Happy Thursday, Philly — and an especially happy Opening Day to all who celebrate.
Are the Phillies destined to win it all? Which player will be the best story this season? Read on for these and more 2026 predictions from our baseball writers.
And real-time estimates of when a SEPTA bus or trolley will arrive could be coming to a stop near you.
Plus, bars in the city can stay open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup via a proposed bill, and more news of the day.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Batter up! The 2026 baseball season is here.
⚾ Season predictions: Let’s get right down to it. Are our Phils going to the World Series this year? The Inquirer’s sports writers are split on how far they’ll go — but they agree that this team is at least making the playoffs. See their boldest 2026 season predictions, plus key questions for every player.
⚾ Eyes on the veterans: Winning a World Series “changes everything,” as one five-time All-Star put it. And the Phillies legacies for this year’s veteran core are riding on it. The team is also infusing youth with Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter — and no pressure, but they “need ’em.”
⚾ At the ballpark: The Phillies caught backlash from fans when they announced the replacement of Harry The K’s with an advertisement for Ghost Energy drinks. Ghost’s West Chester-born founder gets it, but says the Hall of Fame broadcaster’s legacy is “far bigger than a concession stand.” Plus, get hungry: The team is partnering with some of the city’s top chefs for the Cadillac Hall of Fame Club. And for the rest of us, there’s the Schwarbomb Sundae and more new Aramark food options.
See more from The Inquirer’s Phillies season preview.
In other baseball news: The Phillies’ triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, will host a barbecue rib buffet in honor of Zack Wheeler. The reason is … yeah, just find out for yourself.
Riders have been asking, SEPTA is delivering: Devices showing real-time estimates of your bus or trolley’s arrival time might be coming to a stop near you.
The Kindle-looking e-readers will display schedules, arrival countdowns, and service alerts. They are small enough to hang on a bus stop pole, they run on solar power, and, yes, they’re weather- and vandalism-proof. To a point. (Remember: If we want good things, we can’t destroy them.)
The first 10 will be deployed in May for a testing period. First, SEPTA wants suggestions for where to place them.
Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald has more details.
What you should know today
Quote of the day
Just as hospitality groups hoped, bars in Philadelphia can stay open until 4 a.m. during this summer’s FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th under a new bill headed to Gov. Josh Shapiro. A spokesperson said he intends to sign it.
P.S. Soccer fans looking to buy tickets for the World Cup at face value will have a final opportunity on April 1.
🧠 Trivia time
The latest census numbers are out. Continuing last year’s trend, how many residents did Philadelphia add in 2025?
A) 1,500
B) 15,000
C) None
D) The city lost 15,000 residents
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re …
🐶 Crying over: This tail of the Philly dog who went missing — and was reunited with his family 11 years later.
⚕️ Learning: About America’s first medical school, founded in Philadelphia in 1765.
🍸 Anticipating: This Swarthmore cocktail lounge inspired by Japan’s vinyl listening bars.
🎆 Welcoming: America’s 250th birthday bash, coming soon to a block near you.
🚓 Considering: Why a rise in rank doesn’t always mean more authority.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: New Jersey politician
ROB COOKERY
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Nancy Zeltner, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: DoorDash. The food delivery company’s Philadelphia workers traveled roughly 14.5 million miles by bike last year. More cyclists are taking orders and they seem to earn more, too.
More on the gig economy: Waiting longer for a rideshare? Or for a fast food delivery? Here’s part of the reason: Stricter immigration enforcement is shrinking the labor pool.
Photo of the day
🥊 One last relocated thing: The Rocky statue has been moved from the base of the Art Museum steps and will soon be included in an exhibition inside, to run from April 25 through August. After that, the statue will be installed at the top of the steps, and a statue of real-life boxing champ “Smokin’” Joe Frazier will take over Rocky’s former home at the base of the steps.
Have a good one. Go Phils.
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