His spot in the Phillies' late-inning bullpen mix is secure, but Orion Kerkering may still be trying to prove himself this spring. Matt Strahm needs a new throwing partner, after all, with Jeff ...

Kerkering hasn't pitched in the Grapefruit League since March 1 because of the flu, although he's scheduled to throw at the team's spring complex sometime this week. "He's 22 years old," Thomson said.