(WEBN-TV/Flickr Creative Commons)
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies' (4-3-2) first of two split-squad days for the 2017 Grapefruit League season will take place Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Clay Buchholz will oppose the Detroit Tigers (3-7) home at Spectrum Field, while RHP Nick Pivetta will start away against the Baltimore Orioles (4-5-1) at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Detroit Tigers (3-7) | Philadelphia Phillies (4-3-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Daniel Norris | RHP | Clay Buchholz | ||
| (2016: 4-2, 3.38 ERA) | (2016: 8-10, 4.78 ERA) | ||||
| Philadelphia Phillies (4-3-2) | Baltimore Orioles (4-5-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Nick Pivetta | RHP | Mike Wright | ||
| (2016, MiLB: 12-8, 3.27 ERA) | (2016: 3-4, 5.79 ERA) | ||||
Buchholz, 32, will make his second appearance in a Phillies uniform. He allowed two hits and a walk through two scoreless frames against the Orioles on Feb. 28. Norris' spring debut on the same day against the New York Yankees lasted 1 2/3 innings with a hit and walk allowed. The 23-year-old struck out one batter in the no-decision.
(stats via mlb.com)
Pivetta, 24, was acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 28, 2015, in exchange for closer Jonathan Papelbon. The California native appeared in 27 starts combined at the Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley levels last season and struck out 138 batters through 148 2/3 innings. In five innings this spring, Pivetta has allowed a pair of runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four.
Wright's spring debut came against the Phillies on Feb. 28, where he allowed a two-run home run to first baseman Tommy Joseph in the second inning. The 27-year-old did not allow a walk in the appearance but surrendered two hits.
Starting Lineups:
| vs. Detroit Tigers (3-7) | at Baltimore Orioles (4-5-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 2B | Scott Kingery^ | R | 2 | DH | Chris Coghlan^ | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 4 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R | 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L | 5 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 6 | DH | Daniel Nava^ | S | 6 | LF | Cameron Perkins^ | R |
| 7 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins^ | R | 7 | SS | J.P. Crawford^ | L |
| 8 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S | 8 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 9 | C | Ryan Hanigan^ | R | 9 | CF | Roman Quinn | S |
^ non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- vs. DET: TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP, 97.1 The Ticket
- at BAL: TV: MASN; Radio: 105.7 The Fan
Game Notes:
- Eleven-time All-Star Miguel Cabrera will start as the designated hitter for the Tigers in Clearwater. According to MLB.com's Jason Beck, it will be his final Grapefruit League appearance before the World Baseball Classic. Similarly, Pivetta will leave Phillies camp to join Team Canada.
- The Tigers have won only one of their last six games, which includes a 11-1 defeat to the Yankees on Saturday. Detroit ranks second-to-last in team on-base percentage (.286) and OPS (.652) this spring, while the Orioles rank second-to-last in team batting average (.207).
- Phillies Alumni Day will take place at Spectrum Field, with former players throughout the ballpark and on the field for pre-game introductions. Attendees confirmed so far, per CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury: Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Dick Allen, John Kruk and Ron Clark. View the complete attending alumni list.
- The Phillies are coming off of a six-run, six-hit 7th inning rally on Saturday to overcome the division rival Atlanta Braves, 7-4. Four Phillies doubled that inning: catcher Jorge Alfaro, center fielder Roman Quinn, non-roster invitee DH Chris Coghlan and first baseman Andrew Knapp. The Phillies had six extra-base hits overall in the victory.
What's Next:
- Tuesday, March 7, 2017: at Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.
- Joker Marchant Stadium (Lakeland)
- RHP Aaron Nola (2016: 6-9, 4.78 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (2016: 16-9, 3.04 ERA)
- TV: MLBN; Radio: WXYT 1270
