Jim Salisbury reported the Reading Phillies have lined up Antonio Bastardo’s starts with Adam Eaton’s. Salisbury points out that this could mean Bastardo is the first on the list of possible replacements for Eaton, who hasn’t exactly been awesome this season.
Bastardo started the season in A+ Clearwater, and climbed out quickly after five starts (30.2 IP, 20 H, 4 ER, 47 K, 10 BB). He’s been in Reading since, and after five starts, has come down to Earth a bit (28 IP, 24 H, 11 ER, 22 K, 14 BB).
If the Phils were to promote Bastardo to the Majors, comparisons to Kyle Kendrick would then be made. With Reading last season, Kendrick went 4-7 (81.1 IP, 82 H, 29 ER, 50 K, 18 BB). His K/BB ratio was good, but his K/9 ratio wasn’t. Bastardo is on close to the same path this year.
At 22, Bastardo is the right age for Reading, and the same age as Kendrick when he was promoted.
It seems Bastardo will need a bunch more starts in Reading to solidify himself as Major League-ready. He needs to improve his K ratios a bit. Why the Phils wouldn’t go with the more established JA Happ makes little sense to me.
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