Call to the pen
Fansided

Phillies: Dual 3-batter strategy for 2020

By Tal Venada

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Manager Joe Girardi of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Minnesota Twins during a Grapefruit League spring training game at Hammond Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Manager Joe Girardi of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Minnesota Twins during a Grapefruit League spring training game at Hammond Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Phillies
Suarez has a decent shot to make the Phillies rotation. Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images. /

One slot, three arms:         

For three Phillies candidates, two five-slot possibilities will be in the pen: Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta and/or Ranger Suarez. Rule of thumb: the acceptable performance rate is 75-80 percent. To illustrate, Pivetta made 17 relief appearances with 12 acceptable outings for 70.6 percent.

Phillies statistical results toward 75-80 percent: 

  • Velasquez: 6 good, 2 so-so and 2 bad (1 blowup) out of 10 total for 80%
  • Pivetta: 11 good, 1 so-so and 5 bad (1 blowup) out of 17 total for 70.6%
  • Suarez: 28 good, 3 so-so and 6 bad (0 blowups) out of 37 total for 83.8%

Even though Velasquez is the favorite to be the fifth starter, Suarez is a stronger-than-advertised consideration. Bullpen-wise, Velasquez had eight acceptable performances out of 10 for 80 percent. Plus pitching one or two frames is doable for he and Pivetta. Ergo, realistic!

Basic splits:

  • RP Pivetta vs. right-side bats: 48 1/3 Inn., a 6.70 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.
    vs. left-side bats: 45 1/3 Inn., a 2.97 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.
  • RP Velasquez vs. right-side bats: 66 Inn., a 4.91 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.
    vs. left-side bats: 51 1/3 Inn., a 4.91 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.
  • *LP Suarez vs. left-side bats: 17 1/3 Inn., a 2.60 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP.
    vs. right-side bats: 31 1/3 Inn., a 3.45 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.
  • * All in relief.

Being a left-hander, Suarez is a possibility due to a right-heavy rotation and his successful relief work. Plus the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals have youngsters in bullpen roles before offering them a shot to make the five-man staff.. So, Suarez might be ready to start after consistently getting outs.

When it comes to baseball’s business end, many fans are oblivious to player availability due to their expectations. Ergo, general manager Matt Klentak and his contemporaries must usually sign a previously injured or aging reliever to fill out their pens, and sidelined hurlers are on a slower pace with some extending into April.

Many locals won’t see Victor Arano and Tommy Hunter and shouldn’t anticipate them being ready by Opening Day. No, both will probably be on the IL until May 1. But both will likely have MiLB rehab assignments in late April after ramping up during extended spring training in Clearwater.

2018’s Basic splits:

  • RP Arano vs. right-side bats: 36 Inn., a 2.50 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.
    vs. left-side bats: 23 1/3 Inn., a 3.09 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.
  • RP Hunter vs. right-side bats: 31 Inn., a 3.77 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
    vs. left-side bats: 33 Inn., a 3.82 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.
Home/Philadelphia Phillies