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Phillies opening-day lineup has Adam Haseley in center

Haseley is starting even though the Phils are facing a left-handed pitcher. A look at the starting lineups for the Phillies and Braves on opening day.

Opening Day in big letters outside Citizens Bank Park. Rainy morning at Citizens Bank Park, on Opening Day for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, April 1, 2021.
Opening Day in big letters outside Citizens Bank Park. Rainy morning at Citizens Bank Park, on Opening Day for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, April 1, 2021.Read moreALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer
    by Matt Breen
    Published 

Adam Haseley’s quick recovery from his groin injury was not only enough to earn a spot on the Phillies’ opening-day roster, but it pushed him Thursday into the starting lineup for the season opener against Atlanta.

The Phillies used six weeks in Florida to determine their starting center fielder, and they settled Thursday on Haseley. The Phillies are facing left-hander Max Fried Thursday, which led many to believe manager Joe Girardi would play switch-hitting Roman Quinn. Instead, it’s the left-handed Haseley, who started just twice last season against a left-handed pitcher.

» READ MORE: Héctor Neris gets the Phillies’ closer role to start the season, Joe Girardi says

Haseley strained his left groin while running the bases in his third Grapefruit League game. The injury was expected to sideline him through the start of the season, but his recovery was quicker than expected.

Haseley’s return kept Odúbel Herrera off the roster, and allowed the Phillies to send Scott Kingery to triple A to work on his swing. Haseley and Quinn are expected to split time in center.

Here’s both team’s lineups:

Phillies

  1. Andrew McCutchen (R), LF

  2. Rhys Hoskins (R), 1B

  3. Bryce Harper (L), RF

  4. J.T. Realmuto (R), C

  5. Alec Bohm (R), 3B

  6. Didi Gregorius (L), SS

  7. Jean Segura (R), 2B

  8. Adam Haseley (L), CF

  9. Aaron Nola (R), P

Braves

  1. Ronald Acuña Jr. (R), RF

  2. Ozzie Albies (S), 2B

  3. Freddie Freeman (L), 1B

  4. Marcell Ozuna (R), LF

  5. Travis d’Arnaud (R), C

  6. Dansby Swanson (R), SS

  7. Austin Riley (R), 3B

  8. Cristian Pache (R), CF

  9. Max Fried (L), P