You don't realize how much you miss seeing a lineup every day until you have to go nine months without one.
Here is the Phillies' opening day lineup against the Marlins for the 7 p.m. game on NBC Sports Philadelphia:
1. Andrew McCutchen, LF
2. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. J.T. Realmuto, C
5. Didi Gregorius, SS
6. Jean Segura, 3B
7. Jay Bruce, DH
8. Scott Kingery, 2B
9. Roman Quinn, CF
Aaron Nola makes his third consecutive opening day start.
Right-handed and left-handed hitters alternate from the 2 through 8 spots in the lineup with switch-hitting Roman Quinn at the bottom. This lineup construction will be a challenge for other managers to find a platoon advantage against, especially with the new three-batter rule for relievers.
Realmuto is in the cleanup spot, where he started only 10 games last season.
Third is where Harper has spent the majority of his career, 57% of his plate appearances to be specific. He's had a ton of success batting third and fourth as opposed to hitting .250/.331/.444 in the two-hole.
MLB
McCutchen is back, more than 400 days after tearing his ACL in San Diego.
There is plenty of balance in this lineup. Bruce will be the usual DH against right-handed starting pitchers. The Phillies face one tonight in Miami's Sandy Alcantara, who had a solid 2019 season despite leading the NL with 14 losses. He had a 3.88 ERA in 197⅓ innings and threw two shutouts. In four career starts against the Phillies, Alcantara is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA.
The Phillies' lineup went off on opening day last year. McCutchen led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, Maikel Franco hit a three-run shot in the sixth inning and Hoskins hit a grand slam in the seventh after an intentional walk to Harper. Only four Phillies are at the same position as they were last opening day: Harper, Hoskins, Realmuto and McCutchen. Gregorius makes his Phillies debut, as does manager Joe Girardi.
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