Phillies Starting Pitchers
Aaron Nola is coming off a relatively down season following his third place finish in the Cy Young award race. We might not see another season like 2018 again from Nola, but hopefully we at least see something in between his 2018 and ’19 performances. An 86 overall is certainly fair, and Nola has room to grow into the 90s range.
Zack Wheeler has dealt with injuries in recent years but the tail end of his 2019 season got him a massive five year contract with the Phillies. I’m a little surprised he’s only rated 80 overall in MLB The Show given his trajectory and where he stands among his fellow starters, but thankfully we don’t have to rely on this grade for his success in 2020.
I think Jake Arrieta’s reputation is keeping his rating up more than his performance has. In his first two seasons with the Phillies Arrieta has a 4.26 ERA and has dealt with multiple injuries, most recently bone spurs in his elbow. On most playoff teams Arrieta wouldn’t be anything more than a number four starter. Right now, he’s the third man out of the gate for Philadelphia.
Zach Eflin should rebound under pitching coach Bryan Price after Chris Young’s teachings got him in trouble on the mound last year. Hoping to keep the ball lower in the zone and focus on groundballs, Eflin could find himself as the Phillies number three starter and potentially move his rating up into the mid-70s by seasons end.
Ultimately, Vince Velasquez will find himself in the Phillies bullpen this season. He’s been given ample opportunity in five seasons and has produced nothing but mediocrity and false hope. There is some hope he can be a hard-throwing setup man, but he has to get past the idea that he’s a starter.
Copy everything I said about Velasquez and paste it here under Pivetta.
Of all the Phillies pitchers who impressed in Clearwater earlier this spring, few stood out more than Ranger Suarez. He put himself into the fifth starter conversation with a 2.25 ERA in eight innings with zero home runs allowed and only one walk. If he doesn’t win the starter job he’s a valuable long-man in the bullpen.