Phillies expect Odubel Herrera, Cesar Hernandez to be ready for opening day

TAMPA -- Cesar Hernandez and Odubel Herrera are both on track to be ready for opening day, but only one of them has a spot secured in the starting lineup.

Hernandez, sidelined for two weeks with a hip-flexor strain, will start at second base on Thursday against the Pirates. Herrera is expected to be the team’s designated hitter on Saturday against the Astros for his first action of spring after he suffered a hamstring strain early in camp. Both played Wednesday in a minor-league game.

“That’s a realistic scenario for us, to have both of those guys on our opening day roster, ready to go, fully healthy, timing where it needs to be, feet underneath them,” manager Gabe Kapler said.

Hernandez is entrenched as the team’s starting second baseman, but Kapler said Wednesday that Herrera is still competing for the starting job in center field.

“I still see it as a fight for reps in center field right now,” Kapler said. “Odubel needs to ensure that he's healthy and that he's physically capable of taking down a big load in center field. Also, we're interested in his at-bats, his defense, his baserunning, his ability to show us that he's healthy, he's a complete player, will provide a lot of reassurance for us. That's what we're looking for from him.”

It would be a surprise if Herrera proves to be healthy and does not start the season in center. In theory, he’s competing for the job with Aaron Altherr and Scott Kingery, who has spent time in the outfield this spring to add to his versatility. At the beginning of camp, Kapler placed Kingery into a competition with Maikel Franco at third base. That race, Kapler said, is unsettled. Franco not starting at third would be an even bigger surprise than Herrera losing the competition in center.

“We’re taking a wait-and-see approach with both of those guys,” Kapler said about third base. “It’s a little early. We’ve gotten some at-bats underneath our belt, some reps for Scott in center field and third base but also shortstop and second base and Maik’s gotten his reps at third base and DH. Definitely taking it slowly, want to see more, want to see both of them compete and bring their highest energy levels every day.”