What to watch as Phillies make interesting lineup change ahead of game 2 vs. Marlins
Photo by Steven M. Falk
Tuesday night was fun, and Ronald Torreyes made it extra fun. Torreyes hit a two-run double to beat the Miami Marlins in game one of the three game series. In game two, manager Joe Girardi made an interesting switch for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Here’s what to watch:
Interesting lineup change
Torreyes made five plate appearances in the Phillies’ first 15 games, then tested positive for COVID-19 and spent the next 29 days away from the team. But there he was Tuesday night, walking to the plate with one out and the game tied in the bottom of the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. In his first at bat back, he lined a two run double into left field.
It seems this was enough for Girardi to put him in the lineup for hot Nick Maton.
This brings us to the question, why? Well, Girardi said Torreyes is in the lineup because Trevor Rogers — who the Phillies face Wednesday night — has a slider with a lot of sweep to it, making it a tough at-bat for lefties. He also doesn’t want Torreyes to sit for a long period of time. Girardi also acknowledged that Nick Maton is hitting well against left handed pitchers.
And so Maton is. Maton’s OPS against lefties is 1.063. That’s incredibly good. Maton hit two home run in Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, and had a game-tying single Tuesday night. Torreyes was a Girardi-era New York Yankees player that Girardi brought in this offseason.
Eflin takes the bump
Phillies starter Zach Eflin had an uncharacteristic start Thursday against the Washington Nationals, allowing one walk and two home runs in a span of three batters in the first inning.
Before that day, Eflin had walked just three batters in his first seven starts and had allowed only one home run since April 16.
Eflin is 2-2 on the season with a 3.86 ERA.
Starting lineups
Phillies starting lineup vs. Marlins’ starter Trevor Rogers:
Marlins starting lineup vs. Phillies’ starter Zach Eflin:
- Jazz Chisholm 2B
- Miguel Rojas SS
- Jesus Aguilar 1B
- Adam Duvall CF
- Corey Dickerson LF
- Brian Anderson 3B
- Garrett Cooper RF
- Sandy Leon C
- Trevor Rogers P
Essentials
- When: 7:05 P.M. E.S.T.
- Where: Citizens Bank Park
- Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: 94.1 WIP
- Social media coverage: Philly Sports Reports’ Twitter & Instagram.
