Philadelphia Phillies bullpen has been impressively awful

The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen has been their biggest flaw over the past few years. There have been holes in the lineup and in the back of the rotation, but the continued inability to find viable options in relief have dragged the team down the standings.

Those issues with the bullpen have reared their head once more. Over the past four games heading into Sunday, the Phillies’ bullpen has managed to blow six saves. Six in four games. That is impressively awful.

Philadelphia Phillies get same results with same approach

One had to give the Phillies credit for trying. They spent the offseason attempting to fix their bullpen, just as they had in previous years. This time, they brought in Jose Alvarado, Archie Bradley, and Brandon Kintzler in their latest quest to find some relief. As Bradley and Kintzler had closing experience, it was imagined that Hector Neris would actually have some competition for that role.

While Alvarado and Bradley have been solid, the same could not be said for Kintzler. He had posted an 8.50 ERA and a 1.944 WHiP before being placed on the Injured List. Neris, meanwhile, had held on to the closer role despite blowing six of his 17 save chances.

Demoting Neris from the closer role will not solve all of the Phillies’ problems. The back of the rotation is still a disaster and the lineup has been middling at best. There are still plenty of other issues in the bullpen that go beyond the closer. Those need to be addressed as well.

Those problems reflect in the Phillies’ performance. They have once again disappointed, entering Sunday in fourth in the NL East with a 35-39 record. Unless the pitching staff is addressed, that is where they will remain, hovering around .500 and unable to be taken seriously as a postseason contender.

The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen has been utterly atrocious over their past four games. At this point, it is to be expected given their approach.