Categories: PostsSpring Gameday

Carrasco, Happ Start Fight For Fifth Vs. Blue Jays

The Fight For Fifth (TM) begins today when the Phillies open their home spring slate against the Blue Jays. Gametime is 1:05 p.m.

Carlos Carrasco gets the ball for the Phillies – the Phillies Nation No. 1 prospect will make his first spring start, though he already has won plenty of success in the offseason, pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League. Carrasco is a darkhorse candidate for the fifth starter spot.

JA Happ is a leading contender, and he’ll pitch after Carrasco. Justin Lehr, Gary Majewski, Blaine Neal and Yorman Bazardo are scheduled to throw after them; of the four, Majewski has the best shot of making the 25-man roster, with Neal not a bad underdog pick. Your lineup, courtesy Scott Lauber, is Jimmy Rollins (SS) / Jason Donald

(3B) / Raul Ibanez (LF) / Ryan Howard (DH) / John Mayberry (RF) / Greg Dobbs (1B) / Marcus Giles (2B) / Jason Ellison (CF) / Carlos Ruiz (C).

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.