Troubling offense aside, Phils can build around this rotation

PHILADELPHIA » Relatively speaking, Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Gibson struggled Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Gibson allowed two runs on eight hits in a 2-0 loss to the Padres, the 10th time this season this powerfully rebuilt Phillies offense lost while scoring either one or no runs. To that end, Gibson was easily outdueled by San Diego’s Yu Darvish, the 10-year veteran who seems on his way to a revival season at 4-1.

Of course, that hardly means that Gibson wasn’t effective in his 5.2-inning stint. Even to him, he probably deserved better.

“Got into a little bit of a pattern there in the fourth inning, got a little predictable,” Gibson would say after the game. “But I still executed quite a few pitches — in that fourth inning, too. They’re a good team … they did a good job of hitting good pitches that inning.”

Along the way, Gibson struck out seven Padres while issuing no free passes. Over the past several (actually more than that) seasons, a start like that would have easily been welcome for a Phillies rotation that went from the post-“Five Aces” days to a point of two, maybe three somewhat respectable rotation regulars with however many others filling in at whatever manager’s best-guess whim.

And so the non-playoff seasons string hit 11 and counting.

A solution of sorts was supposed to be supplied this season by a bulked-up offense, with Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos joining Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto and Co. for a deep, powerful lineup. That was seen as a balance to a pitching staff of holdover starters from last season (Gibson was acquired from Texas near the trade deadline last July 30), and a bullpen that was optimistically upgraded with the likes of closer Corey Knebel.

But while the inconsistent offense has coughed its way through April and much of May in fits and starts, the Phillies’ starting staff has been as solid and dependable as any seen here over the past decade.

That success has mostly been manifested at home. Through 20 home games prior to Thursday’s loss to the Padres, Phillies starters had fashioned a collective 2.56 ERA. More significantly, they allowed no more than one run in 11 of those 20 home games.

Yet that can only be so effective when half of a team’s losses were the result of scoring only one or zero runs. And despite the resounding success of their starters at home this season, the loss to the Padres Thursday dropped the Phillies to 10-11 at Citizens Bank Park this season.

And yet, their 2.59 starting rotation ERA at home this season entering Friday’s game ranked third in the major leagues, behind only the Angels and Brewers.

Against the big, bad L.A. Dodgers, who were in Friday night for the first of a three-game series, starter Ranger Suarez carried a 4-1 record with a 3.72 ERA. He had won four of his five prior starts.

That he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks to the Dodgers over the first three innings wasn’t surprising, since it was the 25-win Dodgers doing it to him. That he was pulled after only 84 pitches … well, there can always be bad news lurking around the corner.

Anyway, Gibson (3-2) has also been effective of late, and on Wednesday, Zack Wheeler breezed to a 3-0 victory over the Padres on the strength of seven shutout innings. He’s won twice after starting the season with three losses, his ERA dipping from 8.53 after the third loss to its current 3.49.

Both Zach Eflin and

Aaron Nola (as usual) have been victimized by very spotty run support with Eflin at 1-3 with a 3.90 ERA and Nola at 1-4 and 3.64. That’s indicative of the team’s problem scoring runs. But despite that, this Phillies’ five-strong rotation shows every sign that it can carry a club through the summer.

And yet…

These Phillies are always vulnerable when it comes to defense. And despite this team entering the Dodgers series with the third-highest team batting average (only .251) in the slow-starting National League, there are many problems offensively that goes beyond the general inconsistency of the first six weeks.

Of course, Joe Girardi seems convinced it can all turn around.

“I think everyone has chipped in,” he said Friday. “It seems like when we have a bad day, it’s one day, and then they’re able to turn the page. So that’s the biggest thing to give them credit for — they won’t let a bad day turn into a couple of bad days.”

Bryce Harper’s only bad days are when he gets medical reports. One of the league’s best hitters over the first six weeks, he missed his fifth straight start Friday night and his role was downgraded by doctors to designated-hitter-only status likely through July, due to a very worrisome UCL tear in the elbow of his throwing arm.

Shortstop Didi Gregorius is still out injured, too, and J.T. Realmuto (.230) and Kyle Schwarber (.189) are in prolonged slumps as they were trudging out to face a Dodgers team none too happy about losing three at home to the Phillies last week.

Add it all up and an 1820 Phillies start isn’t all that surprising … and that’s only because the starting pitching has thus far been something to cheer about.