By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
In what will likely be his second-to-last start of spring training, Philadelphia Phillies (9-13-1) Opening Day starter RHP Aaron Nola will take the mound in a Sunday matinee, the first of the club's two-game, two-day overnight trip in Fort Myers. Nola will oppose the Minnesota Twins (10-11-2) and their recently-acquired RHP Jake Odorizzi at CenturyLink Sports Complex.
The Phillies are one day removed from a 10-run, 10-hit offensive showing against their division-rival Atlanta Braves in Saturday's annual St. Patrick's Day game at Spectrum Field. Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana connected for his first spring home run in the first inning, while third baseman Maikel Franco went yard for the third time in the third inning. Starter RHP Zach Eflin allowed four runs in four innings on four strikeouts and six hits, including a surrendered two-run home run to No. 2 MLB prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first.
Set to face the Boston Red Sox on Monday, also in Fort Myers, the Phillies will opt to stay overnight instead of embarking on the two-hour, 130-mile trip back to Clearwater. Just 10 spring games remain before Opening Day on March 29.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (9-13-1) | Minnesota Twins (10-11-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | Jake Odorizzi | ||
| (1-1, 5.00 ERA) | (2-0, 1.42 ERA) | ||||
Nola, 24, is coming off of an impressive four shutout-inning performance on March 7 against the Boston Red Sox, allowing just one hit while striking out five. The Phillies opted to pitch Nola in a minor league game on Tuesday, in what would have been his regularly-scheduled turn in the rotation. Non-roster invitee Drew Hutchison got the starting nod in the home major league game instead, perhaps to give the right-hander a late spring look against mostly big league batters.
Collectively this spring, Nola has struck out 10 batters and allowed five runs, all earned, on eight hits while walking nine through nine frames.
Odorizzi, 27, was dealt to the Twins from the Tampa Bay Rays for shortstop Jermaine Palacios on Feb. 17. Two days prior, Odorizzi won his arbitration case, meaning he will receive his desired $6.3 million salary this season instead of the Rays' then-proposed $6.05 million.
The right-hander was scratched from his scheduled March 13 start due to "maintenance," but went on to throw a successful bullpen session "with no issues" two days later. Through two spring starts, March 2 and March 7, the right-hander has surrendered just one run on three hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Odorizzi has limited opposing batters to a .130 average, while posting a 0.63 WHIP.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (9-13-1) | Minnesota Twins (10-11-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 2B | Brian Dozier | R |
| 2 | 3B | Scott Kingery* | R | 2 | 1B | Joe Mauer | L |
| 3 | 1B | Ryan Flaherty* | L | 3 | SS | Eduardo Escobar | S |
| 4 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 4 | DH | Logan Morrison | L |
| 5 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 5 | CF | Byron Buxton | R |
| 6 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L | 6 | RF | Max Kepler | L |
| 7 | LF | Pedro Florimon | S | 7 | 3B | Ehire Adrianza | S |
| 8 | RF | Jesmuel Valentin | S | 8 | C | Jason Castro | L |
| 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | LF | Zack Granite | L |
* non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: MLBN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies took their first meeting with the Twins this spring on March 5, 4-3. Phillies pitching combined to strike out 10 Twins batters that afternoon, three coming from right-hadned starter Vince Velasquez in two scoreless frames.
- Over his last three games, Phillies 1B/OF Rhys Hoskins has collected two runs scored, three hits, five total bases, two doubles, one RBI and three walks while striking out once spanning eight at-bats.
- The Twins have lost three straight games, outscored 28-8. The Phillies, meanwhile, have only lost two of their last six contests dating back to March 12.
Spring Training Roster Breakdown, (entering March 18, 2018):
Total Major League Camp Roster: 48 players
40-Man Roster (40 -2):
- Major League Camp (33):
- Left-handed pitchers (3): Zac Curtis, Hoby Milner, Adam Morgan
- Right-handed pitchers (16): Victor Arano, Jake Arrieta, Zach Eflin, Jerad Eickhoff, Luis Garcia, Tommy Hunter, Mark Leiter Jr., Ben Lively, Hector Neris, Pat Neshek, Aaron Nola, Nick Pivetta, Edubray Ramos, Yacksel Rios, Jake Thompson, Vince Velasquez
- Catchers (3): Jorge Alfaro, Andrew Knapp, Cameron Rupp
- Infielders (5): J.P. Crawford, Maikel Franco, Cesar Hernandez, Carlos Santana, Jesmuel Valentin
- Outfielders (6): Aaron Altherr, Pedro Florimon, Odubel Herrera, Rhys Hoskins, Roman Quinn, Nick Williams
- Designated for Assignment (-2): Eliezer Alvarez, Tommy Joseph
- Minor League Camp (7):
- Left-handed pitchers (1): Ranger Suarez
- Right-handed pitchers (5): Drew Anderson, Seranthony Dominguez, Franklyn Kilome, Ricardo Pinto, Jose Taveras
- Catchers (0):
- Infielders (0):
- Outfielders (1): Dylan Cozens
Non-Roster Invitees (22):
- Major League Camp (15):
- Left-handed pitchers (1): Fernando Abad
- Right-handed pitchers (4): Pedro Beato, Tom Eshelman, Drew Hutchison, Francisco Rodriguez
- Catchers (2): Matt McBride, Logan Moore
- Infielders (5): Ryan Flaherty, Scott Kingery, Will Middlebrooks, Adam Rosales, Mitch Walding
- Outfielders (3): Collin Cowgill, Danny Ortiz, Andrew Pullin
- Minor League Camp (7):
- Left-handed pitchers (2): Cole Irvin, Brandon Leibrandt
- Right-handed pitchers (2): Enyel De Los Santos, J.D. Hammer
- Catchers (2): Edgar Cabral, Nick Rickles
- Infielders (1): Heiker Meneses
- Outfielders (0):
What's Next:
- Monday, March 19, 2018: at Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m.
- JetBlue Park, Fort Myers, Fla.
- RHP Drew Hutchison (1-0, 4.22 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (1-0, 1.00 ERA)
- TV: N/A; Radio: MLB.com
