Larry Andersen, the beloved Phillies radio announcer, is currently recovering in Clearwater, Florida, following bladder surgery. At 71, Andersen has reduced his schedule over the years but has hoped to call games during the season as the Phillies thrive as playoff contenders. He is known for his unique commentary style and humor, contrasting with the metrics-driven approach of his colleague Kevin Stocker, who is filling in for him while he recuperates. The Phillies are entering a crucial series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Andersen's absence is felt by fans and colleagues alike.

Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to Citizens Bank Park for a much-anticipated three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers, boasting a staggering $330 million payroll, are currently on an impressive eight-game winning streak. Ohtani's teammate, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is scheduled for his first matchup against the Phillies, but fans will need an Apple TV+ subscription to catch Friday's game. Meanwhile, the Phillies have begun their season strong with a 5-1 record, led by Edmundo Sosa, who has been batting .600 but may not start due to Trea Turner's return from injury.

For those looking to watch, Friday's game will stream exclusively on Apple TV+, while Saturday's match will air on FS1. Aaron Nola is set to pitch for the Phillies against Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki. Sunday’s game returns to NBC Sports Philadelphia, featuring legends like Mike Schmidt in the broadcast booth. The series promises to be a preview of a potential NL Championship showdown, with both teams looking to solidify their early season success.

The 2025 fantasy baseball season is heating up with various closer competitions across MLB teams. With just a week into the season, some teams are still struggling to clarify their closer situations. Notably, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shifted their focus from David Bednar to Dennis Santana, who has emerged as a reliable option after a successful outing against the Tampa Bay Rays.

In Philadelphia, the Phillies are weighing multiple candidates for saves, including Jose Alvarado and Jordan Romano, while the Cincinnati Reds could see Emilio Pagan stepping up in Alexis Diaz's absence due to injury. The Colorado Rockies seem to have settled on Seth Halvorsen, and the Boston Red Sox have Aroldis Chapman in the mix following Liam Hendriks' injury. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers' Luke Jackson has quickly become a primary closer despite his shaky ERA. The Los Angeles Dodgers might have the most valuable closer situation in the league, with several pitchers vying for save opportunities.

Current MLB players have openly critiqued ESPN’s Top 100 player rankings, emphasizing a disconnect between hype and actual performance metrics. Many players expressed concern that players like Roki Sasaki are ranked above proven talents like J.T. Realmuto, questioning the criteria of evaluating potential over tangible achievements. Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham articulated that a handful of strong months shouldn't overshadow consistent multi-year performances. Others, like Adam Ottavino, pointed out the imbalance in the rankings between position players and pitchers, suggesting a misalignment with their market value. Notably, Aaron Judge's ranking at No. 4 surprised many, as they argued that his previous statistics warranted a higher position.