By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — With news that outfielder Aaron Altherr will miss four-to-six months to recovery from a surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn sheath tendon in his left wrist, the Philadelphia Phillies (5-3-1) will begin to look for a viable replacement starting this afternoon, as they take on both the winless Baltimore Orioles (0-8-1) and Minnesota Twins (4-3-1), home and away respectively, in split-squad action.
Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson was the scheduled starter against the Orioles, however he has been scratched with the flu, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Starting Pitching Matchups:
Home, Bright House Field
| Baltimore Orioles (0-8-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (5-3-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Yovani Gallardo | RHP | Alec Asher | ||
| (2015: 13-11, 3.42 ERA) | (1-0, 4.50 ERA) | ||||
Gallardo, 30, takes the mound for his spring and Orioles debut. The nine-year veteran signed to a two-year, $22 million contract with a $13 million club option for 2018 on Feb. 25.
While a per-signing physical revealed that Gallardo has minor shoulder damage, the Orioles' rotation will see consistency this season, as the right-hander has started at least 30 games in seven consecutive campaigns dating back to 2009 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Asher, 24 takes the mound for his second Grapefruit League appearance of 2016. On Thursday, March 3, against the New York Yankees, the right-hander allowed just one run while striking out four over two innings of work, en-route to a winning decision.
—
Away, CenturyLink Sports Complex
| Philadelphia Phillies (5-3-1) | Minnesota Twins (4-3-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Zach Eflin | LHP | Tommy Milone | ||
| (0-0, 0.00 ERA) | (0-0, 4.50 ERA) | ||||
Eflin, acquired on Dec. 19, 2014, from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for franchise hits leader, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, earns his first start of the spring.
The 21-year-old Orlando, Florida, native allowed one unearned run, one hit and two walks in his last appearance on Thursday, March 3, in the 3-2 defeat against the Houston Astros.
Milone, 29, is competing with long-time Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco this spring for the final spot in the Twins' starting rotation. Last Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the southpaw allowed one run and four hits over two innings.
Starting Lineups:
| vs. Baltimore Orioles (0-8-1) | at Minnesota Twins (4-3-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Peter Bourjos | R | 1 | CF | Roman Quinn | S |
| 2 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 2B | Andres Blanco | S |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | DH | Carlos Ruiz | R | 5 | DH | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 6 | C | J.P. Arencibia | R | 6 | LF | Tyler Goeddel | R |
| 7 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L | 7 | 1B | Brock Stassi | L |
| 8 | 3B | Taylor Featherston | R | 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 9 | RF | David Lough | L | 9 | RF | Cedric Hunter | L |
See: Orioles lineup, Twins lineup
Broadcast Information:
- vs. Baltimore Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
- Clearwater – Bright House Field
- TV: TCN, MLB.TV; Radio: N/A
- at Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m.
- Fort Myers – CenturyLink Sports Complex
- TV: N/A; Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- The Phillies' sole Major League free agent signing this offseason, right-hander and closer hopeful David Hernandez, is day-to-day with right triceps tendinitis. Hernandez has not appeared in a game this spring since Tuesday, March 1, against the Toronto Blue Jays, when he threw a perfect inning of relief.
- Entering in relief of Eflin against the Twins in Fort Myers will be right-handed prospects Jake Thompson and Mark Appel. In one relief appearance this spring, Thompson has allowed one unearned run, three hits and a walk over two innings. On Thursday, March 3, against the Yankees, Appel walked four batters and allowed a run in two innings.
- The Phillies are currently on a three-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents 11 runs to seven during this stretch.
What's Next:
- Thursday, March 10, 2016: vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.
- Clearwater – Bright House Field
- RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (0-1, 18.00 ERA)
- TV: TCN, MLB.TV, MLBN; Radio: WXYT 1270
