It's inter-league ball. Cool.
The Phillies got off to an indifferent start, but began to play some pretty good baseball at the end of April. A very nice 12-5 stretch got them back in the NL East fight. They then found some bad teams on their schedule - Pittsburgh, Colorado, the Athletics - and they ran the table, a nine game winning streak. All told, they'd gone 23-6 from 26 April through 29 May, which vaulted them past the Mets into first place. They've been scuffling a little since then - they've just lost four in a row at home, and fallen back behind the Mets.
The Phillies are more than a little concerned about their run prevention, which has been merely average this season. Their off-season trade to bring in southpaw Jesus Luzardo ha worked out splendidly, and the rotation has been fine even though Aaron Nola got off to a poor start before turning his ankle. That's not the issue.
It's what happens when the starters leave the game that's the problem. The Phillies bullpen has been a complete dumpster fire. Losing their best reliever. closer Jose Alvarado, to an 80 game suspension didn't help. The one bit of good news is that our old chum Jordan Romano has clearly found his game again after a nightmarish month of April (he was only scored on in one of his May appearances.) There's not much behind Romano, and the Phillies bullpen sports an ugly 4.65 ERA and only a handful of MLB teams - Baltimore, Arizona, Washington, the Angels and the A's, all of whom have losing records - are getting worse work from their relievers.
The Phillies latest gambit is to send Tajuan Walker to the pen. Not because he was scuffling as a starter - Walker had been doing just fine filling in for Aaron Nola in the rotation- but for the express purpose of addressing their bullpen woes. It means that prospect Mick Abel will get at least a couple of starts while Nola continues to work his way back. Abel was very impressive in his MLB debut a couple of weeks ago, tossing six shutout innings against Pittsburgh.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper lead the offence - Harper hasn't played since Spencer Strider opened the Phillies-Braves series by drilling Harper in the elbow with a 95 mph fastball. The Phillies have gone 1-4 in the games he's missed, but he should be back tonight. Beyond Schwarber and Harper, the Phillies feature a lot of veteran complementary bats - Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, Max Kepler, J.T. Realmuto - none of whom hit much like stars, but all of whom chip in and keep the line moving.
Tue 3 June - Sanchez (4-1, 3.32) vs Francis (2-6, 5.04)
Wed 4 June - Abel (1-0, 0.00) vs Berrios (2-2, 3.86)
Thu 5 June - Luzardo (5-1, 3.58) vs Bassitt (5-3, 3.80)
The Phillies got off to an indifferent start, but began to play some pretty good baseball at the end of April. A very nice 12-5 stretch got them back in the NL East fight. They then found some bad teams on their schedule - Pittsburgh, Colorado, the Athletics - and they ran the table, a nine game winning streak. All told, they'd gone 23-6 from 26 April through 29 May, which vaulted them past the Mets into first place. They've been scuffling a little since then - they've just lost four in a row at home, and fallen back behind the Mets.
The Phillies are more than a little concerned about their run prevention, which has been merely average this season. Their off-season trade to bring in southpaw Jesus Luzardo ha worked out splendidly, and the rotation has been fine even though Aaron Nola got off to a poor start before turning his ankle. That's not the issue.
It's what happens when the starters leave the game that's the problem. The Phillies bullpen has been a complete dumpster fire. Losing their best reliever. closer Jose Alvarado, to an 80 game suspension didn't help. The one bit of good news is that our old chum Jordan Romano has clearly found his game again after a nightmarish month of April (he was only scored on in one of his May appearances.) There's not much behind Romano, and the Phillies bullpen sports an ugly 4.65 ERA and only a handful of MLB teams - Baltimore, Arizona, Washington, the Angels and the A's, all of whom have losing records - are getting worse work from their relievers.
The Phillies latest gambit is to send Tajuan Walker to the pen. Not because he was scuffling as a starter - Walker had been doing just fine filling in for Aaron Nola in the rotation- but for the express purpose of addressing their bullpen woes. It means that prospect Mick Abel will get at least a couple of starts while Nola continues to work his way back. Abel was very impressive in his MLB debut a couple of weeks ago, tossing six shutout innings against Pittsburgh.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper lead the offence - Harper hasn't played since Spencer Strider opened the Phillies-Braves series by drilling Harper in the elbow with a 95 mph fastball. The Phillies have gone 1-4 in the games he's missed, but he should be back tonight. Beyond Schwarber and Harper, the Phillies feature a lot of veteran complementary bats - Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, Max Kepler, J.T. Realmuto - none of whom hit much like stars, but all of whom chip in and keep the line moving.
Actually, I guess Trea Turner is a little better than that.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will attempt tonight to win their sixth game n a row. The last time they did that was back in April 2023. We were all so much younger, full of hope and optimism. Not yet beaten down by the heartache and the natural shocks that flesh is heir to....
Matchups
Tue 3 June - Sanchez (4-1, 3.32) vs Francis (2-6, 5.04)
Wed 4 June - Abel (1-0, 0.00) vs Berrios (2-2, 3.86)
Thu 5 June - Luzardo (5-1, 3.58) vs Bassitt (5-3, 3.80)
