By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
TAMPA, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies (1-2) will seek redemption from their 8-3 loss in a Monday evening rematch against the New York Yankees (3-0) at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Right-handers Ben Lively and Sonny Gray will make their spring debuts for their respective clubs, while Cesar Hernandez is tabbed for the starting nod at shortstop, along with Rhys Hoskins batting leadoff as the starting left fielder. Versatility continues to be a theme in spring training camp thus far under rookie manager Gabe Kapler.
In Sunday's matinee defeat to the Yankees, the Phillies offense produced only four hits, including a two-run home run by third baseman Maikel Franco, his first. Right fielder Dylan Cozens also doubled, while first baseman Tommy Joseph and left fielder Nick Williams singled. Costly fielding misplays by Franco and first baseman Logan Moore allowed the Yankees to maintain the lead throughout the exhibition contest. Former Washington Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa, who signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on Jan. 29, led the way for New York with three RBIs.
Yankees sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge did not play on Sunday. Stanton will start at cleanup as the designated hitter, while Judge remains sidelined (rest) against Lively and the Phillies.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (1-2) | New York Yankees (3-0) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Ben Lively | RHP | Sonny Gray | ||
| (2017: 4-7, 4.26 ERA) | (2017: 10-12, 3.55 ERA) | ||||
Lively, who turns 26 a week from his Monday spring debut, went 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA and 52-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 15 starts and 88 2/3 innings as a rookie in 2017. Lively began the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and saw four separate stints with the Phillies at the big league level. Ten of his 15 total major league appearances were quality starts, tying for sixth among rookies. Lively was just as effective at the plate, hitting two home runs and eight RBIs in 26 plate appearances (.231/.231/.462).
Phillies.com lists some of Lively's impressive accomplishments from his rookie season:
- Became the first Phillies pitcher since 2004 (Gavin Floyd) and the seventh since 1913 to allow one run or fewer on four or fewer hits in at least seven innings pitched in his debut.
- Was the first Phillies pitcher with at least seven innings pitched and a hit at the plate in his debut since 1972 (Dave Downs).
- Tossed seven innings and allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first three career starts, becoming the first Phillie to do so since 1969 (Bill Champion).
- Yielded only four home runs in his first eight starts (48 2/3 innings pitched) including a 17 1/3-inning homerless streak (June 30-August 26).
- Hit first career home run (June 24 at Arizona), becoming the first Phillies pitcher to homer since May 10, 2015 (Chad Billingsley), and the first Phillies rookie pitcher to homer since August 23, 1995 (Tyler Green).
- Homered Sept. 5 at Citi Field, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to hit two home runs in a season since 2011 (Cliff Lee), and the first with a home run and four RBIs in a game since June 2, 2002 (Robert Person).
- Was the first Phillies pitcher since 1993 with three multi-RBI games in a season (Tommy Green) and is one of three Phillies pitchers ever to do so within his first 11 career starts (Ivy Andrews, 1931-32 and Larry French, 1929).
- Tossed his first career complete game (eight innings pitched) on Sept. 10 at Nationals Park, the first by a Phillie since Jeremy Hellickson, (Sept. 17, 2016 vs. MIA) and the only by a Phillie in 2017.
- Delivered a quality start in six of his seven starts against National League East clubs (3.77 ERA).
The Phillies acquired the Pensacola, Florida native from the Cincinnati Reds on December 31, 2014 in exchange for veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd. Lively immediately became a MLB.com top-15 prospect in the Phillies organization for 2015, one player ahead of fellow teammate starter RHP Nick Pivetta.
Gray, 28, returns for his second season in Yankees pinstripes. The club acquired the right-hander on July 31, 2017 in a much-needed effort to bolster their rotation for a postseason run. Gray threw a complete game on Sept. 12 in a losing effort, and he allowed two runs or less in seven of his first eight starts as a Yankee. In two starts and 8 1/3 combined innings in the postseason facing the Cleveland Indians (ALDS) and Houston Astros (ALCS), Gray surrendered five runs (four earned), and walked and struck out a combined six batters each.
The former 2015 American League All-Star, who finished third in the Cy Young Award race that season going 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA and three complete games with the Oakland Athletics, avoided arbitration this offseason by agreeing to a one-year, $6.5 million contract on Jan. 12.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (1-2) | New York Yankees (3-0) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 1 | LF | Brett Gardner | L |
| 2 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 2 | C | Gary Sanchez | R |
| 3 | SS | Cesar Hernandez | S | 3 | 1B | Greg Bird | L |
| 4 | CF | Aaron Altherr | R | 4 | DH | Giancarlo Stanton | R |
| 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 5 | SS | Didi Gregorius | L |
| 6 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 6 | CF | Aaron Hicks | S |
| 7 | 3B | Ryan Flaherty* | L | 7 | 3B | Brandon Drury | R |
| 8 | 2B | Pedro Florimon* | S | 8 | RF | Billy McKinney | L |
| 9 | DH | Dylan Cozens | L | 9 | 2B | Tyler Wade | L |
* non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 6:35 p.m.
- TV: N/A
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Former Phillies catcher Erik Kratz is in Yankees camp as a minor league invitee.
- Third baseman Brandon Drury will make his second appearance with the Yankees this spring since he was dealt from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a three-team trade on Feb. 20. Drury figures to start the season as the Yankees' everyday position player at the hot corner.
- Monday's meeting with the Yankees will be the first of three evening games under the lights this spring. The Phillies will host the split-squad Baltimore Orioles at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, and will travel to Disney to take on the Atlanta Braves at 6:05 p.m. the following evening, Monday, March 12.
- Hoskins and Carlos Santana, who combined for 41 home runs in 2017, are the Phillies' one and two-hole hitters against Gray and the Yankees.
- Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl-winning quarterback and New York Yankees infield prospect Russell Wilson fielded grounders "through drills near second base" this morning, per ESPN's Coley Harvey. Wilson will reportedly take batting practice in the same group as Judge, Stanton, Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird.
After arriving at the Yankees' spring training facility earlier this morning, Russell Wilson is on the field going through drills near second base. pic.twitter.com/CXYRPHlJwQ
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) February 26, 2018
What's Next:
- Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018: vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field, Clearwater, Fla.
- RHP Mike Fiers (2017, HOU: 8-10, 5.22 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2017: 4-8, 4.71 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+, MLBN; Radio: N/A
