Day 33: Pirates @ Phillies

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

Catcher Ryan Doumit makes his return to the field on Friday and manager Clint Hurdle will get a really good look at just about everyone competing for a bench spot. Take a look at the lineup and you’ll find most of your backup candidates. Not that one game is going make or break anyone’s chances, but it will be interesting to see if a few particularly shine.

Other morning notes…

• The Pirates enter Friday’s game having lost five of six. Results aren’t that big of a deal at this point, but the club would like to pick up some victories when their starters are playing — which has been the case a lot in the past week.
• Brad Lincoln is making his fourth Grapefruit League appearance on Friday, but just his second actual start. He is lined up to go four innings, and this should be a good test as he will go against a number of the Phillies’ regulars.
• A reminder that Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Red Sox is going to be televised on FSN Pittsburgh.
• On another programming note, MLB Network will be in Bradenton on Monday to film for the Network’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days. The Pirates’ episode will air on Tuesday night (March 22).
• The following pitchers are scheduled to throw on Saturday: Kevin Correia, Joel Hanrahan, Evan Meek, Daniel McCutchen.
• Not sure if you’re paying attention to the calendar, but two weeks from today I’ll be blogging from the Wrigley Field press box. Let the Opening Day countdown begin.
• And to you Penn State fans out there, I sympathize with you today. Not a particularly good showing last night (or all season, actually) by my Mizzou Tigers, who must now watch the rest of the NCAA tourney on TV.

Lineups:

PIRATES: C. Wimberly (CF), J. Bowker (LF), S. Pearce (RF), R. Doumit (C), G. Atkins (3B), A. Marte (1B), J. Rodriguez (SS), P. Ciriaco (2B), B. Lincoln (RHP)

Pitchers: B. Lincoln, C. Resop, J. Thomas, J. Veras, M. Crotta, C. Leroux

PHILLIES: J. Rollins (SS), S. Victorino (CF), R. Ibanez (LF), R. Howard (1B), R. Gload (RF), P. Orr (3B), C. Ruiz (C), M. Martinez (2B), R. Oswalt (RHP)

Pitchers: R. Oswalt, D. Baez, J.C. Romero, J. Contreras, R. Madson

Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB