The Phillies seemed to have plenty of starting pitching depth. However, that is quickly falling apart. Cliff Lee? Injured. Chad Billingsley? Not ready until at least May. Jonathan Pettibone? Also not ready to return from injury. That leaves the Phillies with Cole Hamels (who may be traded), Aaron Harang (who already missed a start (to minor lower-back discomfort), David Buchanan, and Jerome Williams. That means that the Phillies need at least one other starter. Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez will get that chance.
The Phillies knew they were getting damaged goods when they signed Gonzalez. Instead of a six-year contract worth much more, the Phillies and Gonzalez settled on three years and $12 million to minimize the risk. Gonzalez gave the Phillies very little in 2014, before succumbing to injuries again. The Phillies hope that Gonzalez can rebound and demonstrate that he can start for the team. While $4 million a year cannot get you a middle-reliever these days, the Phillies would rather they get something for their investment.
The Phillies face former Phillies pitcher Alfredo Simon. The Phillies signed a player in the Dominican Republic in 1999 named Carlos Cabrera. Five years later the team learned he was really Alfred Simon, and was almost two years older than he claimed. Simon went to the San Francisco Giants in a 2003 trade deadline deal for reliever Felix Rodriguez.
Simon bounced from organization to the next, even spending time playing in the Mexican League before he found himself with the Cincinnati Reds, making the All Star team in 2014. The Tigers acquired Simon in an offseason trade with the Reds in exchange for infielder Eugenio Suarez and pitcher Jonathan Crawford. Simon pitched two scoreless innings in his first Spring appearance.
The Phillies will send most of their starters to the field today, the lone exception being second baseman Chase Utley, who is still not ready to appear in Spring Training action after spraining his ankle. Oduble Herrera will get another start at second base in his place. The Phillies will use the designated hitter to get potential platoon partners Darin Ruf and Grady Sizemore into the lineup.
The Tigers, meanwhile, are without their offensive star Miguel Cabrera, who is dealing with a stress fracture and bone spurs in his right leg. Phillies will face a Detroit lineup that features starters Ian Kinsler, Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez, and Jose Iglesias.
Phillies Lineup:
Today's #PhilliesST lineup vs the #Tigers. Gonzalez vs Simon. 1:05 PM game time on @TCNPhilly and @MLBNetwork. pic.twitter.com/XK79lmUWu2
— Phillies (@Phillies) March 10, 2015
After Gonzalez starts, Sean O'Sullivan, Kenny Giles, Jake Diekman and Nefi Ogando are lined up to pitch.
Tigers Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler 2B
- Jose Iglesias SS
- Tyler Collins LF
- J.D. Martinez RF
- Nick Castellanos 3B
- Steven Moya DH
- Daniel Fields CF
- Bryan Holaday C
- Aaron Westlake 1B
Broadcast Information:
First pitch: 1:05
TV: The Comcast Network
Radio: N/A
