By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies (3-3-1) will compete in the first of a two-game, home-and-home series against southpaw Jeff Locke and the Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3-1) Monday afternoon at McKechnie Field.
Two former Houston Astros acquired this offseason in exchange for closer Ken Giles—RHP Vincent Velasquez and LHP Brett Oberholtzer—will make their second appearances of the spring, with Velasquez earning the starting nod. Both are candidates to earn a spot in the starting rotation for the 2016 season.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (3-3-1) | Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vincent Velasquez | LHP | Jeff Locke | ||
| (0-0, 9.00 ERA) | (0-1, 18.00 ERA) | ||||
Velasquez, 23, earns his second appearance and first starting nod of the spring. In two innings of work on Wednesday, March 2, against the Toronto Blue Jays, he allowed three runs on three hits and struck out three batters. Sixteen of his 17 total pitches were thrown for strikes.
Locke, 28, surrendered four runs on four hits and a walk over two innings in his start last Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers' split-squad. On Jan. 14, Locke and the Pirates avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.025 million contract.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (3-3-1) | Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Peter Bourjos | R | 1 | 2B | Alen Hanson | S |
| 2 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 2 | LF | Matt Joyce | L |
| 3 | RF | Tyler Goeddel | R | 3 | RF | Gregory Polanco | L |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | CF | Starling Marte | R |
| 5 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 5 | 1B | Josh Bell | S |
| 6 | SS | Ryan Jackson | R | 6 | C | Chris Stewart | R |
| 7 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S | 7 | SS | Sean Rodriguez | R |
| 8 | DH | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | 3B | Cole Figueroa | L |
| 9 | LF | Darnell Sweeney | S | 9 | P | Jeff Locke | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: ROOT SPORTS, MLB.TV
- Radio: KDKA-FM 93.7, MLB.com
Game Notes:
- Top Phillies' catching prospect Jorge Alfaro, acquired last July from the Texas Rangers, earns his third start of the spring this afternoon in the designated hitter position. In five at-bats, Alfaro is batting .600/.600/.600 with one run scored, two runs-batted-in and three total bases.
- Utility infielder Andres Blanco will make his spring debut as the starting third baseman. He had been sidelined with a shoulder injury.
- Pirates relievers scheduled to enter in relief of Locke are as follows: Eric O'Flaherty, Trey Haley, Jorge Rondon, A.J. Schugel and Tony Watson. Following Velasquez and Oberholtzer for the Phillies are Severino Gonzalez, Colton Murray and Gregory Infante.
- The Phillies will also play an exhibition game in Clearwater this afternoon "against a Japanese college team," with right-hander David Buchanan slated as the starter, according to Matt Gelb. Edward Mujica, James Russell and Luis Garcia will also pitch, with "minor-league position players" taking the field.
What's Next:
Tuesday, March 8, 2016: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m.
- Clearwater – Bright House Field
- LHP Jon Niese (0-1, 18.00 ERA) vs. LHP Adam Morgan (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
- TV: TCN, MLB.TV; Radio: KDKA-FM 93.7
