By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — In their sixth-to-last home game of spring training, the Philadelphia Phillies (10-12-3) will oppose RHP Masahiro Tanaka the New York Yankees (18-7) on Wednesday. Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez will make his fourth spring start and his first home at Spectrum Field.
The Phillies have dropped three of their four meetings with the Yankees so far this spring, with defeats on Feb. 24 (9-4), March 10 (5-0) and March 15 (3-1). Their sole victory against their 2009 World Series opponent this spring came on Feb. 25, as third baseman Maikel Franco launched his first two home runs in the 6-5 victory.
Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera was scratched Wednesday morning from the starting lineup for precautionary reasons. He was slated to bat third behind left fielder Howie Kendrick and second baseman Cesar Hernandez in the leadoff position, but suffered cramps and dehydration yesterday while returning from Fort Myers, according to Meghan Montemurro. Aaron Altherr — who hit his third home run of the spring in the Phillies' 9-5 victory over the Twins on Tuesday — will take his place.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| New York Yankees (18-7) | Philadelphia Phillies (10-12-3) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Masahiro Tanaka | RHP | Vince Velasquez | ||
| (2016: 14-4, 3.07 ERA) | (2016: 8-6, 4.12 ERA) | ||||
Tanaka, 28, has yet to allow a run this spring through 13 1/3 innings — 10 1/3 of which while opposed to the Detroit Tigers. He has a 19-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio with just three hits allowed, yielding a .375 WHIP ratio.
Now entering his fourth Major League season, Tanaka is 39-16 with a 3.12 ERA through 75 career starts. The right-hander threw a career-high 199 2/3 innings in 2016 and finished seventh in the American League Cy Young Award race.
Velasquez, 24, has surrendered just one run through three starts and nine innings thus far, while punching out 11 batters.
In his most recent start on March 16, Velasquez and the rest of the Phillies bullpen carried a no-hitter with one out into the ninth inning. The right-hander fanned six batters, but allowed four walks in the eventual 2-2 tie.
Starting Lineups:
| New York Yankees (18-7) | Philadelphia Phillies (10-12-3) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Brett Gardner | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | C | Gary Sanchez | R | 2 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 3 | 1B | Greg Bird | L | 3 | 1B | Daniel Nava^ | S |
| 4 | 2B | Starlin Castro | R | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | DH | Chris Carter | R | 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L |
| 6 | 3B | Chase Headley | S | 6 | CF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 7 | SS | Tyler Wade^ | L | 7 | C | Ryan Hanigan^ | R |
| 8 | LF | Rob Refsnyder | R | 8 | SS | Pedro Florimon^ | S |
| 9 | RF | Billy McKinney^ | L | 9 | P | Vince Velasquez | R |
^ non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: TCN, MLBN
- Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- Phillies right-hander Pat Neshek and Team USA will compete tonight in the World Baseball Classic final against Team Puerto Rico at Dodger Stadium. In three appearances and 3 2/3 innings in the tournament, Neshek is 1-0 and has yet to allow a run or walk with three strikeouts. He recorded the final out in the eighth inning on Tuesday to help Team USA edge Team Japan in the semifinals, 2-1.
.@PatNeshek gets out of a HUGE jam to preserve the 1-run lead in the 8th! #WBC2017 pic.twitter.com/jomAOKhSPw
— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 22, 2017
- The Yankees have the best winning percentage in baseball this spring at .720. Only three other clubs have winning percentages of .600 or better: Pittsburgh Pirates (.696), St. Louis Cardinals (.667) and Seattle Mariners (.600).
- Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis has been linked to trade rumors with the Yankees this week following the shoulder injury of Didi Gregorius. Galvis is out of Wednesday's starting lineup in favor of non-roster invitee Pedro Florimon. Gregorius suffered the injury this past weekend while competing for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.
What's Next:
- Thursday, March 23, 2017: vs. Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field (Clearwater)
- RHP Ryan Vogelsong (2016: 3-7, 4.81 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (2016: 6-9, 4.78 ERA)
- TV: TCN; Radio: N/A
