CLEARWATER, Fla. - Closer Brad Lidge will remain in Florida while the rest of the Phillies fly to Philadelphia Thursday, but he said he doesn't expect to start the season on the disabled list.

"That's obviously their decision, but at the same time I feel like if I'm not ready for Opening Day, [next Monday] I'll be ready, with the day off, maybe the next day," said Lidge, who has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in February. "At this point, my biggest thing is that everything feels OK. I just need to start getting some arm strength and getting sharper."

Lidge pitched in a minor league game yesterday at the Carpenter Complex. The righthander faced five hitters, loading the bases with two hits and a walk before getting a batter to ground into an inning-ending doubleplay. He threw 19 pitches and did not allow a run, but expressed some dissatisfaction with his velocity and command.

Lidge said he is scheduled to pitch every other day through Saturday, but did not know if he would get into a Grapefruit League game before the end of the spring. He'll pitch Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Though Lidge did not have to field any ground balls yesterday, he said he felt he would have been able to.

"I definitely feel capable and ready if I need to," he said. "If the ball is hit back to me I should be fine."

Phils 15, Blue Jays 7

The Phillies had their most impressive offensive performance of the spring, banging out 16 hits and scoring five runs apiece in the sixth and eighth innings while improving to 11-13-1 in Grapefruit League play. In addition to Jason Donald's two home runs and six RBI, Wes Helms hit his first home run and Chase Utley hit his second. Lefthander Cole Hamels allowed five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two. Righthander Tom Gordon allowed one hit and struck out three in his only inning of work. Righthander Clay Condrey, vying for a spot in the bullpen, pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits.

Helms update

Wes Helms hit his first home run of the spring yesterday, and manager Charlie Manuel said afterward he thinks the third baseman will be able to help a major league team this season. Whether that team is the Phillies remains doubtful. They continue to explore potential trades for the third baseman, who has done an admirable job of blocking out the speculation while hitting .289 this spring.

"Helms is a good dude, he's a team player," Manuel said.

Today's game

The Phillies play a night game against the Yankees in Tampa. Lefthander Jamie Moyer (2-1, 3.29 ERA) will make his second-to-last start of the spring.

Phillers

Leftfielder Pat Burrell was scratched from the lineup due to flulike symptoms . . . Hamels likely will throw between 90 and 100 pitches in his last outing of the spring, scheduled for the Phillies' exhibition against Toronto at Citizens Bank Park on Friday . . . RHP Brett Myers will make his last start of the spring Wednesday in a home game against the Yankees . . . All signs point to righthander Adam Eaton as the fifth starter. *