Phillies Playoff Berth Far From Assured
Since the All-Star break, the Phillies have slipped badly. Going into the break they appeared comfortably in a playoff spot but since then, the team has imploded.
The offense has remained inconsistent.
The starting pitching has shown some cracks and not just with the No. 4 and 5 starters.
The relief pitching has been a disaster.
There are now 42 games left in the regular season and the Phillies already look like they are playing on fumes.
Since the All-Star break, they are 9-13, having lost five of seven series.
The Atlanta Braves have pulled away in the National League East, and the Phillies are barely clinging to a wild card spot. While things can change, it appears as if the Phillies, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks will be the three teams fighting for the final two wildcard spots. The first wildcard should go to the team that doesn’t win the NL Central, either the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago Cubs.
Here are just two of the many concerns as the Phillies prepare to finish the final fourth of the season.
The Bullpen
A major problem has been an overworked bullpen that besides closer Jhoan Duran has been lit up regularly lately. Duran, with the exception of a few hiccups, has been exceptional all season. Lefty Tim Mayza is on a good recent streak. He entered the week having not allowed an earned run in his last six outings. What is worse is that the relievers have had to pitch a lot recently and that has exposed them more. Just this weekend, Phillies relievers threw 17 innings, the byproduct of two extra-inning games.
Zack Wheeler
While he is still highly effective, Wheeler has thrown 17 innings during his last four starts, and the Phillies are 1-3 in those games. One of those starts lasted just two innings due to long rain delay.
In that time, Wheeler has 24 strikeouts and six walks, but his ERA is 5.71 and he has allowed four home runs, During last Friday’s 5-4 loss to Toronto, Wheeler threw a season-high 116 pitches in just 5.1 innings. He seems to be laboring on the mound.
Remember, Wheeler has made a great comeback from thoracic outlet surgery and for a long stretch has pitched like the ace he is. We’re just wondering if at 110.1 innings pitched this year, if some fatigue is starting to set in.
Can Sunday’s Breakout Game Get Schwarber Going?
In 30 games from July 1 through Aug. 8 Kyle Schwarber had just three home runs with a .679 OPS. Then on Sunday the old Schwarber emerged. He went 2-for-3 with two home runs, four RBIs and three walks during a 7-6 victory over Toronto in 12 innings. Schwarber participated in the Home Run Derby and there was speculation that it threw him off. Only one of his home runs from July 1 through Aug. 8 came after the All-Star break. It will be interesting if Sunday’s performance can create a Schwarber-type tear. The Phillies certainly need it.
Courtesy of Phillies X/Twitter
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Author: Marc Narducci
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