Six arms:
For the first two months, Eshelman must prove he deserves a shot with the hometown nine: Klentak won’t burn a 40-man spot without an excellent reason. None so far! Additionally, the right-hander won’t require roster protection until after the campaign.
Like Eshelman, Lively had produced solid numbers last summer for the Allentown affiliate and averaged roughly six frames per outing with the red pinstripes. He has bulldog tenacity but relies on control to succeed, and he might temporarily earn the fifth-slot on the Phils in April.
With a four-seam fastball at 94.5 mph, Pivetta will either barely earn a starting role with the parent club and have a couple’s months to stick. Or he’ll be with Lehigh Valley to work on his control and secondary pitches.
Triple-A stats:
- Eshelman, 23.5: 18 Gms., 121 Inn., 10-3 and a 2.23 ERA.
- Lively, almost 26: 16 Gms., 97 Inn., 7-5 and a 3.15 ERA.
- Pivetta, almost 25: 5 Gms., 22 Inn., 5-0 and a 1.41 ERA.
- Thompson, 24: 22 Gms., 118 1/3 Inn., 5-14 and a 5.25 ERA.
- Leiter, almost 27: 7 Gms., 5 Starts, 30 Inn., 2-1 and a 4.20 ERA.
- Taveras, 24: 7 Gms., 41 Inn., 3-1 and a 1.32 ERA.
In ’17, Thompson struggled to achieve 70 percent accuracy against MLB and MiLB hitters. Most likely, on Opening Day he’ll be on the five-man staff of the IronPigs.
Leiter has six pitches, but he needs to control at least three per start to have a chance in the majors. No small feat! He will probably be in the rotation or the long man at Triple-A.
While Lively, Pivetta and Thompson battle for the bottom rung of the starting five in Philly, Taveras will probably spend the year with Lehigh Valley. Klentak had quickly promoted him to Triple-A, and he earned 40-man protection because of his seven starts: 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA. The audition continues!