Phillies: How long can Nick Pivetta stay in the rotation?

After another lackluster performance and the playoff race heating up, how long can the Phillies keep Nick Pivetta in the rotation?

Earlier this year, Nick Pivetta was a key cog in a dominant Phillies rotation. However, his recent struggles have become a concern for a team that is holding a slim lead in the division.

Friday night’s start against the Reds was another frustrating outing for Pivetta. He looked untouchable at times, striking out 12 batters in six innings, raising his season strikeout rate to 29 percent. He struck out the side in the first inning, recording 16 swings and misses altogether.

While his strikeout total would indicate an impressive outing, he still made mistakes that cost the team. The most glaring was a 1-2 slider thrown the right down the middle that Mason Williams crushed for a three-run home run. Pivetta allowed five runs in total, taking his ninth loss of the year with the Phils losing, 6-4.

More from That Balls Outta Here

• 11 Free-agent deals the Philadelphia Phillies wish fell through
• Phillies-Mets owners’ rivalry grows after shocking Carlos Correa deal
• Could Rich Hill become ‘Jamie Moyer 2.0’ in Phillies rotation?
• Does Bailey Falter have a future in Phillies’ rotation?
• Prospect Andrew Baker could help Phillies bullpen in 2023

This start was another in what has been a bad stretch for Pivetta over the last two months. Since the start of June, he has a 2-6 record, 6.70 ERA, and 1.61 WHIP. Opposing hitters have a .297 batting average and 11 home runs against Pivetta in this time.

Even though Pivetta has struggled recently, manager Gabe Kapler remains convinced that Pivetta can figure things out: [quote via Todd Zolecki of MLB.com]

“I think the swing and miss gives us a lot of promise for what could happen if he’s able to limit even a little bit of the damage,” Kapler said. “If he limits the damage, he’s a top of the rotation, stud pitcher.“We still haven’t quite figured that out as a group. I think it’s all of our responsibility, not just Nick’s, but myself, our pitching group, our catchers and Nick himself, to figure out how he can take off the way we know he can and the way we believe he can. We have a ton of confidence in him.”

Kapler pointed towards the success Pivetta had earlier this season, saying Pivetta still shows that success at times. Through May, Pivetta had a 3.26 ERA, 2.80 fielding-independent pitching, 1.09 WHIP, and 4.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He was one of several pitchers in the rotation dominating the opposition, making up for an anemic offense and inconsistent bullpen.

As it stands now, Philadelphia holds a 2.5 game lead over the Braves in the NL East with two months left in the season. To maintain this lead, the team cannot afford Pivetta to continue his struggles. Kapler believes Pivetta can turn things around, but how long of a leash can he have?