Sep 10, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering (50) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Cristopher Sanchez deserves the lion's share of credit for the Phillies' 6-4 victory over the Giants on Thursday. In seven innings, the lefty allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out 12.
The Phils lineup did its job as well, jumping on San Francisco starter Jordan Hicks for five runs in the first. The bats were mostly silent for the rest of the game, but we'll take six runs any day of the week.
The outcome of the game still hinged on the performance of the bullpen.
And the outcome of the season likely hinges on the bullpen as well.
Orion Kerkering finally does something nobody in this bullpen can do. A 1,2,3 inning. Bravo
The Phillies' lineup is full of known quantities. We know that Bryce Harper will post an OPS around .900, for example. Kyle Schwarber will mash about 45 home runs. Nick Castellanos will look like one of the best hitters in the league except for a month or so where he will look like one of the worst. Maybe, at the margins, a guy like Brandon Marsh struggles or a guy like Bryson Stott has a very good year. There will be hot stretches and cold stretches. But we have a good sense of where the numbers will settle after 162 games.
We know what to expect from the Phillies' rotation as well. It's going to be one of the best in baseball. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Ranger Suarez form a truly formidable group. Andrew Painter is a bit of a wildcard, and we don't yet know what to make of Taijuan Walker this season. But just about every day, the starting pitcher will give this team a chance to win.
Cristopher Sánchez, K'ing the Side in the 4th.
All Changeups again.
8Ks thru 4. All 8 on Changeups. pic.twitter.com/MjAuLRvxI0
It's the bullpen, then, that will determine whether Phillies fans spend the summer eyeing the NL East standings or the NL Wild Card standings.
Thursday was encouraging. Orion Kerkering pitched a clean eighth inning, and Jose Alvarado closed the game out despite serving up a solo home run.
Kerkering has held the opposition scoreless in six of his seven appearances this season and sports a 1.50 ERA. Alvarado has caused heartburn at times, but his stuff looks as nasty as ever. The Phillies have won all nine games in which he made an appearance. Matt Strahm, meanwhile, has a 1.08 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP.
So the Phillies probably feel good about their two high-leverage lefties, and at least one high-leverage righthander.
From there, however, the numbers get a little ugly. Tanner Banks is the only other reliever with a respectable earned run average (3.38). Carlos Hernandez (6.00 ERA), Jose Ruiz (7.11 ERA), Jordan Romano (9.00 ERA), and Joe Ross (9.39 ERA) have failed to impress.
Of that bunch, Romano is the guy who matters most. The Phillies are counting on him to come through as their highest-leverage RHP on nights when Kerkering isn't available. With Jeff Hoffman in Toronto and Carlos Estevez in Kansas City, there is really no plan B for that role.
Dave: BRING ME JOE ROSS AND JORDAN ROMANO https://t.co/hjV4rsmhcR
After a rough start to the season, Romano made a mechanical adjustment and put together three consecutive scoreless outings.
Can he keep it up? Can the other high-leverage arms continue to roll? And can the rest of the 'pen capably fill the middle innings when necessary?
These may be the most important questions of the 2025 season.
