By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies' (6-7-2) third-to-last weekend of spring training action will get underway Saturday afternoon as they take on RHP Marco Estrada and the Toronto Blue Jays (4-8-1) at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
Right-hander Vince Velasquez will start for the Phillies. In his only appearance this spring — March 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte — Velasquez threw two shutout innings with a walk, hit batter and strikeout each.
The Phillies have lost three straight games, whereas the Blue Jays have won two straight.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (6-7-2) | Toronto Blue Jays (4-8-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vince Velasquez | RHP | Marco Estrada | ||
| (2016: 8-6, 4.12 ERA) | (2016: 9-9, 3.48 ERA) | ||||
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (6-7-2) | Toronto Blue Jays (4-8-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | CF | Kevin Pillar | R |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | SS | Troy Tulowitzki | R |
| 3 | LF | Brock Stassi^ | L | 3 | LF | Melvin Upton Jr. | R |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | 1B | Justin Smoak | S |
| 5 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 5 | DH | Kendrys Morales | S |
| 6 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 6 | C | Jarrod Saltalamacchia^ | S |
| 7 | DH | Aaron Altherr | R | 7 | 3B | Darwin Barney | R |
| 8 | CF | Cameron Perkins^ | R | 8 | RF | Darrell Ceciliani | L |
| 9 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 9 | 2B | Ryan Goins | L |
^ non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:07 p.m.
- TV: N/A
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP, SN590
Game Notes:
- Scheduled Phillies relievers: right-hander Jeanmar Gomez and non-roster invitee left-handers Cesar Ramos and Sean Burnett.
- Phillies top catching prospect Jorge Alfaro — playing as the designated hitter for Team Columbia Friday evening in the World Baseball Classic — hit a two-out line drive single in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, 2-2. He opposed fellow Phillies RHP Pat Neshek of Team USA.
- Estrada, 33, will make his spring debut. The nine-year veteran hoped to join Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, however he never fully recovered from pitching through last season with a herniated disc.
- The Phillies and Blue Jays are 1-1-1 against each other so far this spring. After Saturday, they will meet three more times — including the annual St. Patrick's Day game at Spectrum Field — before the conclusion of Grapefruit League action.
Jake Thompson (right wrist) is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game today while Zack Eflin is scheduled to throw live BP. #Phillies
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) March 11, 2017
What's Next:
- Sunday, March 12, 2017: vs. Boston Red Sox, 1:07 p.m.
- Spectrum Field (Clearwater)
- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2016: 3-7, 4.71 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (2016: 6-9, 4.78 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
