3 under the radar Phillies off to hot starts in 2023
The start to the season has been slow for the Philadelphia Phillies. Where have we seen this before?
A different yet very similar roster as they had for most of 2022, they’ve had to overcome some major injuries just to remain out of baseball’s basement. Through 12 games, at 4-8, we’ve seen plenty of the core members struggle. To our pleasant surprise, some under the radar Phillies have started off hot.
This can be taken a number of ways. You want your stars to perform. You also need unlikely heroes to step up. Through the first dozen games, these lesser-talked about Phillies have earned every dime on their paychecks. Who would have thought they’d be leading the rotation and the starting lineup?
1) Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm has been the most pleasant surprise of all
The Phillies didn’t sign Matt Strahm to start for them. An injury to Ranger Suarez and a lack of reasonably good options to take his spot on the roster has changed his role for the team to start the season. Through a pair of starts and a relief appearance, Strahm has been the club’s surprising ace.
Now 10 innings into the season, Strahm is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He has allowed 5 hits, struck out a batter per inning, and has walked opponents at a rate of only 1.8 per 9.
Everything Strahm has delivered in every way possible for the Phillies this season. In a year where the bullpen has been a mess and they haven’t gotten much from their pair of aces, it has been a stroke of good luck to get anything at all out of Strahm as a starter.
Originally intended to be the third lefty in the bullpen behind Gregory Soto and Jose Alvarado, Strahm has been easily their best pitcher to begin the year. Unfortunately, there probably won’t be much room for him to stick in the rotation when Suarez does return. That’s because this next guy is the only one they can option to the minors and he has been impressive for them, too.
2) Phillies starting pitcher Bailey Falter has stepped up big for the team
Almost as surprising as Strahm is how well Bailey Falter has been. While he’s just 0-1 after 2 starts, he does carry a 2.61 ERA after 10.1 innings. Has it been a brilliant beginning? Not at all. He has given up a home run in each appearance and has just 5 strikeouts.
Falter went 5.1 innings his first start against the Texas Rangers and gave the Phillies a realistic shot to win. Unfortunately, he took the loss there. His next time on the mound he held the Cincinnati Reds to one run. Philadelphia snagged the win this time in large part because of Falter’s clean start on the mound.
His success may not be as under the radar as Strahm’s. Falter stepped up in the latter part of the 2022 season. He was with the Phillies throughout but it was in the second half when he made his mark. Falter made 11 starts after the All-Star Break and managed to go 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA for the club last year.
Frankly, Falter was far from an ideal candidate to begin the season in the team’s rotation. The preseason battle versus Andrew Painter was won because of the latter’s injury. Falter continues to prove doubters wrong. Soon, he may not be flying under the radar.
3) Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott never heard of a sophomore slump
Phillies fans know Bryson Stott well and the importance of his presence on this team. Outsiders may not be paying as much attention to the second-year infielder who is carrying a .420/.431/.500 slash line through his first 51 plate appearances.
Stott has yet to hit a home run but who’s complaining? On this roster, you don’t need everyone to mash. Stott is providing the Phillies with a different look at the plate. Ripping doubles and singles have their benefits, too.
Stott is someone we’re seeing take advantage of the new MLB rules as well. He has 3 stolen bases through the early part of the season. His 12 last year in the majors was the most of any in his professional career. He may not become Jimmy Rollins, however, an ode to Chase Utley when it comes to swiping bases regularly and with a ton of success would be something to look out for.
When most people think of the Phillies roster, Stott probably ranks somewhere in the teens. His 2022 rookie season wasn’t grand. It was more acceptable because of his ability to sometimes hit in the clutch.
Now the second baseman instead of the starting shortstop, it may help translate into Stott being able to focus on his offense more. Who knows exactly what it is? If the kid can keep hitting, we’ll ask questions later.