Phillies: McCutchen, Gosselin sit as Haseley starts in center
Phillies manager Joe Girardi is changing things up on Sunday
The Phillies are going with their third new lineup in as many games under manager Joe Girardi in the Sunday matinee game against the Miami Marlins.
Andrew McCutchen will get the day off after going 0-9 in the first two games of the series, though he did make a fantastic catch in left field on Saturday.
Phil Gosselin, the hero of Saturday’s win with two home runs as the DH, will not play.
Also riding the pine is Roman Quinn, who has started the first two games in center field but is just 1-7 thus far. He also missed a key bunt on Saturday, which prompted a short discussion with Girardi when he returned to the dugout.
Playing in place of Quinn is Adam Haseley, who replaced McCutchen in left field on Saturday but did not get an at-bat. He battled with Quinn in camp for the starting center field job, which will be a platoon to start the season.
Here’s the full Phillies lineup for Sunday’s game against the Marlins with Vince Velasquez taking the mound for his first start of the season.
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- Haseley 8
- Hoskins 3
- Harper 9
- Realmuto 2
- Gregorius 6
- Segura 5
- Bruce 7
- Kingery 4
- Walker DH
Sunday will be a big day for Velasquez, who has to prove he can be an effective starting pitcher with top prospect Spencer Howard waiting in Lehigh Valley to take a rotation spot in the coming days.
If Velaquez can’t get through three innings without exceeding his pitch count or letting the Marlins circle him all afternoon, then he could be relegated to the bullpen in favor of Howard.
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Sunday will also be Neil Walker’s Phillies debut after he made the team out of camp with a minor league deal. Walker has 11 home runs against Philadelphia in as many seasons, and should be a key veteran both on and off the field.
Jose Urena was scheduled to start, but was scratched Sunday morning after he reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Robert Dugger will start in his place.