Rhys Hoskins has been ice cold since the All-Star Break. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
After being three-hit Saturday afternoon, the Philadelphia Phillies offense scored six runs Sunday evening, but struggles from Jake Arrieta and the bullpen led to a series loss against the San Francisco Giants, bringing the Phillies to 60-58. The Phillies are reeling, having lost seven of their last 10. Gabe Kapler’s squad has fallen to fourth place in the National League East and is quickly fading down a crowded National League Wild Card race.
Here are three numbers to highlight recent trends of a Phillies team that appears to be on the verge of collapsing:
18.2 – Total innings thrown by Phillies starters vs. Giants
The Phillies rotation has been better of late, but it failed to provide length in every game this series. This is obviously a problem with a mediocre bullpen, and the results this season show how much it can impact the Phillies:
In games that Phillies starters have gone at least six innings, the Phillies are 31-20 (.607). They are 29-37 (.439) when starters have failed to do so. Especially with a shaky bullpen, getting length out of starters is just so important for this team.
— Jonny Heller (@jonnyheller) August 12, 2019
This season will continue to trend downwards if Phillies starters can’t make it through five or six innings on a consistent basis. There are obviously many deserving targets of blame for this horrid stretch, and the rotation should be one of them.
One – Hit for Rhys Hoskins
The Phillies offense has struggled mightily of late, and much of that falls on Hoskins. He has been bad since the All-Star Break and especially cold of late.
Rhys Hoskins is now 2 for his last 27. He is hitting .074/.265/.111 over that stretch with zero RBIs and has left 16 men on base.
— Jonny Heller (@jonnyheller) August 12, 2019
I knew he was struggling, but not this badly; after that pop-up, Rhys Hoskins is hitting just .186 since the All-Star Break. https://t.co/U8YLxr7o0f
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) August 12, 2019
Hoskins’ one hit in the series is symptomatic of how the Phillies offense is faring overall recently. In the four-game Giants series alone, players not named Bryce Harper or Corey Dickerson had a combined 17 hits, three extra base hits, and 5 RBIs – good for a .168/.269/.208 slash-line. The Phillies will not win if a majority of the lineup is not showing up, and that starts with Hoskins.
Seven – RBIs for Bryce Harper
There has been a lot of talk about whether or not Bryce Harper has been the guy the Phillies paid him to be this offseason. While the power numbers may not all be there, he has come through with runners on time and time again. This continued during the Giants series, as Harper carried the team to a win on Friday with two go-ahead home runs and then gave them the lead and a chance to win on Sunday before the Giants came back and eventually won the game.
For the Phillies to have a chance at remaining in the playoff race down the stretch, Harper has to put the team on his back. Other players just have not been consistent enough to allow anything but excellence from the $330 million dollar man.
MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION
- 10 Years Later, Brad Lidge Talks ‘Battling’ Through 2009
- Phillies Rumors: ‘Prevailing Belief’ Is Gabe Kapler Won’t Be Fired
- Dylan Cozens Signs Minor League Deal With Rays
- Minor League Mash-Up: Howard And Bohm Continue Dominance
- Phillies Nation Mailbag: Who Have Been The Best Phillies Relievers This Decade?
Latest Comments