By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies (6-5-2) and RHP Jerad Eickhoff will oppose LHP Francisco Liriano and the Toronto Blue Jays (2-8-1) Thursday afternoon at Spectrum Field.
The Phillies will look to rebound from their 3-2 loss on Wednesday, in which their hitting produced just four hits while leaving six on base. Center fielder Roman Quinn delivered a late two-out, game-tying RBI in the defeat.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Toronto Blue Jays (2-8-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (6-5-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Francisco Liriano | RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | ||
| (2016: 8-13, 4.69 ERA) | (2016: 11-14, 3.65 ERA) | ||||
Liriano, 33, was acquired last August from the Pittsburgh Pirates — with minor-leaguers Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez — in exchange for RHP Drew Hutchison. The 2006 American League All-Star made two relief appearances last postseason in the Wild Card and Division series against the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers, respectively.
The Dominican Republic native is owed $13.7 million this season. He threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his spring debut against the New York Yankees on March 3.
Eickhoff, 26, has struggled so far this spring with four runs allowed — three earned — in five innings. During the Phillies’ 7-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on March 4, he surrendered a solo home run to 1B/OF Christian Walker. Walker has since been claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies’ Opening Day opponent on April 3.
Starting Lineups:
| Toronto Blue Jays (2-8-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (6-5-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Kevin Pillar | R | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 1B | Kendrys Morales | S | 2 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 3 | DH | Steve Pearce | R | 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 4 | SS | Troy Tulowitzki | R | 4 | RF | Michael Saunders | L |
| 5 | C | Jarrod Saltalamacchia^ | S | 5 | DH | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 6 | LF | Melvin Upton Jr. | R | 6 | 1B | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 7 | RF | Ezequiel Carrera | L | 7 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 8 | 3B | Darwin Barney | R | 8 | C | Logan Moore^ | L |
| 9 | 2B | Ryan Goins | L | 9 | CF | Aaron Altherr | R |
^ non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: TCN
- Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- Scheduled Phillies relievers: right-handers Alec Asher, Colton Murray and Edubray Ramos.
- Toronto’s lone non-roster invitee in Thursday’s starting lineup is catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The 10-year veteran signed a $1.25 million, non-guaranteed minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on Jan. 24. Saltalamacchia is expected to be the backup to catcher Russell Martin to open the 2017 season.
- Likewise, the Phillies’ only starting non-roster invitee is left-handed hitting catcher Logan Moore. Moore has yet to record a hit this spring through six at-bats and will bode a tough battle Thursday against southpaw Liriano.
What’s Next:
- Friday, March 10, 2017: vs. New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field (Clearwater)
- RHP Luis Cessa (2016: 4-4, 4.35 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (2016: 8-10, 4.78 ERA)
- TV: TCN, MLBN; Radio: N/A
