Bryce Harper Hitting No. 2 in Phillies Spring Training Lineup
The Philadelphia Phillies have posted a variety of lineups so far during Grapefruit League play. While we aren't trying to read into any of them, we have seen multiple games with Trea Turner hitting in the leadoff spot.
Today, we have something new - Bryce Harper hitting behind him at the No. 2 spot in the order.
Harper is back in the lineup after leaving Wednesday's game early against the Blue Jays after being hit in the right arm.
Alec Bohm hits third, and Nick Castellanos hits cleanup. Some other interesting lineup decisions today include Max Kepler hitting fifth, followed by J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, and Johan Rojas hitting ninth.
While you can't read much into Spring Training lineups, many of these guys will be in the team's Opening Day lineup, and hitting Kepler ahead of Stott stands out to me today.
It could just be to get Kepler more at-bats, or it could be a sign of what is to come, at least to open the season on March 27 against the Nationals in Washington.
On the mound, newly acquired Jesús Luzardo makes his Phillies Grapefruit League debut. The lefty came over in a December trade for prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd.
The Phillies are hoping Luzardo can regain the form that allowed him to post a 10–10 record, 3.58 ERA with 208 strikeouts across 178.2 innings pitched in 2023.
Last season, he struggled with injuries that limited him to just 12 starts, posting a 3–6 record and 5.00 ERA.
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