Phillies, Jeremy Hellickson take on split-squad Blue Jays

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) and Opening Day starter hopeful RHP Jeremy Hellickson will take on RHP Joe Biagini and the Toronto Blue Jays (0-1) Sunday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Toronto will play as split-squad, with the other half at Tampa's George M. Steinbrenner Field against the New York Yankees. Former Phillies southpaw Brett Oberholtzer will start that game as a non-roster invitee.

The Phillies have split their first two Grapefruit League games of spring training — both of which were against the Yankees — while Toronto fell 7-4 in its opener Saturday afternoon, away against the Atlanta Braves. Non-roster invitee Brock Stassi delivered a walk-off RBI single Saturday to secure the Phillies' first Grapefruit League win of the season. He will look to carry over his success on Sunday as he starts at first base, batting in the eighth position.


Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) Toronto Blue Jays (0-1)
RHP Jeremy Hellickson RHP Joe Biagini
(2016: 12-10, 3.71 ERA) (2016: 4-3, 3.06 ERA)

Starting Lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) Toronto Blue Jays (0-1)
  Position Player Bats   Position Player Bats
1 CF Cameron Perkins^ R 1 CF Kevin Pillar R
2 SS J.P. Crawford^ L 2 C Russell Martin R
3 LF Daniel Nava^ S 3 RF Jose Bautista R
4 DH Cameron Rupp R 4 DH Kendrys Morales S
5 2B Andres Blanco S 5 1B Justin Smoak S
6 RF Dylan Cozens L 6 LF Melvin Upton Jr. R
7 C Ryan Hanigan^ R 7 2B Ryan Goins L
8 1B Brock Stassi^ L 8 3B Jake Elmore^ R
9 3B Taylor Featherston^ R 9 SS Richard Urena S

^ non-roster invitee


Broadcast Information:

  • First pitch: 1:07 p.m.
  • TV: SNET, MLB.TV
  • Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP, SN590

Game Notes:

  • The following Phillies relievers are scheduled to pitch, according to Meghan Montemurro: right-handers Joaquin Benoit, Pat Neshek, Ben Lively, Alberto Tirado and non-roster invitee Michael Mariot.
  • Hellickson returns for his second season as a Phillie after accepting a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer on Nov. 14. In 2016, he posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 154/45 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 189 innings.
  • Ryan Hanigan is one of four non-roster invitee catchers joining the Phillies' big league camp this spring, the others Bryan Holaday, Logan Moore and Chace Numata. All four are competing this spring with 40-man roster members Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp to be Cameron Rupp's backup come Opening Day on April 3 in Cincinnati.

What's Next:

  • Monday, Feb. 27, 2017: vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 1:05 p.m.
    • Spectrum Field (Clearwater)
    • LHP Blake Snell (2016: 6-8, 3.54 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2016: 11-14, 3.65 ERA)
    • TV: TCN; Radio: N/A
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