By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Winners of three straight games, the Philadelphia Phillies (5-8) will send RHP Ben Lively to the mound in Thursday's matinee, opposite RHP Luis Severino and the New York Yankees (10-2), at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Phillies are coming off of a 2-1 victory over the Yankees' American League East rivals, the Boston Red Sox, despite producing just three hits. Both of the Phillies' runs scored via a wild pitch and fielding error, while starter RHP Aaron Nola threw four shutout frames, allowing only one hit and striking out five.
The Yankees, who own spring training's best winning percentage (.833), have defeated the Phillies three times so far this spring, 8-3 on Feb. 25, 4-3 on Feb. 26 and 6-4 on March 1.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (5-8) | New York Yankees (10-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Ben Lively | RHP | Luis Severino | ||
| (0-0, 0.00 ERA) | (2017: 14-6, 2.98 ERA) | ||||
Lively, 26, has thrown five scoreless innings through two spring starts, surrendering just two hits, while striking out six. The right-hander's spring debut came against the Yankees on Feb. 26, where he struck out Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton and Brandon Drury.
Severino, 24, will make his spring debut, five days after manager Aaron Boone said he looked "sharp" in a simulated game. Last season, the right-hander was named an All-Star and finished third in the American League Cy Young Award race. In 193 1/3 innings, Severino struck out 230 batters and walked 51.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (5-8) | New York Yankees (10-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Roman Quinn | S | 1 | CF | Aaron Hicks | S |
| 2 | 2B | Scott Kingery* | R | 2 | RF | Aaron Judge | R |
| 3 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 3 | 1B | Greg Bird | L |
| 4 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 4 | LF | Giancarlo Stanton | R |
| 5 | DH | Tommy Joseph | R | 5 | DH | Gary Sanchez | R |
| 6 | 1B | Ryan Flaherty* | L | 6 | SS | Didi Gregorius | L |
| 7 | LF | Dylan Cozens | L | 7 | 3B | Brandon Drury | R |
| 8 | 3B | Mitch Walding* | L | 8 | C | Erik Kratz* | R |
| 9 | SS | Adam Rosales* | R | 9 | 2B | Tyler Wade | L |
* non-roster invitee
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: YES
- Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- The Phillies are tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates in recording the fewest hits this spring, 98. They are also tied with the Miami Marlins in scoring the fewest runs, 51. Phillies pitching, meanwhile, have recorded the sixth-most strikeouts, 122 (113 2/3 innings).
- Available Phillies position players:
- Left-handed hitters: Logan Moore (NRI), Eliezer Alvarez, Danny Ortiz (NRI), Andrew Pullin (NRI)
- Right-handed hitters: Heiker Meneses (NRI), Collin Cowgill (NRI)
- Switch hitters: Jesmuel Valentin, Pedro Florimon (NRI)
- Available Phillies pitchers:
- Left-handers Adam Morgan, Zac Curtis
- Right-handers Tommy Hunter, Francisco Rodriguez (NRI), Seranthony Dominguez, Pedro Beato (NRI), Ricardo Pinto, Yacksel Rios
- Just three weeks remain until Opening Day on March 29, as the Phillies take on the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park.
What's Next:
- Friday, March 9, 2018: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m.
- Spectrum Field, Clearwater, Fla.
- LHP Steven Brault (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+, MLBN; Radio: N/A
