"JokerMarchant behind home plate" by Mikerussell at en.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
The Phillies will face the Detroit Tigers for their second matchup of three total this week, as the teams head to Lakeland. The Tigers are also sending half of their club to Kissimmee to face the Astros. Split squads are common in Grapefruit League play, since there are an odd number of teams (15) in Florida.
The Phillies will roll out three potential starters today, beginning with Jerome Williams. Williams has logged five innings and given up just one run in two appearances, including one start. Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that David Buchanan, Kevin Slowey, Luis Garcia, and Hector Neris will follow Williams today. Williams and Buchanan are almost guaranteed spots in the Phillies' starting rotation in 2015, with injury to Cliff Lee. Kevin Slowey may even get a shot should Cole Hamels be moved before Opening Day.
The Tigers are sending their former ace Justin Verlander to the mound. I use the word "former" since he has not been his old self in sometime (maybe since he began dating Kate Upton?) While Verlander pitched 206 innings and won 15 games last season, his 4.54 ERA was second-worse in his career, and usually well-beyond his typical ERA. Even with his two down seasons, Verlander has a 3.53 lifetime ERA.
Ryan Howard plays his fourth game in a row at first base as the Phillies look to move him. Cody Asche returns to the lineup at third base after missing a few games after getting hit by a pitch. Yesterday's offensive hero Cesar Hernandez gets the day off, despite Chase Utley being out. Andres Blanco gets the start at second base.
Phillies Lineup:
Today's #PhilliesST lineup vs the #Tigers. @pinkpuka36 vs Verlander. 1:05 PM game time on @MLBTV. pic.twitter.com/9KPS4Z7PCj
— Phillies (@Phillies) March 12, 2015
Tigers Lineup:
#Tigers' lineup vs. #Phillies: Davis CF, Perez SS, J.D. Martinez RF, Cespedes DH, Collins LF, Holaday C, Lennerton 1B, Wilson 2B, Romine 3B.
— James Schmehl (@jamesschmehl) March 12, 2015
First pitch: 1:05
TV: None
Radio: Detroit broadcast on MLB.com
