Starters are giving the Phillies a chance to win
The Phillies’ biggest question mark coming into the 2019 season was their starting rotation.
The starters have been slightly better than expected so far, compiling a 4.42 ERA in 362⁄3 innings.
“We’re supposed to [give us a chance] every time we’re out there,” said starter Zach Eflin after Saturday’s 6-2 home loss to the Twins. “That’s our job. On days when we’re not going as far into the game, you kind of offset that with good offense. Whenever you combine both of those, that’s a recipe for a good team.”
Ace Aaron Nola won the opener over the Braves with six solid innings, but was hit hard while allowing six runs in three innings during Wednesday’s road drubbing by the Nationals. His ERA of 7.00 is the highest among the starters. The Phils really need him to be the Nola of 2018, when he finished third in the National League Cy Young voting.
No. 2 man Jake Arrieta gave up three runs in seven innings Saturday, marking the longest outing by a Phillies starter this year. Minnesota only got to him for three in the third inning, including an upper-deck homer by right fielder Max Kepler and another homer by catcher Willians Astudillo two pitches later.
Arrieta (1-1) earned the win in his first start last Sunday night despite walking six in six innings of one-run ball in which he said the windy, cool conditions made it feel like he was throwing a cue ball.
Arrieta was somewhat of a disappointment in 2018 (10-11, 3.96 ERA) after signing a three-year, $75 million contract, but it’s encouraging that he’s permitted just eight hits in 13 innings this year and his ERA is 2.77.
“With the offense we can have, if we can keep it close, we’re going to do just fine,” Arrieta said. “Obviously, we’d like to (go a little deeper into games), but it’s not even two full times around the rotation yet. The length of our starters
is going to improve.”
Eflin threw five shutout innings Tuesday, while Nick Pivetta has compiled a 6.52 ERA in 92⁄3 innings over two starts.
Meanwhile, opposing starters have a 6.91 ERA against the Phillies’ potent offense, which failed to score at least five runs for the first time this season Saturday.
“Everyone’s giving us a good chance to win,” said catcher Andrew Knapp. “We’ve been pretty pleased with where guys are at. It’s early still and, obviously, there’s room for improvement. As long as we have a chance to win the game, it’s all good.”
Eflin is scheduled to pitch Sunday’s series finale against Minnesota, with the inconsistent Vince Velasquez set to make his first start of the season Monday against the Nationals and Nola to face Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday evening. The Phillies have skipped Velasquez, who had a rough spring, in the rotation because of so many off-days.
The bullpen, which was projected to be stronger than the starting rotation, has been more of a concern, especially free agent signee David Robertson (12.00 ERA) and second-year man Seranthony Dominquez, whose ERA rose to 15.43 after a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Eddie Rosario in the top of the ninth Saturday. Situation left-hander Jose Alvarez (13.50) has also struggled.
Though Dominguez’s velocity is down, he said Saturday that he feels fine. He hasn’t pitched nearly as well since his lights-out first 19 outings last spring, which followed a quick rise through the minors and transition from being a starter.
While Pat Neshek (42⁄3 innings), Adam Morgan (32⁄3) and Juan Nicasio (three innings) have yet to allow a run and are the primary reasons the bullpen’s ERA is 4.26, Robertson and Dominguez are the most important relievers because they’re the primary eighth- and ninth-inning guys.
As for the starters, they’ve done a solid job. If they keep pitching like they’ve been, with the way the Phillies hit the ball, Gabe Kapler’s team will be fine.
Tom Moore is the sports columnist of the Bucks County Courier Times. He can be reached at tmoore@couriertimes.com.