By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Just 19 spring training games remain, and for the Philadelphia Phillies (6-8), it appears the club is getting hot at the right time heading into Opening Day on March 29.
The Phillies have won four straight games, outscoring and outhitting their opponents 17-12 and 29-28, respectively. Over this stretch, Phillies starting pitching has a 2.13 ERA through 12 2/3 innings, with just three earned runs allowed.
Rookie manager Gabe Kapler's squad will carry this momentum heading into their Friday matchup against southpaw Steven Brault and the Pittsburgh Pirates (4-7-2) at Spectrum Field. Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff will make his third start.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Pittsburgh Pirates (4-7-2) | Philadelphia Phillies (6-8) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Steven Brault | RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | ||
| (1-0, 0.00 ERA) | (0-1, 4.50 ERA) | ||||
Brault, 25, has thrown four scoreless frames through two spring appearances thus far, allowing no hits and just one walk, while striking out two batters.
The Pirates plan for Brault to enter the 2018 season as a reliever, although it appears they are keeping him stretched out for now. Pirates general manager Neal Huntington indicated on Dec. 11 that doing so respects "the body of work of last year's starters, while not closing any doors." His most recent appearance on March 4 was in relief, while his Feb. 27 spring debut was as a starter.
Phillies brass in Andy MacPhail, Ned Rice and Matt Klentak will recall the La Mesa, California native, as their former club in the Baltimore Orioles originally drafted Brault in the 11th round of the 2013 amateur draft out of Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Eickhoff, 27, is coming off of a 2 2/3-scoreless inning performance against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 4, allowing only two hits while striking out two. The right-hander has five strikeouts through four innings overall this spring, while allowing three runs (two earned) on five total hits and no walks.
Unlike Brault, Eickhoff will surely enter the 2018 season within the Phillies' starting rotation as either the No. 2 or No. 3 starter, behind RHP Aaron Nola. The Phillies could still add to their rotation depth through free agency, however with less than two dozen exhibition contests remaining, preparations for such pitcher would likely need to linger on into minor league appearances before debuting in red pinstripes at the big league level.
Starting Lineups:
| Pittsburgh Pirates (4-7-2) | Philadelphia Phillies (6-8) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Adam Frazier | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | RF | Gregory Polanco | L | 2 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 3 | LF | Jordan Luplow | R | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 1B | Josh Bell | S | 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | C | Elias Diaz | R | 5 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 6 | 3B | Max Moroff | S | 6 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 7 | SS | Kevin Newman* | R | 7 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 8 | CF | Todd Cunningham* | S | 8 | DH | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 9 | P | Steven Brault | L | 9 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
* non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP+, MLBN
- Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- Given catchers Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp's success at the plate so far this spring with a home run each and slashing .357/.471/.643 and .231/.267/.615, respectively, the clock is ticking for Cameron Rupp to impress. Rupp is slashing just .143/.250/.143 with two hits, both singles, in 14 at-bats. He will start as the designated hitter on Friday, batting eighth.
- Both clubs first met this spring last Saturday, March 3, with the Phillies playing in split-squad action. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 4-3, thanks to their three-run seventh inning. The Phillies are Pirates will play three more spring games after Friday's contest: March 23, March 26 and March 27.
- The Phillies and Pirates offenses have produced the fewest hits this spring, 109.
What's Next:
- Saturday, March 10, 2018: vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field, Clearwater, Fla.
- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (1-1, 7.36 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
