Kyle Kendrick, Phil Hughes Square Up As Phillies Host Twins

(Photo: Matt Rappa/Philliedelphia.com)

The Phillies wound up losing to the Pirates yesterday 5-3 even with some offensive highlights. A.J. Burnett went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. Burnett struggled with command, allowing 6 walks against two strike outs. Backed by solo homers from Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Cody Asche, Burnett took the no-decision as the Pirates would score three in the bottom half of the eighth to secure the win. Kyle Kendrick gets the ball today as the Phillies host the Minnesota Twins. Opposing him will be Phil Hughes.

Kyle Kendrick missed his last start due to inclement weather, so he has not pitched in a game since March 6th. Today will be his third start of the spring. In his last start, back on March 6th against the Yankees, Kendrick allowed a solo home run over three innings. As a definite for the starting, Kendrick should be getting one or two more starts before Opening Day. He fits in as the third man – behind Lee and Burnett – due to Cole Hamels being on the DL. 

Phil Hughes' last start was back on the 13th against Boston, where he allowed two unearned runs on four hits through three frames. With just three starts under his belt this spring, Hughes is looking to make his fourth start – against the Phillies – a good one. In his three starts, Hughes has held hitters to just one earned run along with a .219 average. Most likely the second man in the rotation (first being Ricky Nolasco), Hughes is looking to bring it to the table in his first year as a Twin this season.

Game Notes: 

• If you sub out Kyle Kendrick for Cliff Lee, today's lineup could very well be the Opening Day one.
• Cody Asche started spring 0-for-13. He is now hitting  .280 (7-for-25) with two doubles, three home runs and 6 RBI since.
• Today is the Phillies third to last game at Bright House Field for the year.

Today's lineups:

Phillies lineup: 

1. Ben Revere CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. CHase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Marlon Byrd RF
6. Domonic Brown LF
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. Cody Asche 3B
9. Kyle Kendrick P.

Twins lineup:

1. Brian Dozier 2B
2. Josmil Pinto C
3. Oswaldo Arcia RF
4. Chris Colabello 1B
5. Chris Parmelee LF
6. Trevor Plouffe 3B
7. Aaron Hicks CF
8. Pedro Florimon SS
9. Phil Hughes P.

First Pitch: 1:05 PM ET
Location: Bright House Field, Clearwater, Florida
Weather: 71° – Partly Cloudy – 0% Precip
TV: CSN

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.