Phillies 2015 Report Card: Starting Pitchers

Aug 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA;

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Harang (34) gets a new baseball after giving up a home run against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park

. (Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

Aaron Harang – D: the Phillies signed Harang for one reason, and one reason only – eat up innings. The 37-year old Harang was generally able to do that when healthy, but the team did lose him for nearly the entire month of July when he landed on the Disabled List due to a bout with plantar fasciitis.

He had started out strong, going 4-5 over 11 starts in April and May, allowing just 56 hits in his first 71.1 innings with a 53/15 K:BB ratio. There was talk that he was working himself into becoming a potential chip at the trade deadline. But the foot problems eventually wore him down, requiring the DL stint.

On his return, he couldn’t return to that same level of early season effectiveness. From July 30th, his first start back after being activated, through the end of the season, Harang went 2-4 with a 6.11 ERA, allowing 85 hits in 66.1 innings over a dozen starts.

In the team-high 29 starts that he was able to make, Harang delivered a team-high 172.1 innings pitched, allowing 189 hits with a 108/51 K:BB ratio. So yes, he delivered innings. But his aging, overweight body also gave out for a month. There is no way that the Phils can return Harang to the rotation for the 2016 season.