Phillies Making Small Change To Start Times For 2025

The Phillies are moving back their default start time a bit in 2025.

At their final home game of the 2024 regular season — which turned into a bye-clinching win over the Chicago Cubs — the Phillies gave away a schedule magnet for next season to all fans. 

The Athletic's Matt Gelb noticed a small difference: the Phillies are moving their default evening start time from 6:40 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. next season. 

One small change for 2025: All of the 6:40 p.m. home starts are shifting to 6:45 p.m. https://t.co/ABMejQVDv5

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 25, 2024

In 2022, the Phillies moved Monday-Thursday games played at Citizens Bank Park in April, May and September to 6:45 start times, after years of 7:05 being the default start time for all games. In 2023, the Phillies moved the default start time for all evening games to 6:40. 

There are varying perspectives on the 6:40 ET start time. On one hand, fans who work until 5 or 6 ET sometimes struggle to get to the park in time for first pitch. Those fans would argue that since the pitch clock — which was implemented in 2023 — has shortened games, it would make sense to start night games at 7:05 ET again. 

At the same time, there's something to be said for making sure the maximum number of fans are watching the end of the game. Having games end a half hour earlier means more kids can see the conclusion on school nights. It gives fans who are traveling from outside the city and have to work the next day an extra half hour to get home. And even if you live close to the park, there's something to be said for having some time to unwind when you get home, rather than it immediately being time for bed. 

The reality is leagues are probably as or more concerned with the TV audience than those at the stadium. Evidently, the powers that be have determined that 6:45 — not 6:40 of 7:05 — is the perfect start time for NBC Sports Philadelphia viewers.