Categories: News

Morning news: Leiter Jr. sent to Philly with injury

Time for some news:

LEITER HURT: Mark Leiter Jr. flew back to Philadelphia for testing on his right forearm. While nothing is yet official, Leiter might have to start the season on the disabled list.

Leiter seemed poised to make the roster as long man and emergency starter.

ARRIETA UPDATE: Also in that report, Jake Arrieta will make his first Grapefruit League start Thursday against the Tigers. That means he might be able to get two starts in before opening day, which means he might be able to pitch in the first week of the regular season. But we’ll see – the Phillies are apparently going to exercise caution, which is the best approach, even if they are thin on starting pitching to start.

THE ROTATION: As of right now, here’s how the rotation could work:

March 29 at ATL: Nola
March 30 at ATL: Velasquez
March 31 at ATL: Pivetta
April 1: Off (it’s weird that they’re off on a Sunday, even if it’s Easter)
April 2 at NYM: Lively
April 3 at NYM: Nola
April 4 at NYM: Velasquez
April 5 vs MIA: Pivetta
April 7 vs MIA: Arietta
April 8 vs MIA: Lively

This gives them some time with Arrieta while taking advantage of the days off.

‘PROBLEMATIC’: Here’s an interesting piece via Stephen Gross: Pat Neshek is happy to be back with the Phillies, but especially with this coaching staff, because the last one wasn’t his favorite.

Neshek said the previous group caused things to be “a little problematic.” He said there was little to no communication, and the clubhouse was pretty quiet when he was there (Neshek was traded to Colorado at the trade deadline).

YESTERDAY: Another loss for the Phils, as they dropped it 6-5 to the Red Sox, thanks to a big four-run ninth for Boston. Tom Eshelman gave up the runs.

Meanwhile Drew Hutchison, who now could make the 25-man roster as a long man, went five innings, struck out three and allowed just a run.

Aaron Altherr added a home run, while Nick Williams went 2-for-4.

TODAY’S GAME: The Phillies travel to neighboring Dunedin for a 1 p.m. game against the Blue Jays.

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.