Phillies claim starting pitcher off waivers amid rotation struggles

With the starting rotation causing problems, the Philadelphia Phillies made an addition to the organization’s pitching staff.

Right-hander Dylan Covey was claimed off waivers, the team announced Saturday afternoon. Covey had been designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. To make room for the pitcher on the 40-man roster, the Phillies transferred Darick Hall (right thumb sprain) to the 60-day injured list.

Covey made one four-inning appearance out of the bullpen for the Dodgers this season and had a 4.22 ERA across 32 innings in seven outings (six starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He joins the Phillies organization in the midst of a five-game losing streak as the team’s starting pitching has unraveled.

Phillies starters have a 7.20 ERA in four innings per outing in this losing stretch — those numbers counting the last appearance from Bailey Falter, who allowed six unearned runs following an opener on Monday before being sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In response to these struggles and Falter’s demotion, the team has shuffled the rotation around to have Taijuan Walker pitch Sunday and Zack Wheeler throw Monday. That leaves an opening for Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Covey could certainly be a candidate to fill that spot.

After two years of pitching for the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, Covey is back in the United States this season to play in affiliated ball. Through parts of five major-league seasons, he has a 6.54 ERA in 268 1/3 innings. The numbers are far from spectacular, but Philadelphia is in need of someone who can take the mound every fifth day for the time being. So, with 45 career starts under Covey’s belt, his next one might take place in Philadelphia soon.

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