Zach Eflin sharp in the Phillies’ 4-2 Grapefruit League win over the Tigers

Zach Eflin’s spring debut did not last long as he needed just 26 pitches Wednesday to finish the first two innings of a 4-2, seven-inning win over the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.

Eflin, who will open the season as the Phillies’ No. 3 starter, struck out three batters and allowed one hit without allowing a run. He worked quickly, throwing 18 of his 26 pitches for strikes as he mixed a curveball and change-up with his trademark sinker.

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The righthander used his sinker to record all three strikeouts and all three batters — Jeimer Candelario, Willi Castro, and Miguel Cabrera — were caught looking.

“There’s a huge thing with me of using my lower half and keeping my rhythm and I know if I’m executing the heater away — whether it be four-seam or sinker — I know I’m in sync and everything else kind of flows off that,” Eflin said. “That’s really the main goal of spring training and pitching in these games is to establish the heater, make sure you’re on a rhythm and on time, all of the little things to better your repertoire, so it’s nice to see location as soon as you get off there on the mound.”

Andrew Knapp had an RBI double in the third inning to punctuate a four-run rally. J.T. Realmuto is still expected to be ready for opening day, but Knapp will open the season as the starting catcher if Realmuto’s fractured thumb is not yet healed.

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Iván Nova pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Eflin to recover from a brutal debut on Sunday. Nova, in camp on a minor-league deal, is likely headed to the triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs as rotation depth and Wednesday offered some assurance that he still has something to offer. Nova, 34, started Sunday’s game, allowed five runs on three hits, and was removed after recording just one out. Wednesday, against the same team, was much more encouraging.

Roman Quinn went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts as he started in center field for the second time in three days. Quinn is competing this month with Scott Kingery, Adam Haseley, and Odubel Herrera for the starting job on April 1. All three of Quinn’s strikeouts came on off-speed pitches. He went 1 for 2 with a strikeout and single on Monday.

Hector Rondón allowed a run and one hit in his one inning of work. The 33-year-old righthander is in the race for one of the eight spots in the bullpen and the competition is stiff. A lot of the candidates — such as Brandon Kintzler, Tony Watson, and Neftalí Feliz — have track records, so spring performance will be weighed heavily.

The Phillies host the Yankees on Thursday in Clearwater, Fla. Lefthander Matt Moore will make his spring debut after signing in February. He pitched last season in Japan. The Yankees will be without manager Aaron Boone, who took a medical leave of absence Wednesday to receive a pacemaker. The game starts at 1:05 p.m. and will be televised by NBC Sports Philadelphia and MLB Network.