A Surprise Promotion Ahead for Philadelphia Phillies' Pitching

A Surprise Promotion Ahead for Phillies’ Pitching

By Tal Venada | Jun 21, 2017

Jun 20, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) takes the ball from relief pitcher Edubray Ramos (61) during the eleventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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With Being on the 40-Man Roster as a Consideration, Eflin Can Earn His Way Back to the Phils After the All-Star Break. Photo by Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports. /

Experiencing the most confounding setback, righty Jake Thompson has regressed at the Triple-A level. His troubles with the Allentown affiliate are his career low at Double-A or higher. Yet, after he had struggled for his first two outings, he put together five excellent performances through May 19: three earned runs for 28 1/3 frames with a 2-1 record and a 0.95 ERA. But then he had five poor starts consecutively, before he fired eight scoreless innings on June 20.

"IN OTHER WORDS: “Going back down to the minors is the toughest thing to handle in baseball.” – Gaylord Perry"

Thompson’s starts:

First two: 4 2/3 Inn., 0-2, a 28.93 ERA and 15 ER.
Next five: 28 1/3 Inn., 2-1, a 0.95 ERA and 3 ER.
Next five: 22 2/3 Inn., 0-4, a 9.53 ERA and 24 ER.
June 20: 8 Inn., 1-0 and 0 Runs.

At Lehigh Valley, they have their version of Lively in right-hander Thomas Eshelman. He is 5-1 with a 1.68 ERA. In fact, he has completed seven or more innings in six of his eight appearances and retired two and one respectively in the seventh frame of the other two. But he probably won’t receive a call-up with Eickhoff (back) on the disabled list for only one or two starts because management doesn’t have to use a 40-man roster spot to protect him for two more years.

Eshelman’s stats:

Double-A: 5 Gms., 29 Inn., 3-0, a 3.10 ERA and 10 ER.
Triple-A: 8 Gms., 59 Inn., 5-1, a 1.68 ERA and 11 ER.

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