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Philadelphia Phillies: Starting rotation’s catch-22

By Tal Venada

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 27: Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler (22) makes a pitching change during the sixth inning of a MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies on August 27, 2018, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 27: Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler (22) makes a pitching change during the sixth inning of a MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies on August 27, 2018, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Velasquez –like the Phillies– was solid until Aug. 3: his last start before the losses in Phoenix began the tailspin. Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images. /

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While the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs are close by, the distance for an MiLB star making an impact with the red pinstripes is at least twice as far. No doubt, you’ve seen three of their rotation arms either starting or relieving for the Phillies. Yeah, their tomorrow isn’t April.

With Lehigh Valley, southpaw Cole Irvin‘s summer was promotion worthy. He went 14-4 with a 2.57 ERA for 161 1/3 innings over 26 appearances. However, he won’t require protection with a 40-man spot until after the 2019 campaign. Translation: no advancement in ’19.

In ’17, right-hander Tom Eshelman was, similarly, the hurler locals demanded for a premature burn-a-slot call-up after going 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA. But then he went 2-13 with a 5.84 ERA for 26 outings: 11 good, five so-so and 10 poor.

Phillies stats as a starter:

For the IronPigs, portsider Suarez was 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA for 49 1/3 innings after having a 2.76 ERA for 75 frames with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. Unfortunately, his two starts here revealed the need for more seasoning with the Allentown affiliate despite the lack of a rotation lefty.

As for Anderson, he went 9-4 with a 3.87 ERA for 104 2/3 innings over 19 appearances, but he hits 97 mph and has a slider among four others in his arsenal. However, he needs proficiency with two secondary pitches to complement his heater and is basically an injury replacement until next July.

Before his decent first start here, De Los Santos went 10-5 with a 2.63 ERA for 140 1/3 frames over 22 performances. He has a four-seam fastball averaging 94.6 mph and a changeup, but he must develop a third weapon from one of his other pitches if he wants to fire bullets every fifth day in the majors.

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