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Phillies: Exhibition lineup provides hints for Opening Day

By George Stockburger

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: Adam Haseley #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies takes a swing during a game two of a doubleheader baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: Adam Haseley #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies takes a swing during a game two of a doubleheader baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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We might have our first glimpse of the Phillies opening day lineup

For the first time in 294 days, the Phillies will be playing a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park.

Joe Girardi’s squad will face the Baltimore Orioles in an exhibition game starting at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday night, the second of three exhibition games leading up to opening day on July 24.

Girardi’s lineup for Sunday night has been released and we might have our first real look at the Phillies opening day lineup.

  1. Andrew McCutchen, DH
  2. Bryce Harper, RF
  3. J.T. Realmuto, C
  4. Jay Bruce, LF
  5. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
  6. Didi Gregorius, SS
  7. Jean Segura, 3B
  8. Scott Kingery, 2B
  9. Adam Haseley, CF

Zack Wheeler will make the start against Baltimore with the game being carried on NBC Sports Philadelphia and 94 WIP.

The lineup is a formidable one and gives some hints at what Girardi might be looking at for opening day. McCutchen and Bruce could interchange as the left fielder and DH, but keeping McCutchen’s legs fresh for the season is key, thus having him DH tonight makes sense.

McCutchen was playing like an All-Star again as the Phillies leadoff hitter last year before tearing his ACL, hitting .282 with six doubles and five homes runs in May. His disappearance from the lineup was felt immediately and the entire offense suffered from it.

The Phillies are moving Bryce Harper up in the lineup

Harper hitting second is interesting, but he did it 23 times last year, the second most of any batting order. Having him hit second provides an early spark and potential for runs with protection behind him in Realmuto.

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There’s a lot of power stacked in those first six hitters, who combined to hit 141 home runs last year. That included a disappointing year for Hoskins (29 home runs) and only 16 from Gregorius in 82 games coming off an injury.

The bottom of the lineup is full of pure hitting with Segura, Kingery, and Haseley, each of whom has the talent to hit .280-.300+ for this team. I see a lot of singles from Segura that are backed up by doubles from Kingery and Haseley, who hit 48 last year in limited games.

This is also another look for Haseley after Roman Quinn started on Saturday against the Nationals, going 0-1 with a HBP and an RBI sac fly. Those two might platoon in center field to start the season.

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