This afternoon at 1:05pm, the Phillies (8-6-1) play host to the Rays (5-6). This is the third time the two teams have met in Grapefruit League action this spring, with the Phillies taking both games by scores of 5-4 and 2-1.
Yesterday brought a flurry of bad news for Phillies fans. Not only did the Phils get trounced by the Orioles, 16-4, but the team also announced that Cliff Lee would be placed on the 60-day disabled list. The 36-year-old is going against medical experts that suggest surgery and opting to attempt rehab for a third time. We must move on though, and another day in spring training brings another starting pitching injury. Originally set to start today, Jerome Williams reportedly tweaked a hamstring while running on Sunday according to Delaware Online's Meghan Montemurro on Twitter. Williams plans to throw a bullpen session on Thursday and make his next scheduled start, so the hamstring issue doesn't seem to be serious at this time.
In place of Williams, David Buchanan will toe the rubber, making his fourth appearance of the spring. In seven innings thus far, Buchanan has allowed eight hits and two earned runs while striking out two. Right now, Buchanan could be as high as number three in the Phillies rotation if Aaron Harang's back issues persist into the start of the season. In 20 starts last season for the Phillies, Buchanan was serviceable, posting a 6-8 record and an ERA of 3.75 in 117.2 innings. Buchanan entered spring training fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation, but injuries to Cliff Lee and a slow recovering Chad Billingsley have made him a lock heading into the season. Meanwhile, Chase Utley will be in the lineup as DH for the third straight day and Carlos Ruiz will be behind the plate again for his eighth start in the Phillies 16 games this spring. Ken Giles, Phillippe Aumont and Nefi Ogando are also scheduled to pitch.
The Rays will counter with Alex Cobb, who has made two starts for them thus far this spring. In 4.1 innings, Cobb has surrendered three runs on six hits, good for an ERA of 6.23. He started 27 games for the Rays last season, posting an impressive 2.87 ERA over 166.1 innings, the most he's pitched in his career. This spring, hitters are averaging .333 against Cobb.
Here are today's lineups:
The #StPatricksDay #PhilliesST lineup vs #Rays. @davidb413 vs Cobb. 1:05pm game time on @CSNPhilly & @MLBTV. ⚾️⚾️ pic.twitter.com/NhhDFXgpJb
— Phillies (@Phillies) March 17, 2015
Today's lineup at @Phillies: Kiermaier CF Loney 1B Cabrera SS Longoria 3B Jennings LF Souza Jr. RF Rivera C Forsythe DH Elmore 2B Cobb P
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 17, 2015
Gametime: 1:05PM
TV: CSN & MLB TV
Radio: None
