Phillies 2015 Report Card: Starting Pitchers
By Matt Veasey
Sep 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Buchanan (55) throws against the Miami Marlins during the third inning at Marlins Park.
(Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
David Buchanan – F: there really was nothing to distinguish the miserable season that Buchanan put up for the 2015 Phillies from that supplied by O’Sullivan. If anything, Buchanan may have even been worse, as amazing as that sounds when you consider the stats we presented already on O’Sullivan.
Buchanan began the season as a member of the Phillies starting rotation, and remained there for the entire month of April. He lost all five starts, leading to a demotion back to AAA Lehigh Valley. In those five outings he went 0-5 with an 8.76 ERA, allowing 32 hits in 24.2 innings with a horrendous 12/15 K:BB ratio.
Called up again for another five starts from just prior to the MLB All-Star break through mid-August, things seemed to be improving. Buchanan registered Quality Starts, picked up his first two victories of the season, lowered his ERA more than two points, and seemed to be gaining some equilibrium.
Then came back-to-back starts on August 6th and 11th, at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers and on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Buchanan was absolutely shelled by the two NL West opponents to the tune of 18 earned runs and 21 hits over just 5.2 innings total. He was again demoted to Lehigh Valley.
Back for a 3rd go-around in September, Buchanan received five final starts, remaining a member of the rotation as the season concluded. Shelled again in his first start back, he leveled off and recorded a pair of Quality Starts while pitching generally effectively over his final four outings.
Buchanan, who went 6-8 with a 3.75 ERA over 20 starts as a rookie in the 2014 season, will come to spring training again fighting to remain with the Phillies rotation. At worst, he heads back to Lehigh Valley to begin the year, and await the inevitable injury, trade, or ineffectiveness by a member of that Phils’ rotation.
Next: 15 Starts: Morgan