CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura look pretty good atop the Phillies’ lineup.

The pair hit back-to-back home runs against left-hander Jalen Beeks in the fourth inning of Philly's 8-2 loss to the Rays on Monday. McCutchen has been hitting leadoff for the Phillies while Cesar Hernandez recovers from a strained right hip flexor. Phils manager Gabe Kapler has indicated that Hernandez will hit leadoff if he is ready by Opening Day.

Segura is expected to bat second.

Hernandez could see his first Grapefruit League action within the next 10 days. Opening Day is March 28.

Velasquez struggles

Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in two innings. He struck out four.

Velasquez has allowed six runs in three innings this spring.

“Just have to attack the guys a little bit more aggressively,” Velasquez said. “It’s a matter of right from the get go, locking it in right from the beginning and start challenging guys. I feel strong. Secondary pitches are working. It’s just a matter of fine tuning. Creating a different target and letting it do its thing once I release it.”

Kapler is looking for Velasquez to show “ultimate confidence in his stuff.” It means, he said, throwing a batter a 2-0 fastball even if it got hit the last time. It means being aggressive in an 0-2 count rather than being too fine and finding himself in a 3-2 count.

“I really believe it’s a mentality for Vince,” Kapler said.

Eickhoff and Roberton debut

Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff allowed three runs on three hits (including two home runs) while striking out one in two innings during his first Grapefruit League appearance. Eickhoff is behind schedule after suffering a setback in January following carpal tunnel surgery on his right hand in October.

Right-hander David Robertson struck out two in one scoreless inning. Though healthy, the Phillies have been bringing him along slowly, saving his arm for the regular season.

Roster moves

The Phillies optioned left-hander Austin Davis and right-handers Enyel De Los Santos and Edgar Garcia to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. They reassigned left-handers Cole Irvin and Tyler Gilbert to Minor League camp.

The Phillies have 49 players remaining in Major League camp.

Harper boosts TV ratings

NBC Sports Philadelphia announced Monday that Bryce Harper’s Phillies debut Saturday afternoon against the Blue Jays delivered big ratings. The network said it earned a 2.9 rating, which is a 311 percent increase over the average from this year’s first six Grapefruit League broadcasts. Saturday’s game peaked at 4.0 when Harper batted in the first inning.

The network said it was the highest-rated Phillies Spring Training game since April 2, 2012, when they hosted the Pirates in primetime at Citizens Bank Park.

Up next

Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin faces the Yankees on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. ET at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.