The Phillies are making an adjustment to their rotation. Rookie right-hander Tyler Phillips will make his first big league start on Saturday against the A’s, tweets Matt Gelb of the Athletic. Fellow rookie Michael Mercado is set to work from the bullpen.
Mercado, 25, just stepped into the starting five in late June. He threw five innings of one-run ball against the Cubs in his first MLB start. The Braves teed off on Mercado on Saturday, though, tagging him for five runs on a trio of homers before he could escape the second inning. While one poor start won’t change the organization’s view on Mercado, most prospect evaluators suggest his fastball-curveball arsenal is better suited for relief work.
A former second-round pick of the Rays, Mercado joined the Phils in a minor trade at the beginning of last offseason. He has started 10 of 14 appearances with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Mercado has a stellar 1.71 earned run average at the top minor league level. However, he has walked more than 11% of batters faced while averaging fewer than four innings per appearance.
Phillips has had a more conventional starting role with Lehigh Valley. He has started all 15 Triple-A appearances and averaged slightly more than six innings per game. His 4.89 ERA is a lot more pedestrian than Mercado’s mark, although he has shown somewhat better control (9.4% walk rate). Mercado throws a bit harder than Phillips does and has demonstrated a lot more bat-missing ability in the minor leagues. Phillips, whom the team added to the 40-man roster last week, has a modest 19.8% strikeout rate for the IronPigs. To his credit, Phillips punched out seven hitters across four innings of relief behind Mercado against Atlanta in his big league debut.
The Phillies have built enough of a cushion that they shouldn’t be concerned about some short-term uncertainty in their starting five. They’re eight games clear of the Braves for the division lead and 4.5 games ahead of the Dodgers for the National League’s top seed. An excellent rotation has been a major reason. Philadelphia’s front four of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez is arguably the best in MLB.
The fifth spot is the only question mark. Taijuan Walker allowed a 5.60 ERA over 10 starts before inflammation in his index finger sent him to the injured list a few weeks ago. Spencer Turnbull managed great results as a sixth starter, but he sustained a lat strain that’ll knock him out into August.
Barring injury, the Phils look like the rare contender that doesn’t need to urgently pursue rotation help over the next three weeks. Wheeler’s status is worth monitoring after the Phils lifted him at 76 pitches during tonight’s start. The team announced that the star righty was battling lower back tightness. After the game, skipper Rob Thomson called it a precautionary measure with the Phillies already holding an eight-run lead (X link via Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Thomson suggested the team would evaluate Wheeler tomorrow but indicated the club expects he’ll be fine to make his next start.
Is Jason Adams of the rays available? the phi bullpen can really use an upgrade or two. Emphasis on two.
Why aren’t u a GM yet, Man U got the pitching pitching covered like a blanket. Someone hire this guy or girl(don’t want to assume anything)
If I was Cbiesball I’d say adios troll, but alas I’m not I don’t have the inner strength and mental fortitude to be able mute my agitators at will. At least I know what to strive for.
@13Morgs13 He is posting on a site dedicated to roster moves, that’s kind of the whole point of a hobby site like this. His comment was relevant to the article……kinda of a bizarre response.
To the point on the bullpen, it looks like almost every contender and bubble team could use some help in that regard. I think it will be a good year for sellers in general, gonna be a lot of demand and the rays would be wise to end up sellers.
What would the Phils give for Jameson Taillon?
lol
They’re better off with the young guys that play for low salaries and have great future upside.
Contrary to the narrative, the Phillies do more than just sign big name free agents. They actually develop players.
One of the 2 best teams in MLB, and will be a power for years. They’re everything the Yankees and Dodgers were supposed to be.
Id rather have Taillon then Walker , I wish they signed Taillon or Bassit over Walker last year
Hindsight is always 20/20
Is Vince Velasquez available
I’d like to see CL Max Lazar come up. I’m no scout, however.
All the Phillies’ AAA Starters aren’t performing so well, especially highly ranked Mick Abel as well as Kolby Alard and Tyler Phillips.
The Phillies do need a starter to replace Taijuan “Gets Shelled Every Time” Walker going forward, but they probably won’t replace him because they bought into the sunk cost fallacy.
I think it’s safe to say the Mercado experiment this year is a failure. Either the Phillies need to try another AAA pitcher or make a trade.