Phillies: Addressing 14 pitching worries for the 2019 campaign
By Tal Venada
Rotation roulette:
Beginning atop the Phillies staff, Aaron Nola has a 5.68 ERA. Yes, he’s had two bad appearances out of six including a weather-influenced disaster of wind and rain. And his two so-so outings included one at Coors Field against the rejuvenated Colorado Rockies. But now he’s back!
Regarding Jake Arrieta, he’s had five good performances out of six and has a 3.46 ERA. Last summer, he pitched through June’s knee injury until September’s end. But he really struggled in his final nine starts. Therefore, he’ll be a solid number two if he can stay healthy.
In the three slot, Zach Eflin has a 3.34 ERA because of two clunkers out of his six opportunities, but the other four were good outings: four earned runs in 27 frames (a 1.33 ERA). Normally, a player makes an impact in or after his third season according to a retired GM from another franchise: 60-90 starts. Eflin?
Phillies total starts based on 30 annually:
- Nola at 99 for 3 campaigns plus of development.
- Velasquez at 80 for 2.5 plus.
- Eickhoff at 68 for 2 plus.
- Pivetta at 62 for 2 plus.
- Eflin at 52 for 1.5 plus.
Until he has a poor start –and he’ll have one– Vince Velasquez has quieted his detractors, but they are currently holding their “he’s a reliever” fire. Actually, he’s in his third year starts-wise, and he’ll reach the 90 mark with 10 more. For now, though, he has a 1.99 ERA.
After he missed most of 2018, Jerad Eickhoff resembles his 2016 self: a 3.65 ERA for 197 1/3 innings. So far, he’s had a good and a so-so outing and has a 2.12 ERA. Like Velasquez, however, the hometown nine have him on a lighter workload.
Pivetta must improve his control for a rotation slot on the parent club. Unfortunately, he’s had two so-so MLB performances with two clunkers. Plus he’s had two MiLB appearances: one good and one so-so. That stated, the Phils could use a six-man staff in the second half to get Velasquez and Eickhoff through September.