Here’s one way to handle not having an appealing choice to fill the fifth-starter spot: Skip it.
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With a day off Thursday in between home series against the Dodgers and Yankees, the Phillies are talking about going with four starters this time through the rotation, interim manager Don Mattingly said Monday.
But, well, that may present problems, too.
The Phillies are built to go only as far as their top three starting pitchers carry them. It’s imperative, then, for Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesús Luzardo to stay healthy. Whenever possible, extra rest between starts can help.
“In general, I like with those guys giving them their rest,” Mattingly said. “It’s not a situation where our depth is at a point where you can lose one of those guys. We’re going to need to keep them strong all year. So, we’re going to be careful with that.”
Actually, the Phillies’ rotation depth is perilously thin.
Although Wheeler opened the season on the injured list while recovering from complicated surgery to relieve a vein that was compressed between his collarbone and ribcage, the Phillies were unable to secure veteran pitchers to stash in triple A.
Taijuan Walker filled out a season-opening rotation that included rookie Andrew Painter. Walker posted a 9.13 ERA in four starts and was released with nearly $18 million left on his contract when Wheeler returned at the end of April.
Painter, meanwhile, got demoted to triple A with a 7.06 in June. The Phillies recalled righty Alan Rangel, who was optioned to triple A on Monday with a 5.40 ERA in three starts and three appearances behind an opener.
The day off would enable Sánchez and Wheeler to start Saturday and Sunday, respectively, on regular (four days’) rest against the Yankees. In that case, the Phillies wouldn’t need a fifth starter until Tuesday night in Miami.
And because of another day off July 30, they wouldn’t need a fifth starter again before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. A back-end starter is on Dave Dombrowski’s shopping list, though it’s likely less of a priority than a late-inning reliever and a right-handed bat.
“I worry more about health than I worry about who we’re playing,” Mattingly said. “In general, I’m more worried about our guys staying strong and feeling good the whole year, the rest of the year than pushing them up for one series or another.
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“We need our guys all the way through.”
If the Phillies choose to prioritize rest for Sánchez and Wheeler, the fifth-starter spot could come around Saturday against the Yankees. They could divide that start between relievers. With the promotion Monday of hard-throwing Alex McFarlane, they have nine relievers in the bullpen.
Ideally, Painter would rejoin the rotation in the second half after improving his fastball and building confidence in the minors. He allowed two runs in 10 innings in his first two starts back in triple A before giving up seven runs in only 2⅔ innings in his final start before the All-Star break.
Hot Wheels
Wheeler didn’t conceal that he was irked over not being picked by MLB for the National League All-Star team. And when the league made a late offer to put him on the roster if he agreed to pitch on one day’s rest, he declined, saying he was “not going be disrespected.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who led the NL team, declined to weigh in on the situation.
“Zack made a personal decision that he thought was best for him,” Roberts said. “I think everyone respects it. So, I don’t really have a whole lot of color on that one.”
Extra bases
Rookie right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. went viral for putting on sunglasses while catching a fly ball Sunday against the Mets. Mattingly’s reaction: “I would think you’d want to have them on the whole time. I thought he had the flip-downs on, and then later seeing it, I was like, ‘What in the world?’ I’ve never seen that.” … Wheeler (10-1, 2.13 ERA) will face Dodgers All-Star lefty Justin Wrobleski (10-3, 2.69) at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday.
Phillies owner John Middleton spent months planning to host the city’s first All-Star Game in 30 years. Now that it’s over, he joined Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to recap his most memorable moments from the week. He also discussed the upcoming trade deadline and Field of Dreams Game in Iowa, and the future of the top of the Phillies organizational masthead. Watch here. Watch here.
You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Previous episodes: Ryan Howard | Dan Baker | Ricky Bottalico | Preston Mattingly | Caleb Cotham | Larry Bowa | Joe Maddon | Rhys Hoskins | Terry Francona
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