Phillies: 3 Rays trade targets to keep an eye on this series

3. Ryan Yarbrough

Left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough would also help the Phillies’ starting pitching depth woes. Like Collin McHugh, he has been used both as a starting pitcher and reliever in his career. Also, since southpaw Matt Moore has pitched his way out of the team’s starting rotation, the Phillies could desperately use a left-handed presence to complement Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Zach Eflin.

This season, Yarbrough — who will start in Saturday afternoon’s Phillies-Rays series opener opposite Wheeler  — is 2-3 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.215 WHIP ratio spanning 52 2/3 innings, six starts and four relief outings.

Yarbrough has tossed six innings and surrendered just three earned runs in each of his two most recent starts — both on the road — opposite the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays. His two winning decisions so far in 2021 were also on the road, opposite the New York Yankees (5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER) and Los Angeles Angels (4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER).

In 2018, Yarbrough finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year Award race, going an impressive 16-6 with a 3.91 ERA. The following year, he went 11-6 with a 4.13 ERA. Spanning three appearances (including one start) during last year’s World Series, Yarbrough allowed just two runs in 4 2/3 innings opposite Los Angeles Dodgers batters.

While the 29-year-old Austin, Texas, native has fallen on the Rays rotation and bullpen depth chart in recent years, perhaps he could resurrect his career while donning red pinstripes.