The Phillies are reportedly making a slight change to the rotation.
The Athletic’s Matt Gelb is hearing that the Phillies are expected to skip Bailey Falter’s next scheduled start, which was slated for some time during next weekend’s series against the Colorado Rockies.
As Gelb outlined, this is all possible with the off days in the Phillies schedule. Taijuan Walker could pitch Friday on regular rest. Ranger Suárez, who is expected to be activated this weekend, could pitch Friday. Nola could return on regular rest. The Phillies are off again Thursday and have had off days this past Monday and Thursday.
Falter is struggling. He allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings in his last start against the Red Sox. Three of his first five starts have been solid, but his last two have not been great. The Phillies are 1-6 when Falter starts.
John Middleton on Phillies struggles
Phillies managing partner John Middleton gave an interesting answer when asked about his team’s early season struggles at Aaron Nola’s “Bowling for the Troops” charity event on Monday night. The audio comes from the WIP Midday Show:
John Middleton on the Phillies’ early-season struggles via 94 WIPI thought we’d been frankly a little bit ahead of where we are right now. We got a rough start. Lot of injuries. A lot of key injuries. Bryce obviously being down, but Ranger being down is also big and Painter being hurt. Then of course we lost Rhys and we lost Rhys’ replacement Darick Hall. We’re playing pretty well for a team that’s as badly injured as any team in baseball.
Do you agree with Middleton’s assessment?
Yes, the Phillies have been hurt by injuries to key players, but you can make the argument that the Phillies are the least injured team compared to the Braves and Mets. Max Fried, Kyle Wright, Travis d’Arnaud, Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II have all spent time on the injured list for Atlanta this season. Edwin Diaz is lost for the year and the Mets have only gotten six starts out of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, their two $40 million dollar aging co-aces.
It’s a long way of saying that injuries should not be the main excuse for the Phillies’ poor play over the first five weeks of the season.
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