Bryce Harper
Aaron Nola will start his fifth consecutive Opening Day on Friday as the Phillies open their 2022 campaign at Citizens Bank Park with an interleague matchup with the Oakland Athletics. Nola, 28, finished 9-9 last year and posted a 4.63 ERA over 32 starts. 

The right-hander struggled with keeping the ball in the yard, surrendering 26 homers, the seventh most in Major League Baseball. He also posted a 27.2% fly-ball rate, the highest mark of his career. Nola's struggles with the homer continued into the spring as he surrendered six over 14 1/3 innings. 

"It's all about practice and getting firm on the location," Nola said last week. 

Let's see if things differ in 2022. 

The Lineup 
Bryson Stott has earned a spot in the Opening Day lineup, outperforming Alec Bohm and securing the nod at third base. 

1. Kyle Schwarber, LF 
2. J.T. Realmuto, C 
3. Bryce Harper, RF 
4. Nick Castellanos, DH 
5. Rhys Hoskins, 1B 
6. Didi Gregorius, SS 
7. Jean Segura, 2B 
8. Bryson Stott, 3B 
9. Matt Vierling, CF 
Aaron Nola, SP 

This is a lineup with high expectations. Schwarber and Castellanos are significant additions, and both have the potential to hit 30 homers and drive in 90 runs. There are more than a few questions about the defense, but if the Phillies can mash their way to the NL East pennant, a lack of Gold Glove performances won't matter. 

Injury Update 
The Phillies have placed Mickey Moniak on the 10-day IL retroactive to April 7 with a fractured right hand. He's likely to be out for six weeks. The club recalled outfielder Simon Muzziotti to take Moniak's place on the roster. Manager Joe Girardi said before Friday's opener that he envisions Muzziotti seeing action across the outfield. 

"You can't just run the same guys out seven straight days," Girardi said. 

The Phillies also placed relievers Ryan Sherriff (left shoulder strain) and Sam Coonrod (right shoulder strain) on the 10-day IL. 

About the Athletics 
Right-hander Frankie Montas will start for the A's, looking to build on a solid 2021 campaign. The 29-year-old pitched to a 3.37 ERA over 32 starts last season for Oakland while finishing 13-9. He also collected 207 strikeouts over 187 innings and posted a 1.18 WHIP. 

Traditionally a small-market franchise, Oakland cut nearly to the bone this winter. The club has a payroll hovering around $50 million and dealt away valuable talent in Matt Olsen, Sean Manaea, and Matt Chapman. 

Philadelphia History 
The Athletics last opened a season in Philadelphia on April 13, 1954. Spook Jacobs finished that contest 4-for-5 while Bill Renna drove in three runs to lift the A's to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in front of 16,331 fans at Connie Mack Stadium. Bobby Shantz tossed five innings, surrendering two runs on five hits to record the victory, while Gus Zernial chipped in with a two-run homer. The 1954 season was the A's final year in Philadelphia. The club moved to Kansas City in 1955 before eventually moving to Oakland in 1968.

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