By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Right-handers Tom Eshelman and Ben Lively will both get starting nods on Saturday, as the Philadelphia Phillies (2-6) split to take on the Baltimore Orioles (3-5-1) at home in Clearwater, Florida, and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1-5-2) on the road in Bradenton, Florida.
The Phillies snapped their five-game losing skid against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday with a 9-2 victory behind RHP Aaron Nola. Phillies non-roster invitee second baseman Scott Kingery continued his hot streak with a two-run, game-tying home run in the third inning, his third. Center fielder Jesmuel Valentin also hit a two-run shot in the seventh, while non-roster invitee first basemen Ryan Flaherty produced a RBI single and RBI double. Odubel Herrera made his first start in the outfield after being limited to just designated hitter appearances this spring due to right shoulder soreness.
Kingery will play center field in Bradenton on Saturday for the first time since his sophomore year at the University of Arizona, notes The Athletic's Matt Gelb and Meghan Montemurro.
Starting Pitching Matchups:
vs. Orioles, Spectrum Field
| Baltimore Orioles (3-5-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (2-6) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Kevin Gausman | RHP | Tom Eshelman | ||
| (0-1, 33.75 ERA) | (0-0, 0.00 ERA) | ||||
at Pirates, LECOM Park
| Philadelphia Phillies (2-6) | Pittsburgh Pirates (1-5-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Ben Lively | RHP | Ivan Nova | ||
| (0-0, 0.00 ERA) | (0-1, 4.50 ERA) | ||||
Eshelman, 23, will make his first career start against major league hitters and his second appearance this spring. The right-hander tossed perfect third and fourth innings against the New York Yankees on Monday, including striking out Greg Bird and Giancarlo Stanton for the final two outs.
The No. 16-ranked Phillies prospect went 13-3 with a 2.40 ERA in 23 combined starts between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2017. Eshelman allowed only 18 walks, while striking out 102 batters over 150 innings.
Lively, 25, will also make his second appearance this spring. Prior to Eshelman's relief appearance against the Yankees, Lively started the game and allowed just one hit through two innings, a double to Gary Sanchez. Lively struck out Brett Gardner, Stanton and Brandon Drury in the no-decision.
The Carlsbad, California native should be in the mix to earn a spot in the Phillies' starting rotation come Opening Day on March 29, barring free agent signings. Last season, the right-hander went 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 15 starts and 88 2/3 innings.
Eshelman will oppose Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman, who is wearing No. 34 this season to honor the late Roy Halladay. Gausman exited his spring debut early on Monday after a collision and suffering a cut near his left eye. Lively, meanwhile, will square off against Pirates No. 2-starter RHP Ivan Nova, who in two innings allowed three runs (one earned) in his spring debut against the Boston Red Sox.
Starting Lineups:
vs. Orioles, Spectrum Field
| Baltimore Orioles (3-5-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (2-6) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Alex Presely* | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | RF | Joey Rickard | R | 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 3 | 1B | Pedro Alvarez* | L | 3 | DH | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 3B | Tim Beckham | R | 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 5 | DH | Jaycob Brugman* | L | 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 6 | CF | Cedric Mullins* | S | 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 7 | C | Chance Sisco | L | 7 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 8 | 2B | Ruben Tejada* | R | 8 | CF | Collin Cowgill* | R |
| 9 | SS | Luis Sardinas* | S | 9 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
* non-roster invitee
at Pirates, LECOM Park
| Philadelphia Phillies (2-6) | Pittsburgh Pirates (1-5-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Scott Kingery* | R | 1 | 2B | Josh Harrison | R |
| 2 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 2 | LF | Corey Dickerson | L |
| 3 | DH | Tommy Joseph | R | 3 | 3B | David Freese | R |
| 4 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 4 | 1B | Josh Bell | S |
| 5 | SS | Pedro Florimon* | S | 5 | C | Francisco Cervelli | R |
| 6 | LF | Dylan Cozens | L | 6 | CF | Sean Rodriguez | R |
| 7 | 2B | Jesmuel Valentin | S | 7 | RF | Jordan Luplow | R |
| 8 | 3B | Eliezer Alvarez | L | 8 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R |
| 9 | 1B | Matt McBride* | R | 9 | P | Ivan Nova | R |
* non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
vs. Orioles, Spectrum Field
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP+
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
at Pirates, LECOM Park
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: N/A
- Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- Phillies No. 5-prospect Mickey Moniak will join the team in Clearwater, notes philly.com's Matt Breen.
- Two-thirds of the Orioles' lineup will feature non-roster invitees, one of which includes former New York Yankees infielder Ruben Tejada. Also in Orioles camp as non-roster invitees this spring are former Phillies southpaw Joely Rodriguez, former Pirates All-Star infielder Pedro Alvarez and outfielder Colby Rasmus, who has slugged 165 home runs and 490 runs-batted-in through nine seasons.
- The Phillies are tied with the Detroit Tigers for fielding the second-fewest double plays this spring, 5. Only the Yankees have turned fewer double plays (4).
- Phillies battery combinations have allowed the second-most stolen bases by opposing baserunners this spring, 11. Only the Dodgers have allowed more (12).
What's Next:
Prior to Sunday's matinee, as part of Phillies Alumni Day, the club will honor the 2008 World Series championship team with an on-field tribute.
- Sunday, March 4, 2018: vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field, Clearwater, Fla.
- RHP Marco Estrada (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
