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Phillies Mid-Season Review: Where They Stand Compared to 2015

By George Stockburger

Apr 28, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) in the dugout during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) in the dugout during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Vince Velasquez (28) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Vince Velasquez (28) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Pitching Stats

No member of the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies pitching staff won more than six games. Not Cole Hamels, not Aaron Nola, and not even Aaron Harang. In fact, those three pitchers, and closer Ken Giles, lead the team with six wins apiece.

Flip to 2016, and we have a much different story. Vince Velasquez leads the clubhouse with eight wins, while Jared Eickhoff and Jeremy Hellickson each have five.

Hamels and Harang lead the team with 13 quality starts last season. Jared Eickhoff already has 11, while Hellickson and Nola each have 10.

In 2016, the Phillies have two complete games, thanks to Velasquez and Zach Eflin. Last season, the Phillies only had one complete game; Cole Hamels’ no-hitter in his final appearance with the team.

Out in the bullpen, Jonathan Papelbon and Ken Giles (both of whom were traded) earned 30 saves combined. Jeanmar Gomez has already accumulated 24 at the mid-season mark. While he may not be part of the teams’ long-term plans, it’s another interesting change the organization has seen.

So many numbers can be thrown out with dramatically different outcomes. The club threw 14 different starters out to the mound last year, and have only used seven. Even more shocking, only 2 of the 14 starters from last season are currently on the major league roster, Nola and Eickhoff.

The team has seemed to have found its’ core of the future, with guys such as Jake Thompson, Ben Lively, Mark Appel, and Franklyn Kilome among others looking to reach the big leagues.

Next: The Offense

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