Phillies must address gaping hole in starting rotation
By John Town
Sunday’s drubbing of the Phillies by the Braves emphasized the gaping hole the team has in the back of the starting rotation.
Heading into Sunday’s game against the Braves, the Phillies had a tough decision to face. They moved Jerad Eickhoff to the bullpen after he gave up five home runs in three innings last Monday against the Diamondbacks. This left them without a starter for Sunday’s game.
The team opted to have Vince Velasquez start the game and called up Cole Irvin from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to follow Velasquez. Velasquez had not started since May 6 after he too was moved to the bullpen.
Once Velasquez started pitching Sunday, he reminded everyone why he was moved to the bullpen in the first place. He allowed four straight baserunners to start the game and three runs crossed the plate in the first inning.
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In the third, Ronald Acuna hit a leadoff single off Velasquez. Irvin then came in to replace him against Freddie Freeman. Irvin struck out the dangerous lefty but then gave up a two-run home run to Josh Donaldson.
The Braves teed off from there, dropping six runs on Irvin in 3.2 innings. Eickhoff pitched a disastrous seventh inning, giving up five runs and two home runs before the inning mercifully ended.
Utilityman Sean Rodriguez was Philadelphia’s best pitcher, throwing a one-two-three eighth inning.
When the game finally ended, Phillies pitchers had surrendered 15 runs, 19 hits, three home runs, and two walks. Velasquez’s ERA jumped to 4.71, Irvin’s to 6.84, and Eickhoff’s to 5.71. It was the team’s 11th loss of five or more runs this season and seventh allowing 10 or more runs.
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Sunday’s loss leaves the team with no clear answer for the empty fifth spot in the rotation. They have already demoted two pitchers to the bullpen and another to Triple-A (Nick Pivetta) at some point this season. At this rate, they may not be the last ones to get jettisoned from the rotation.
This spot comes up again for Friday night’s game against the Marlins, and it’s anyone’s guess who starts that game. They may be able to squeeze by Miami with this same group of pitchers, but not when this spot comes up again against the Mets or Braves. Enyel De Los Santos and Adonis Medina are options from the minors, but how much of an upgrade would they be?
Looking long-term for this season, this fifth spot of the rotation will be a huge weak spot for the team. It would be a penciled-in loss against any team with a semblance of an offense, and they can’t spare losses in a tight National League East race.
Hopefully, this loss drives the front office into high gear looking for starting pitching help. There’s some thought that a trade could come this month, but we’re already halfway through June with nothing even remotely close. Either way, adding a starting pitcher should be the club’s biggest concern at the trade deadline.
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If this rotation remains as it is all season long, it will be tough to make a serious playoff push.