Phillies: Rotation surprises in 2020, 2008, 1980

Fourth slot:     

Currently, many locals consider the Phillies as lacking legitimate three and-fourth-rung starters, but the basic four-spot hurler is an innings eater with a 4.00 to 4.25 ERA. And a dependable four keeps his team in the game: a range behind or ahead by two runs.

Phillies four-slot starters:

• 1980: Ruthven, 29: 33 Gms., 223 1/3  Inn., 17-10, a 3.55 ERA, a 3.2 fWAR and a 1.41 WHIP.
• 2008: Moyer, 45: 33 Gms., 196 1/3 Inn., 16-7, a 3.71 ERA, a 2.8 fWAR and a 1.33 WHIP.
• 2019: Arrieta, almost 34: 31 Gms., 135 2/3 Inn., 8-8, a 4.64 ERA, a 1.1 fWAR and a 1.47 WHIP.

With Christenson’s injury, Ruthven, mostly a four-slot arm, rose to the occasion with the form he had demonstrated in 1978 after his acquisition from the Atlanta Braves. Realistically, he wasn’t the same pitcher every 162, but many major leaguers fall into this category.

After seven of eight campaigns through 2003 with a 3.98 ERA or much lower, Moyer’s 3.71 ERA was his only one under a 4.28 ERA or higher for his next eight years. Translation: He earned his ring and took the rubber for good measure. So, never count out a man if he can smell that championship.

Many of the Philadelphia faithful have little confidence in Arrieta, but he toiled with bone spurs and matched a healthy Walk’s numbers. However, he was 5-6 with a 4.12 ERA before revealing the injury in his next outing, but many fans strictly base performance expectations on a player’s income.

While a player tends to elevate his game in his walk year, Arrieta might just do that if he can stay healthy. But did he have just two injury-affecting 162s, or is his body finally succumbing to the mileage leading to a balky knee in ’18 and bone spurs in ’19? Will he be healthy in June?