Phillies have a big starting pitching problem on their hands
By Matt Rappa
The Phillies likely won’t have Ranger Suarez, Zach Eflin, or Zack Wheeler to start the season
It might be a while before three expected key cogs of the 2022 Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation — Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, and Zach Eflin — will be ready and able to pitch.
For a team trying to snap the longest postseason drought in the National League, this is not ideal with the April 8 regular-season opener against the Oakland Athletics less than a month away.
Wheeler revealed this week that he felt some soreness in the winter when he was doing his offseason routine, and it impeded his ramp-up. He says he feels fine now, but is behind schedule, and may not be ready for Opening Day. Of the three pitchers, he is the best-case scenario.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber, the left-handed Suarez will be late to Phillies spring training and is at risk to miss the first few weeks of the season. This delay stems from hang-ups related to Suarez’s visa — “a consequence of the lockout,” says Lauber.
Meanwhile, Eflin’s return timetable currently remains unclear. The right-hander last pitched in mid-July and in early September, he underwent surgery to repair his right patellar tendon. At the time, it was said Eflin’s expected recovery time would be 6-8 months. So, that leaves the March at best — or May at worst timeframe — as to when the 27-year-old can resume throwing activities.
Potentially without both Suarez and Eflin – assuming Wheeler is okay or only briefly delayed – the only remaining believed-to-be-healthy members of the Phillies rotation include Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson.
When at 100 percent, Eflin has reliable No. 3 starter potential; during the shortened 2020 season, he impressively went 4-2 with a 70-15 strikeouts-to-walks ratio across 59 innings. Losing Suarez for a period of time especially hurts, as his expected ERA last season was among the best in Major League Baseball, minimum 250 batted balls against:
Lowest expected ERA (xERA), 2021 (min 250 batted balls against):
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 11, 2022
Corbin Burnes: 1.99
Ranger Suárez: 2.60
Lance Lynn: 2.60
Carlos Rodón: 2.66
xERA = based on quality of contact, plus strikeouts
With other glaring holes on the roster, such as solidifying the left field and right field positions, among others, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski clearly has a lot of work to do with very little time.
