A Surprise Promotion Ahead for Phillies’ Pitching

With the veteran setup relievers on the trading block, Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos will handle the final outs for the last two months. Yes, growing pains have occurred here also and saddled the reliable fireballers from 2016.

Observing Neris at his best, Mackanin and McClure agreed the closer has looked like the eighth-inning fireman from the previous 162. But remember, the pitching coach added Neris and Gomez had tired due to overuse before the final month. And the former’s reliable splitter and control during this campaign – the skipper stated – is a Dr. Henry Jekyll and a Mr. Edward Hyde.

"IN OTHER WORDS:     “Some days you tame the tiger, and some days the tiger has you for lunch.” – Tug McGraw"

Although Ramos had experienced difficulty early on, he went from April 30 to June 16 with solid results. He fired 21 1/3 innings with only four earned runs allowed for a 1.69 ERA during those 21 outings. But his 3.03 ERA has since increased to a 4.55 mark. Despite, however, his last two appearances, Ramos is a possibility to close because Pat Neshek doesn’t want the job.