By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies (10-15-3) will oppose a familar face in Saturday afternoon’s matchup against the Boston Red Sox (13-13-2) at JetBlue Park — fellow 2008 World Series champion RHP Kyle Kendrick.
Kendrick, 32, did not make a big league appearance last season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was released by the Atlanta Braves prior in mid-March of that year. In 2015, he allowed the most home runs in baseball (33) and posted a 6.32 ERA and a 7-13 record through 27 starts with the Colorado Rockies.
So far in 2017, however, things are going as planned for the nine-year veteran who spent eight seasons with the Phillies from 2007-2014. In 23 innings with the Red Sox, Kendrick is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 20 strikeouts. He has thrown the second-most innings this spring, trailing just Phillies RHP Jeremy Hellickson.
Starting for the Phillies to conclude their second-to-last week of Grapefruit League action will be RHP Alec Asher. Southpaws Adam Morgan and Joely Rodriguez will follow in relief, shaping the game up to be an audition for the final bullpen spots on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-15-3) | Boston Red Sox (13-13-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Alec Asher | RHP | Kyle Kendrick | ||
| (2016: 2-1, 2.28 ERA) | (2016, Triple-A: 6-5, 4.72 ERA) | ||||
Asher, 25, is 1-1 with a 8.25 ERA spanning 12 innings this spring. His only start came against the New York Yankees on Feb. 24, where he surrendered a solo home run with a pair of strikeouts and hits in two innings. He has blown three saves in as many opportunities in four relief appearances since.
| Player | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP |
| RHP Alec Asher | 1-1 | 8.25 | 12.0 | 8 | 2.08 |
| LHP Adam Morgan | 0-0 | 2.19 | 12.1 | 9 | 0.89 |
| LHP Joely Rodriguez | 1-0 | 4.50 | 8.0 | 4 | 1.63 |
Kendrick is in Red Sox’ camp as a non-roster invitee. He signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on Jan. 18. His 1.96 ERA is the fourth-best in baseball among qualifying pitchers, trailing just right-handers Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees, 0.00), Charlie Morton (Astros, 1.04) and Robert Gsellman (Mets, 1.56).
Barring injuries to RHP Steven Wright or LHP Drew Pomeranz, he is expected to start the season at Triple-A Pawtucket despite his strong spring performance thus far. There is simply no room in the big league rotation which also features former Cy Young Award winners in RHP Rick Porcello and LHP David Price, along with five-time All-Star LHP Chris Sale.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-15-3) | Boston Red Sox (13-13-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 2B | Dustin Pedroia | R |
| 2 | LF | Chris Coghlan^ | L | 2 | LF | Andrew Benintendi | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | RF | Mookie Betts | R |
| 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 4 | DH | Hanley Ramirez | R |
| 5 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 5 | 1B | Mitch Moreland | L |
| 6 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S | 6 | SS | Xander Bogaerts | R |
| 7 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 7 | CF | Jackie Bradley Jr. | L |
| 8 | SS | Pedro Florimon^ | S | 8 | C | Sandy Leon | S |
| 9 | DH | Bryan Holaday^ | R | 9 | 3B | Brock Holt | L |
^ non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: N/A
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Southpaw Hoby Milner, 26, reports to Phillies big league camp as a non-roster invitee. The former Rule 5 draft pick was returned to the Phillies on Friday after failing to make the Cleveland Indians’ Opening Day roster.
- The Phillies have eight spring training games left, including a split-squad session next Wednesday. Their final two games will be played home at Spectrum Field next Thursday and Friday against the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively.
- Phillies right fielder Michael Saunders left Friday’s 3-2 defeat to the Yankees early after being hit by a pitch on the right hand in the fifth inning. The departure was only for “precautionary reasons” and Saunders is said to be in good health with “just a bruise,” according to CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury.
What’s Next:
- Sunday, March 26, 2017: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field (Clearwater)
- RHP Josh Lindblom (2016, KBO: 10-12, 5.27 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (2016: 8-10, 4.78 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
