Philadelphia Phillies: 5 fatal flaws that will come back to bite them
By Tim Boyle
The Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation has too many questions.
Zack Wheeler was great last year, however, injury concerns to begin the season have sprinkled a little bit of doubt on the parade. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, he should be able to turn things around. He has been brilliant enough for them in 2020 and 2021 to trust his abilities.
The same isn’t true for the rest of the starting staff. Aaron Nola is the biggest culprit of all. Once seen as a future Cy Young winner, each season he looks like he’s dropping a spot in the rotation. Clearly no longer a number one, Nola could be on his way to being viewed as a back-of-the-rotation guy by the end of the year.
Nola is hardly the only problem with the rotation. The Phillies put a lot of faith in Zach Eflin over the years. A quality arm, he’s only a solid number three for them if Wheeler and Nola are a topline duo.
Kyle Gibson’s track record has proven he can serve a team best as a fifth starter behind some of the best in the game. The Phillies aren’t getting the best starting pitching performances this season. Ergo, Gibson is a wild card unlikely to repeat his success with the Texas Rangers last year. Somehow, he has been their best starter so far this season.
Finally, we have Ranger Suarez. A nice young arm still a little green, this season is a prove it year for him to remain in the rotation. So far, it’s looking like last year’s success was a mirage.