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Phillies: Projecting Major-League and Minor-League Rotations for 2017

By John Town

Mar 12, 2016; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Vince Velasquez (28) throws a warm up pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Vince Velasquez (28) throws a warm up pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 8, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Major-Leagues

The starting rotation was the main reason the Phillies got off to such a hot start in 2016. It carried the team through the first month and a half of the season, but injuries eventually depleted the rotation. Now that those injured players should be back for 2017, the rotation is poised for improvement.

The major-league rotation doesn’t really have any open spots in it at this point. Veterans Jeremy Hellickson and Clay Buchholz should pair well with Vincent Velasquez and Jerad Eickhoff, both of whom are entering their second full season in the majors.

The only question mark in the rotation is Aaron Nola and whether or not he will return healthy. There haven’t been any public setbacks in his recovery, and Nola’s agent said he is “100 percent healthy.” While that can only be taken so far, all signs are pointing to Nola starting 2017 in the rotation. For the purpose of this exercise, we will assume that is the case.

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