Bailey Falter struggles once again, leaving Phillies with questions about fifth rotation spot

Final Score: Giants 6, Phillies 3

The Philadelphia Phillies don’t have a team constructed to play defense at expansive stadiums like Coors Field and Oracle Park, a trend that has reared its ugly head over the past two days.

But that’s a conversation for a different time, because a more pressing matter has become glaring over the past couple weeks: the Phillies don’t have a No. 5 starter.

Whether he starts the game or is the bulk pitcher after an opener, Bailey Falter isn’t capable of filling the role he’s been asked to so far this season. Perhaps with a reset at Triple-A, Falter can get back on track. After all, he had a 3.38 ERA in 11 starts after the All-Star Break last season.

But such a reset feels necessary at this point. Falter is now 0-7 with a 5.13 ERA in 2023. His ERA actually went down Monday, because defensive miscues by Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos allowed six unearned runs to cross the plate during the second inning.

But make no mistake, Falter didn’t pitch well Monday — he allowed eight hits over 4 1/3 innings pitched. Without a viable third pitch, and perhaps even a second one, Falter’s MLB future feels uncertain:

Two on, two out for Conforto 💥 pic.twitter.com/0XI4GRxvQQ

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 16, 2023

As far as the future of the fifth spot in the rotation, the Phillies need to try something different, even if their options are limited.

While Matt Strahm excelled as a starting pitcher, he’s been limited to 51 1/3 innings pitched over the last two seasons. He’s already racked up 29 2/3 innings in 2023, which is why the Phillies moved him to the bullpen. The Phillies are going to protect the two-year/$15 million investment they made in Strahm, and that means keeping him healthy. Also, he was signed to be a reliever and has quite a bit of value in that role.

Nick Nelson had been rehabbing at Triple-A, with the Phillies building him up with the thought that he could be at least a bulk option, if not start some games. But Nelson had a setback with his injury Saturday, so he doesn’t seem to be an option for the time being.

Cristopher Sánchez has a 6.14 ERA in five starts for the Triple-A IronPigs in 2023, and a 5.53 ERA to show for 23 career MLB appearances, five of which have been starts. That doesn’t scream of someone who has kicked the door down and forced the Phillies to promote him, but he is on the 40-man roster.

Michael Plassmeyer pitched in two games for the Phillies in 2021, and is still on the 40-man roster. But the left-hander has a 6.19 ERA over 32 innings at Triple-A this season.

Given how much Falter has struggled, the Phillies would probably acknowledge in an honest moment that they put too much hope in 19-year-old Andrew Painter filling one of the spots in the starting rotation for a sizable chunk of the season. But it is what it is, perhaps Painter will return later this year and solidify the rotation. There’s no reason to think that when healthy, Painter won’t still be an excellent pitcher for the Phillies.

In the meantime, though, the Phillies need to pick from a group of bad options who will be their No. 5 starter next homestand at Citizens Bank Park. And it feels like Falter can’t be the answer to said question.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

• With the loss, the Phillies fall to 20-21. Meanwhile, the Giants improve to 18-23.
• Connor Brogdon opened for the Phillies, and was better than you would be led to believe by the fact that he left the game with the bases loaded having recorded just two outs. He gave up two hits that barely made it out of the infield, and ultimately struck out the final batter he faced in the form of Mitch Haniger.
• Alex Wood limited the Phillies to four hits and two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings pitched, while striking out four batters.
• The Phillies will benefit greatly when Bryce Harper is able to play first base, opening up the DH spot in stadiums like Oracle Park, where the Phillies would be best served to have either Kyle Schwarber or Nick Castellanos replaced defensively by someone like Dalton Guthrie, Cristian Pache or Simón Muzziotti.
• Alec Bohm is hitting .340 with 24 RBIs this year with runners in scoring position.
• Zack Wheeler will square off with Alex Cobb Tuesday evening, as the Phillies and Giants continue their three-game series.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Tuesday, May 16 vs. Giants at Oracle Park
• 9:45 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Network (out of market only)
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
• Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680

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