After offseason headlines indicated a tenuous relationship between Sandberg and shortstop Jimmy Rollins and controversy about draft picks who did not sign with the team, the season began auspiciously with an opening-day win.

[2] According to Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bold best describes what Rubén Amaro Jr. has done so far in putting together the 2014 Phillies and it sure is appropriate that the word ends with the letters O-L-D."[3] The team wanted to re-sign Carlos Ruiz (or find another catcher) and sign a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder and a middle-of-the-rotation starter to supplement Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee after the departure of Roy Halladay and the discovery of medical problems in Cuban Miguel Alfredo González, signed by the Phillies the previous summer.

[4] The Phillies' first offseason acquisition was Shawn Camp, a right-handed middle reliever coming off an "awful" season with the Chicago Cubs who was signed on November 11, 2013, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

[7] The following week the team signed infielder Reid Brignac, a well-regarded prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays who had struggled in the major leagues, to a minor-league contract with a spring-training invitation.

[24] Uncertain if minor-league catching prospects Cameron Rupp, Tommy Joseph and Sebastian Valle were ready for the major leagues, the Phillies signed "strong defensive catcher" Wil Nieves to a one-year contract for $1.125 million as a backup.

[26] On December 18 they brought back Lou Marson, a top catching prospect for the Phillies "languish[ing]" on the Cleveland Indians as part of a package of players traded for Cliff Lee, on a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

[28] Just over a week later they signed Chad Gaudin, a right-handed pitcher with starting and relief experience, a 5–2 record and a 3.06 ERA with the San Diego Padres in 2013 (before an August season-ending carpal tunnel injury), to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training;[29] he was released on February 13, 2014, after failing a physical.

[31] On February 12, when Cole Hamels announced he would not be ready for opening day due to tendinitis in his throwing shoulder,[32] A. J. Burnett was reportedly signed to a one-year, $16 million contract[33] despite Amaro's previous assertion that the Phillies would make no more major acquisitions.

One replacement analyst was planned, and early candidates included Ricky Bottalico, Mitch Williams, John Kruk, Chris Coste, Jamie Moyer, Brad Lidge and Matt Stairs.

Although the club hoped to avoid a "patchwork" starting rotation like 2013's, it already lacked pitching depth;[66] two top prospects, Adam Morgan and Shane Watson, were lost for most of the season due to shoulder surgery.

[73] On March 8 the Phillies made their first minor-league demotions: seven players, including two (Michael Stutes and Luis García) with major-league experience, and top pitching prospect Jesse Biddle.

[74] On March 17 Sandberg confirmed speculation that Cliff Lee would be the Phillies' opening-day starting pitcher against his former team, the Texas Rangers and Yu Darvish,[75][76] and Rule 5 draft selection Kevin Munson was returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

[83] The club's bench narrowed when the Phillies announced that Bobby Abreu would not make the team (primarily due to lackluster defense), leaving Tony Gwynn Jr., John Mayberry Jr., Reid Brignac, Wil Nieves and Hernández likely to remain.

[87] Two players who did not expect to make the team when they began spring training were left-handed reliever Mario Hollands (who said he was in "shock" when he heard the news) and outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr., ending a "long road back to the majors".

They won the first game of the series, 7–2, thanks to home runs by Utley and Mayberry and strong pitching from starter Roberto Hernández (who got credit for the win) and five relief pitchers who combined for 4+2⁄3 scoreless innings.

[96] The next day Lee threw seven scoreless innings and Papelbon recorded his first save of the season as the Phillies defeated the Cubs, 2–0; Utley was three-for-three, including a home run, to lead the team offensively.

Lee pitched a "gem" of a game, striking out 10 batters in eight shutout innings; Carlos Ruiz, in the cleanup spot, hit two doubles and a home run for four RBIs (his first of the season) for the Phillies' 7–0 win.

[117] Kendrick pitched the final game of the series for a 7–3 win, behind strong offense from Ruiz (who reached base in all five plate appearances, scoring twice and driving in two runs) and Byrd (who had four RBIs).

[126] At the end of the season's first month, the team's offensive leaders were Utley (.355 batting average), Howard (five home runs), Byrd (17 RBIs) and Revere (10 stolen bases).

[138] They won another one-run game (5–4) the next night; Ryan Howard's RBI single in the top of the ninth gave the Phillies the lead, and Papelbon recorded his 11th save of the season.

"[141] Days after he was optioned to AAA, Freddy Galvis broke his clavicle and the Phillies outrighted Jayson Nix from the 40-man roster, leaving the team with an infield hole despite the recall of Reid Brignac.

[147] The Phillies took the rubber match of the series, winning 8–3 with four home runs (by Rollins, Asche, Byrd and Wil Nieves) and a solid start from Lee (his last before joining the 15-day disabled list May 21 with to a left-elbow strain; the team recalled Ruf, who returned from injury).

After the Phillies lost game one (2–0) in a pitchers' duel between Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw, when they were zero-for-nine with runners in scoring position,[154] David Buchanan made his major-league debut on May 24.

The first play was reviewed because of the new MLB rule limiting a catcher's ability to block home plate, and Sandberg was ejected from the game for arguing the result (the first time he was thrown out since he began managing the Phillies).

They selected Aaron Nola, a starting pitcher from Louisiana State University predicted by many to be one of the first draft picks to reach the major leagues, for fast-tracking through the Phillies' minor-league system.

[231] Although the next evening's 14-inning game showcased Phillies trade candidates (including Byrd and Antonio Bastardo) to the team scouts in attendance, they lost 9–6 when the Giants scored four runs on Jeff Manship in the 14th.

[238] They won the rubber match the next day, when Roberto Hernandez pitched seven strong innings and Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer and scored the go-ahead run (ending a week in which he had been benched).

In the tenth, Chase Utley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded (scoring one run) and Howard added a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 5–3 victory and Papelbon a save.

[312][313][314][315] The next day "Atlanta's offense remained in desultory mode" and Kyle Kendrick was helped by double plays to a Phillies 4–0 win, extending the Braves' scoreless streak to 24 innings.

The Phillies then headed to San Diego to face the Padres in a four-game series, managing two hits in the opener to spoil Jerome Williams' solid start with a 1–0 loss.