Phillies 2019 season preview: Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta
By John Town
Pivetta’s role in 2019
The starting rotation for the year is pretty much set as the team is not likely to make any more additions before the regular season begins in three and a half weeks. Pivetta likely slots in behind Jake Arrieta as the No. 3 starter, ahead of Vince Velasquez and Zach Eflin. Nola, Arrieta, Pivetta, Velasquez, and Eflin will be the go-to rotation for the year barring any injuries.
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Given the star power now in the starting lineup, the rotation doesn’t need to be the best in the league to get this team to the playoffs. If you compare the 2019 Phillies to the 2008 World Series team, Pivetta is a more intimidating option at No. 3 than Jamie Moyer was. As a whole, this year’s rotation looks better than 2008’s by a good bit.
Assuming Pivetta performs as a functional mid-rotation starter, his role won’t be in any doubt.
In the event of a midseason acquisition, Velasquez or Eflin would be the ones most likely to get bumped over Pivetta. That all hinges on Pivetta remaining healthy and continuing to improve, but at this point, there’s no reason to doubt he will.
The 2019-20 free agency class will feature some of the best pitchers in the game like Chris Sale, Gerrit Cole, Madison Bumgarner, and Justin Verlander. Philadelphia still has the financial flexibility to pick up one of them if they feel the rotation still needs work after this season. Again, so long as Pivetta performs as he’s predicted, he wouldn’t be the one to lose a spot if a signing is made.