Five shutout innings on Sunday in Jeremy Hellickson‘s first lengthy spring outing were followed up by the first truly strong start of the Grapefruit League season by young right-hander Aaron Nola. The team then received a workmanlike four innings from Jerad Eickhoff in his first start.
Even before those outings, lefty Adam Morgan and righty Vincent Velasquez were dueling with solid appearances in a fight for the 5th starter role. With all that positivity, veteran newcomer Charlie Morton stepped on to the mound yesterday for an evening contest in Kissimmee, Florida against the Houston Astros.