Philadelphia Phillies concerns appear in first inning of 2021

Typically, it is difficult to put any stock into anything related to spring training, let alone the first game of the preseason. Players are working on different things, either on the mound or in the batter’s box. However, for a team such as the Philadelphia Phillies, having a strong start can help assuage potential questions.

That did not happen. The Phillies were unable to get out of the first inning of their game on Sunday on their own, recording only two outs while throwing 50 pitches.

Philadelphia Phillies horrid showing a sign of things to come?

The game immediately got off on the wrong foot for the Phillies. Willi Castro belted the first pitch he saw from Ivan Nova for a home run, and the wheels came off from there. Three runs were walked in, Nova recorded just one out before departing, and the Tigers sent ten batters to the plate before the inning was declared over.

It is just one inning of one spring training game. And Nova is not guaranteed a spot on the Phillies roster; even if he did make the team out of camp, he would be in the back of their rotation. Normally, he would not be someone that the Phillies should be too concerned about.

However, the Phillies find themselves in an extremely competitive NL East. Every team in the division has improved, and there is a sense that Philadelphia has been left behind. While the bullpen was addressed, the rotation is still a mess after Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler. The Phillies have to find pitching somewhere.

Situations such as what happened on Sunday are a part of why there is so much pessimism around the Phillies. Bryan Mitchell, who had not appeared in the majors since 2018, was the only pitcher to record more than one out without allowing a run. Is that someone the Phillies should be counting on?

There is plenty of time for the Philadelphia Phillies to figure out their pitching staff. Nonetheless, this was not the start they hoped for.