Opening Day starters highlight Phillies Spring Training Game 2 vs the Pittsburgh Pirates

Phillies Spring Training Game 1 was a glimpse at the depth. Game 2 is a lot closer to what Opening Day is going to look like.

Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm are batting 1-4 this afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates at BayCare Ballpark. Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott are in there too. J.T. Realmuto is behind the dish.

Justin Crawford’s first Spring at-bat was a 390-foot statement >>

That’s seven Opening Day starters getting reps together and that’s exactly what spring training is supposed to look like by the second game.

The two names worth watching at the bottom of this lineup are Bryan De La Cruz in right and Johan Rojas in center. Both are fighting for a roster spot and both know it. De La Cruz has the offensive upside but the discipline questions.

Phillies Spring Training Battles Worth Watching >>

Rojas is the defense and speed option who needs to do something with the bat to stick around. Real at-bats against real competition, even in February, start to matter when the job is genuinely up for grabs.

Phillies Lineup vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

1. SS Trea Turner
2. DH Kyle Schwarber
3. 1B Bryce Harper
4. 3B Alec Bohm
5. LF Brandon Marsh
6. C J.T. Realmuto
7. 2B Bryson Stott
8. RF Bryan De La Cruz
9. CF Johan Rojas

P Trevor Richards

1:05 PM | NBCSP | 94 WIP

Join The Chase