the attendance for Cleveland’s AL wild-card opener, which says a lot about Philly’s postseason excitement.

A Game-Day Atmosphere in a Practice Setting

This wasn’t anything like last year’s closed-door scrimmage. The ballpark pulsed with regular-season energy—real umpires, loud music, and all those quirky in-game traditions that make Phillies games a blast.

The charity angle gave the night extra meaning, building goodwill while letting players sharpen their skills in front of a real crowd. Honestly, you could almost forget it was just a scrimmage.

Pitching Dominance on Display

Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola both looked dialed in. Over three innings each, they didn’t allow a run.

Nola showed his veteran calm, while Luzardo kept hitters guessing with his control. Their outings felt like a good omen for the postseason grind ahead.

Ranger Suárez’s Injury Update

Ranger Suárez didn’t pitch in the scrimmage after taking a comebacker to the thigh. Still, he threw a bullpen session and looked on track for the NLDS.

Getting Suárez back strengthens the rotation. That’s always huge come October.

Thomson’s Lineup Decisions and Player Usage

Rob Thomson used the scrimmage to tinker with lineups before the big series. He kept Bryson Stott and Trea Turner together in the middle infield, sticking with a combo that brings both defense and offense.

Weston Wilson and Otto Kemp got plenty of outfield reps. They needed those at-bats and chances to work on routes in a live setting.

Confirmed Starter for Game 1

Thomson named Cristopher Sánchez as his Game 1 starter for the NLDS. He didn’t say much about the rest of the rotation, maybe to keep opponents guessing.

The Phillies’ rotation turned in 84 quality starts this season. But October always means managers have to think fast with their bullpens.

Trea Turner’s Hamstring Test

After a stint on the injured list, Turner looked healthy in the scrimmage. He pushed his recovering hamstring at game speed, which had to reassure the coaches and fans watching.

Turner’s speed is a real weapon for the Phillies, especially in those nail-biting postseason games where every run matters.

Sharpening Up Defensively

September was a little rough for the Phillies in the field. They made 12 errors and ran into outs on the bases, something Thomson called “a little bit sloppy.”

This week’s practices and the scrimmage put the focus back on fundamentals. The team looks sharper now, and honestly, they’ll need that edge for October’s chaos.

Postseason Outlook

The NLDS is almost here, and honestly, everything feels up for grabs. Crowd energy, roster health—these things could swing the Phillies’ performance in ways nobody can fully predict.

Fans left Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday feeling not just entertained, but pretty hopeful. There’s something about the mix of strong pitching, a steady lineup, and a new focus on defense that makes this team look hungry for another deep postseason run.

• 31,000+ fans showed up for the scrimmage, which actually beat Cleveland’s playoff opener attendance.
• 84 quality starts from Phillies pitchers during the regular season.
• Game 1 starter: Cristopher Sánchez is confirmed.
• Ranger Suárez should be ready for the NLDS.

Now, every pitch and every swing carries that October tension. After this last tune-up, you can just feel it—the Phillies seem ready to take on whatever’s next.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Phillies’ intrasquad game draws more fans than the Guardians’ wild-card opener