Spring Threat: Jays vs. Phillies

Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Wow. The Phillies are trash, man.

I was going to write some half-excited words about this being Marcus Stroman’s final tuneup before facing Chris Archer and the Rays on Sunday afternoon as part of MLB’s (and ESPN’s — though the Jays-Rays game is on ESPN2) Opening Day triple-header, and a great late-in-camp chance for him to really get to see some big league hitters, and… well… wow. The Phillies are trash, man.

But oh well. What can you do? It’s at least another day of afternoon baseball for us to listen to (because Rogers can’t be arsed to broadcast every Grapefruit League game, for some reason). And it’s pretty much an Opening Day lineup for the Jays — minus Edwin Encarnacion, which, uh… might make it an Opening Day lineup for the Jays.

So let’s just enjoy the penultimate home game of the spring season. Things are happening!

Barry Davis tweets that Edwin Encarnacion is taking part in a minor league game at the Bobby Mattick complex, batting second in the lineup (behind Dalton Pompey). So maybe there’s still time for him to be ready for Opening Day! Of course, he had an abridged spring last year, too, then put up a horrible 63 wRC+ in the season’s first month. Edwin though! (Also: from May 1st onward, Edwin’s wRC+ was 166 — which, over a full season, would have been better than everyone in baseball, save for Harper, Trout, and Votto. SIGN THAT MAN TO A TWO-YEAR DEAL!)

Speaking of the minors, oh the indignity for Drew Hutchison. Not that we didn’t see it coming, but it was made official today that Hutchison will start the season in Buffalo. What actually wasn’t seen coming? That terrible throw yesterday from AJ Jimenez that hit Hutch in the back of the head as the catcher attempted to gun down a runner. Thankfully Hutchison was fine after that. Probably a bruised ego after the demotion, though.

“Phillies in a 1 pm jawn vs Jays,” tweets CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury. “Vince Velasquez toeing the jawn for the local jawners.” Hooooookay.

Kevin Pillar(R) CF

Josh Donaldson(R) 3B

Jose Bautista(R) RF

Troy Tulowitzki(R) SS

Chris Colabello(R) DH

Justin Smoak(S) 1B

Russell Martin(R) C

Michael Saunders(L) LF

Ryan Goins(L) 2B

RHP Marcus Stroman

Cesar Hernandez(S) 2B

Odubel Herrera(L) CF

Maikel Franco(R) 3B

Ryan Howard(L) 1B

Darin Ruf(R) DH

Cameron Rupp(R) C

Cedric Hunter(L) RF

Freddy Galvis(S) SS

Tyler Goeddel(R) LF

RHP Vince Velasquez