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.