Re-evaluating Phillies pitching staff after rough start to season
By John Town
Bullpen
While the starters have not done well, the bullpen has not done any better. They rank 19th in fWAR, 21st in ERA, 17th in FIP, 19th in WHIP, and 21st in home run to fly ball rate. Their issues have directly led to at least two of their four losses this season.
The first of those two losses came April 3. Aaron Nola did not have a good start at all, and at first, the bullpen held fast. The Phillies rallied back to take an 8-6 lead, but Seranthony Dominguez gave up two runs (with the help of a Rhys Hoskins error) to leave the game tied. Dominguez has not been the same kind of pitcher this year, giving up four earned runs on five hits and two walks in four innings.
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David Robertson, another pitcher who was supposed to be a stabilizing presence in the back end, gave up three straight walks and a hit to walk in the winning run. He has since made three scoreless appearances since that loss, but he still holds a 7.71 ERA and more walks (five) than strikeouts (four).
The next of the two losses came Tuesday night, again against the Nationals. Nola had another rough outing, but Dominguez was able to close the door in the seventh.
When the ninth inning came, Edubray Ramos, who now sports a 9.00 ERA, came in for the save with Dominguez and Hector Neris already out of the game. He was able to get a 2-2 count with two outs, but Victor Robles hit a game-tying home run.
The Nationals smacked around Jose Alvarez for four runs in the top of the tenth, all but assuring Washington of a win. He has allowed seven runs total this year, good for the highest ERA on the pitching staff at 12.46.
Only two Phillies relievers have an ERA below 3.00: Adam Morgan and Pat Neshek. They have been the few bright spots in a dismal bullpen situation. Combined with the unstable starting rotation, there is zero security in any lead the team has at this point.