The Phillies should not bring back Matt Moore
Matt Moore is not the pitcher he was in his early years when he was an All-Star with the Rays.
He’s now in his 10th MLB season, and has a 6.79 ERA, matching his career-worst from 2018. He’s pitched in 17 games, and made nine starts, but has only totaled 50 1/3 innings to this point. They haven’t been effective innings, either: 60 hits, 38 earned runs, and 22 walks with only 43 strikeouts. The Phillies are 8-9 in games in which he pitches.
After making five starts in July – none of them scoreless – Moore was moved back to the bullpen, where he has continued to give up runs. He hasn’t had a scoreless appearance since June 25, and since that game, he has a 7.67 ERA over 27 innings, with opposing batters slashing .295/.363/.563 with a .925 OPS against him.
Moore missed the entire 2020 season, and the Phillies were likely hoping this would be a bounce-back year for him. He also has five games of postseason experience from his time with the Rays and Giants, including a seven-inning scoreless start from the 2011 ALDS, and an eight-inning start during the 2016 NLDS in which he only allowed one run on two hits. That was definitely appealing for a Phillies team that desperately wants to get back in the postseason game.
Unfortunately, Moore is one of many pitchers on this staff who hurt more than he’s helped. Postseason experience is worthless if he can’t help the Phillies get to the postseason in the first place.
Like Anderson, this is Moore’s first season with the Phillies. And like Anderson, it should be his last.