The Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies meet today in Clearwater, Florida for their final spring training matchup before the regular MLB season begins. The game takes place at BayCare Ballpark and gives both teams one last opportunity to evaluate players and finalize preparations for Opening Day.
Philadelphia enters the game after a 6–2 loss to the New York Yankees. Tampa Bay also comes into the matchup following a difficult outing against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Both teams will be looking to finish their spring schedules with a strong performance.
Game Details
| Match | Tampa Bay Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, March 23, 2026 |
| Time | 12:05 PM ET |
| Venue | BayCare Ballpark |
| Location | Clearwater, Florida |
The afternoon contest marks the final spring training game for the Phillies before the regular season begins.
Phillies Looking to Bounce Back
Philadelphia struggled offensively in their previous game against the Yankees.
Pitcher Aaron Nola allowed three runs and six hits across four innings. During the outing, he surrendered a solo home run to Aaron Judge.
The Phillies’ only offense in that game came from Kyle Schwarber, who hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
Despite the loss, the team continues to evaluate its roster as players prepare for the regular season.
Rays Coming Off Tough Loss
Tampa Bay also enters the game after a challenging performance against Toronto.
The Blue Jays scored six runs in the first inning and finished the game with 19 hits. Rays starter Nick Martinez struggled in the outing, allowing 11 runs and 12 hits across 3.2 innings.
Tampa Bay’s only run came when Carson Williams hit a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Starting Pitchers
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rays | Steven Matz | 0-0 | 0.00 |
| Phillies | Jesús Luzardo | 3-0 | 2.31 |
Steven Matz will start on the mound for Tampa Bay. The left-hander has delivered a strong spring performance so far, pitching six scoreless innings across two starts.
Jesús Luzardo takes the mound for Philadelphia. He is coming off a strong outing in which he threw five scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins.
Tampa Bay Rays Starting Lineup
| Batting Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yandy Díaz | DH |
| 2 | Ryan Vilade | 2B |
| 3 | Jonathan Aranda | 1B |
| 4 | Ben Williamson | 3B |
| 5 | Jake Fraley | RF |
| 6 | Nick Fortes | C |
| 7 | Cedric Mullins | CF |
| 8 | Carson Williams | SS |
| 9 | Chandler Simpson | LF |
Steven Matz will start the game for Tampa Bay.
Philadelphia Phillies Starting Lineup
| Batting Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trea Turner | SS |
| 2 | Kyle Schwarber | DH |
| 3 | Bryce Harper | 1B |
| 4 | Alec Bohm | 3B |
| 5 | Bryson Stott | 2B |
| 6 | Adolis García | RF |
| 7 | Brandon Marsh | LF |
| 8 | J.T. Realmuto | C |
| 9 | Justin Crawford | CF |
Jesús Luzardo will start for Philadelphia.
How to Watch Rays vs Phillies
| Viewing Option | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | Not available |
| Streaming | MLB.TV |
| Additional Stream | PHI Video |
The game will not be broadcast on television. However, fans can watch the matchup through MLB.TV or via the Phillies’ online video service.
Final Spring Training Opportunity
For both teams, this game represents the final opportunity to test lineups and pitching plans before the regular MLB season begins.
Philadelphia will look for improved offensive production after their loss to the Yankees, while Tampa Bay hopes to rebound from its heavy defeat against Toronto.
With Opening Day approaching, both clubs will be focused on finishing spring training with momentum and confidence.
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