That Balls Outta Here
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Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation woes causing 2017 struggles

By John Town

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 22: Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta #43 of the Philadelphia Phillies is taken out of the game in the second inning during game two of a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 22, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 22: Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta #43 of the Philadelphia Phillies is taken out of the game in the second inning during game two of a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 22, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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The starting rotation was supposed to be the strength of the Phillies this year, but it has been one of their worst aspects this season.

Heading into the 2017 Phillies season, the starting rotation was supposed to be the strength of the team. Jeremy Hellickson and Clay Buchholz were supposed to be the veteran anchors with Jerad Eickhoff being a consistent, young innings-eater. Aaron Nola’s health and Vince Velasquez were the two question marks, but it was reasonable to believe that they would improve this season.

In April the rotation was actually somewhat good. As a unit, they had a 3.98 ERA (92 ERA-), 1.26 WHIP, and 2.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio. They helped the team to a solid 11-9 record to start off the year.

Hellickson was terrific, posting a 1.80 ERA while walking just three batters in 30 innings. Eickhoff was continuing to do the same thing he has his entire major-league career, striking out 8.31 batters per nine innings with a 3.56 ERA. Nola returned in strong form with a 3.19 fielding-independent pitching. However, it all fell apart from there.

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Velasquez did not improve at all – if anything he got worse as he was unable to find any command last deep into games yet again. Hellickson’s inability to strike batters out caught up with him as his ERA climbed to 4.73 by the time he was traded to Baltimore. Eickhoff hasn’t been the same pitcher since April with a 4.76 ERA and 9.2 percent walk rate.

Injuries have hurt the rotation more than anything.

Buchholz lasted just two starts into the season before tearing the flexor tendon in his forearm, likely ending his time in Philadelphia. Nola wound up on the disabled list again, this time with a back strain that caused him to miss a month. Eickhoff missed time with a back injury of his own, and Velasquez dealt with several injuries before being placed on the 60-day disabled list with a vascular issue.

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All these injuries and struggles piled up, hurting the team as a whole. It came to a head in May, when Phillies starters had a league-worst 6.55 ERA. It trickled down to the bullpen as they became overworked, causing them to struggle as well. Coupled with a terrible offense that month, and it’s easy to see why they finished that month with a 6-22 record.

Thanks to these injuries and struggles, the Phils have used 10 different starters this year. We have seen several rookies make their debuts, but with varying results. Ben Lively and Mark Leiter, Jr. have been effective as starters. However, Nick Pivetta, Zach Eflin, and Jake Thompson have been inconsistent at best this year.

The lone bright spot in the rotation this year has been Nola, who has been among one of the best starters in baseball this year. But even he is starting to waver, giving up 12 runs combined in his last two starts.

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We were hoping that the starting rotation would be a real strength of the Phillies rotation this year, but it has been the team’s biggest weakness. When you analyze the season as a whole, the woes of the rotation have played a key part in the team’s inability to win.

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