Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced his pitching plans for the first four games of the Grapefruit League season and will throw lefty Kolby Allard in Saturday’s opener against the Blue Jays in nearby Dunedin. When the Phillies take on the Yankees Sunday, Aaron Nola will be on the mound to open the game. It’s likely that both pitchers will go two innings in their respective start.

Former Phillie David Buchanan, who is looking to become a current Phillie, will start Monday in Fort Myers where the Phillies will play the Boston Red Sox on Monday and the Minnesota Twins the following day. The two teams share a training complex and are back-to-back on the schedule because it is a long bus ride requiring an overnight stay. Tuesday’s starter will be left-hander Cristopher Sanchez.

Buchanan, 35, pitched three seasons in Japan and spent the past four seasons with Samsung in the Korean Baseball Organization. He tied for the KBO lead in wins with 16 in 2021 and produced a line of 76-71 with a 3.50 ERA. The Phillies originally drafted him in the seventh round of the 2010 Draft out of Georgia State and he pitched for the Phillies in 2014 and 2015 with a combined 5.01 ERA and an 8-17 record. Buchanan is hoping to catch on in either a long relief role or possibly as a starter. Buchanan signed a minor league deal with the Phillies and could also pitch at AAA and give the Phillies some insurance for the rotation.