By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
TAMPA, Fla. — In what will likely be his second-to-last outing of spring training, Philadelphia Phillies (10-14-3) Opening Day starter RHP Jeremy Hellickson will take the mound against southpaw CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees (19-7-1) Friday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Phillies have won just once over their last eight games. During this stretch they have been outscored 49-30 and outhit 66-61. In two of the contests the Phillies were limited to two hits or less, away games against the Yankees (March 15) and Rays (March 19).
Prior to the game, catcher Logan Moore, infielder Hector Gomez, outfielder Tyler Goeddel, along with right-handers Jake Thompson and Dalier Hinojosa were all optioned to minor-league camp. Goeddel will reportedly begin the season at Double-A due to the expected outfield logjam at the Triple-A level.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-14-3) | New York Yankees (19-7-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | LHP | CC Sabathia | ||
| (2016: 12-10, 3.71 ERA) | (2016: 9-12, 3.91 ERA) | ||||
Despite allowing eight runs (five earned) over five innings in his most recent start on Saturday, Hellickson, 29, was named the Phillies' Opening Day starter a day later. The right-hander accepted a $17.2 million qualifying offer this past offseason and looks to be a veteran leader at the top of the rotation along with newly-acquired RHP Clay Buchholz from Boston.
The seven-year veteran has allowed the third-most hits this spring among qualifying pitchers (26), trailing just San Francisco Giants RHP Matt Cain (32) and Colorado Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (28). Hellickson has also allowed the third-most runs (18), just one shy of Cain and Atlanta Braves RHP R.A. Dickey.
Sabathia, 36, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in October and enters a contract season. The 16-year veteran has said he hopes to pitch beyond 2017 as long as he's healthy, even if it is not in Yankees pinstripes.
Since his stretch of three All-Star appearances from 2010-2012, Sabathia has struggled. In 2013 he led all of baseball in earned runs allowed (112). Furthermore, Sabathia has posted an ERA north of 3.90 in each of the last four seasons, totaling 99 starts and 604 innings on the mound with a 1.377 WHIP ratio.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-14-3) | New York Yankees (19-7-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Brett Gardner | L |
| 2 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R | 2 | C | Gary Sanchez | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 2B | Starlin Castro | R |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | DH | Matt Holliday | R |
| 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L | 5 | 1B | Chris Carter | R |
| 6 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 6 | 3B | Chase Headley | S |
| 7 | C | Ryan Hanigan^ | R | 7 | CF | Aaron Hicks | S |
| 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 8 | RF | Aaron Judge | R |
| 9 | DH | Andrew Knapp | S | 9 | SS | Ronald Torreyes | R |
^ non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: MLBN
- Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- The Phillies are interested in acquiring free agent outfielder Angel Pagan, according to Jon Heyman. The Yankees have been linked to Freddy Galvis in rumors to replace injured shortstop Didi Gregorius (shoulder), who could miss all of April. A trade could be in the works that involves either Galvis or Cesar Hernandez, warranting the Pagan signing through moving Howie Kendrick from left field to second base.
- The Phillies' Triple-A spring training team hit six home runs in their game Thursday afternoon at the Carpenter Complex, according to Matt Gelb. Two came from Andrew Pullin, while Dylan Cozens, Nick Williams, Cameron Perkins and Harold Martinez also went yard.
- The Yankees lead all teams this spring in home runs (40), ERA (3.59), opposing batting average (.214) and WHIP (1.15).
- The Phillies' final Grapefruit League game of 2017 will take place a week from today, Friday, March 31 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Spectrum Field.
What's Next:
- Saturday, March 25, 2017: at Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m.
- JetBlue Park (Fort Myers)
- RHP Alec Asher (2016: 2-1, 2.28 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick (2016, Triple-A Salt Lake: 6-5, 4.72 ERA)
- TV: N/A; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
