Phillies, Aaron Nola Set for Grapefruit League Home Opener
By Matt Rappa
This afternoon, Phillies spring training baseball returns to Spectrum Field, as Aaron Nola takes the mound ahead of his sixth season in red pinstripes.
Coming off of their 8-8 tie to the Detroit Tigers in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener, the Philadelphia Phillies will kick off their home spring training exhibition slate Sunday afternoon opposite right-hander Trevor Williams and the split-squad Pittsburgh Pirates. Starting for the Phillies will be ace right-hander Aaron Nola, who will begin his in-game preparation for his sixth season with the team.
Former first-round pick Mickey Moniak will make his first start, and second overall appearance, after lacing a line drive RBI double to right in the eighth inning, which gave the Phillies a 7-5 advantage against the Tigers. Detroit will face the other half of the Pirates roster on Sunday.
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Roman Quinn will start at center field, leading off. He and Adam Haseley are likely to platoon in the role this coming season, barring an impressive spring showing from another outfielder. Among those could be the recently acquired Kyle Garlick from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will start in left and bat eighth. Haseley went 0-for-2 with a strikeout, hit-by-pitch and run scored in Saturday’s tie.
Just days after receiving news that he lost his arbitration case against the Phillies, catcher J.T. Realmuto will make his spring debut batting second behind Quinn.
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Following Realmuto is shortstop Didi Gregorius, who will play in his first game under the watch of Joe Girardi since Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the eventual-champion Houston Astros.
Jean Segura will bat cleanup as the starting third baseman, playing at the position for the first time in the majors; top prospect Alec Bohm went 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI at the position on Saturday, replacing non-roster invitee Logan Forsythe (0-1, BB).
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Batting fifth will be designated hitter Jay Bruce, playing in his first major-league game action since September 24. The 32-year-old missed time with the Phillies last season due to a oblique strain and a flexor strain, but, when healthy, he was a key contributor.
Non-roster invitees Neil Walker and Josh Harrison will bat between Bruce and Garlick as the starting first and second basemen. Both were previously teammates with left fielder Andrew McCutchen on the Pittsburgh Pirates, and are strong candidates for the Phillies’ 26th roster spot.
Lineup:
Roman Quinn (S) CF
J.T. Realmuto (R) C
Didi Gregorius (L) SS
Jean Segura (R) 3B
Jay Bruce (L) DH
Neil Walker (S) 1B
Josh Harrison (R) 2B
Kyle Garlick (R) LF
Mickey Moniak (L) CF
First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP