CLEARWATER, Fla. – Jerad Eickhoff will start for the Phillies on Thursday afternoon as they open their spring-training schedule with an exhibition against the University of Tampa at Spectrum Field.
Eickhoff will likely only pitch an inning as manager Gabe Kapler said he expects to use “roughly” nine pitchers against Tampa. It will be the start of an important spring for Eickhoff, who battled injuries last season and failed to replicate the success and consistency he showed in 2016. Eickhoff finished last season with a 4.71 ERA and made nine less starts then did a year earlier.
“He looks great.