Play Ball!

Game: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia in Clearwater. The game is at Spectrum Field and starts at 1:05. The match will be broadcast on 93.7 The Fan. The Phils opened yesterday and beat the Rays 3-2.

Lineup: Pablo Reyes CF, Kevin Newman SS, Melky Cabrera DH, Pat Kivlehan RF, Colin Moran 3B, Jose Osuna 1B, Kevin Kramer 2B, JB Shuck LF, Jake Stallings C (Steven Brault P). 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, 1B Will Craig, C Arden Pabst and OF’s Bryan Reynolds/Jason Martin are also dressed. Not too shabby a lineup for the first spring game.

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault, in the mix for the fifth starter spot (or trip to Indy; big camp for him) v. RHP Enyel De Los Santos, who got a couple of 2018 starts in seven outings and features a fastball/change/curve toolkit. Brault will be followed by RHP Clay Holmes, RHP Michael Feliz, RHP Brandon Maurer, RHP Aaron Slegers, and RHP Geoff Hartlieb.

Notes:

• Cutch, Juan Nicasio, Phil Gosselin and Gift Ngoepe are rostered with the Phils; Goose and Gift as NRI’s. Ngoepe hasn’t arrived in Florida yet; he has a visa issue. S-Rod was also inked by the Phils but tore his meniscus earlier in the week and may need surgery. 
• Today also marks the transfer of the guys in major league camp from Pirates City to LECOM Park. 
• The Pirates announced the retirement of OF Tyler Gaffney. He signed with the Bucs after being drafted in 2012, then jumped leagues to join the NFL (he won a couple of Super Bowl rings with the Pats), then tried to launch a comeback in baseball after injuries short circuited his football gig.
• The Reds are reportedly talking about a minor league deal w/SS Jose Iglesias. Guess the Bucs really liked Erik Gonzalez, or perhaps Jose’s asking price was higher at the opening bell.
• Another guy the Bucs could have used but apparently didn’t touch base with, utilityman Marwin Gonzalez, agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Twins on a two-year/$21M contract, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He would have been a great add at a J-Hay contract price.
• The league will use a 20-second pitch timer during ST. The first week will be “free,” the middle stages will involve a warning if violated, and a penalty (ball/strike) will be incurred later in the process if the MLBPA agrees.