Reading To Clash With Hartford In 2026 Opening Series
(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies Double-A affiliate) will face off with the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies Double-A affiliate) for the Fightin Phils’ first home series of the 2026 season. This is the first time this year that Reading and Hartford will play one another. The
(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies Double-A affiliate) will face off with the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies Double-A affiliate) for the Fightin Phils’ first home series of the 2026 season. This is the first time this year that Reading and Hartford will play one another. The Yard Goats won the 2025 season series 11-7, with the Fightin Phils taking the last two contests of the campaign by scores of 9-7 and 4-3.
Tuesday is Opening Day at FirstEnergy Stadium, and the first 4,000 fans get a Baseballtown Connect Tribute Uniform. Attendees can also enjoy a Beer Tasting Festival at the Deck among other festivities. On Wednesday, any unused R-Phils game ticket can be utilized to enter the stadium as general admission. Thursday is America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration, where the Fightin Phils will be sporting the Reading Phillies throwback Thursday uniforms. On Friday, supporters can order beer or soda in a 32 oz. Collector Cup featuring Baseballtown Images and Retired Numbers. Saturday will mark the first fireworks show of the season, and Sunday’s Luau Tribute will come with “Lilo and Stitch” co-branded merchandise available.
The Fightin Phils (0-3) will embark on their first of 69 games in Baseballtown after an 0-3 start against the Akron Rubberducks (Cleveland Guardians Double-A affiliate) this past week. Reading fell by scores of 3-1, 9-3 and 5-0. Outfielder Austin Murr paced the offense, going 5-for-11 with a .500 on-base percentage in the series. Starting pitchers Adam Seminares (0-1, 3.60) and Chuck King (0-0, 0.00) were just shy of quality starts. Seminars spun five innings of two-run ball while striking out seven in a loss. King threw four shutout frames and struck out a pair for a no-decision.
The Yard Goats (2-1) enjoyed a successful opening homestand, claiming a series win over the Chesapeake Baysox (Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate). Hartford fell 7-4 in game one before triumphing 10-2 and 4-2. Outfielder Braylen Wimmer started the season off red-hot, going 4-for-7 with three runs scored and four RBI to start his 2026 campaign. Konnor Eaton (1-0, 0.00), Colorado’s no. 26 prospect per MLB.com, dialed up the team’s deepest start of the young campaign. The southpaw tossed six innings of shutout baseball while striking out four. Jake Brooks (0-0, 0.00) and Jack Mahoney (1-0, 3.60) rounded out an opening weekend rotation that all went at least five frames.
The pitching matchups for this week are as follows:
Tuesday: RHP Eiberson Castellano vs. RHP Braydon Tucker
Wednesday: LHP Griffin Herring vs. RHP Luke Russo
Thursday: RHP Jake Brooks vs. LHP Adam Seminares
Friday: LHP Konnor Eaton vs. RHP Kyle Brnovich
Saturday: RHP Jack Mahoney vs. RHP Chuck King
Sunday: TBA vs. Braydon Tucker
The Rockies top 30 prospects (per MLB.com) on the Yard Goats roster are as follows:
No. 9 - LHP Griffin Herring
No. 10 - 2B Roc Riggio
No. 21 - C Cole Messina
No. 26 - LHP Konnor Eaton
The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.