Earlier this afternoon Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg named Cole Hamels the opening day starter. Hamels was the obvious choice and it was not much of a question as to who would start opening day. The questions are who else is going to make up the 2015 starting rotation for the Phillies.
Cliff Lee is already on the 60 day DL and there is a good chance he will miss the entire season and may never wear a Phillies uniform again. He may never pitch for any team ever again. At least with a 1-2 punch of Hamels and Lee the Phillies had at least a shot 2 out of every 5 days this season.
With Lee on the DL, the number 2 starter looks to be Aaron Harang who was signed in the off season. Harang has missed some time during the spring with back problems but pitched today against the Detroit Tigers in Clearwater. He pitched 5.1 innings giving up 5 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and he struck out 5.
The 3rd and 4th spots in the rotation will go to Jerome Williams who the Phillies acquired late last season, and David Buchanan. Williams pitched fairly well during his short time with the team last season. He also has missed some time this spring with a hamstring injury. Buchanan made 20 starts in 2014 and finished with a 6-8 record last season, he did not pitch past the 6th inning in any game.
The 5th spot in the rotation could go to a number of guys. Former Miami Marlin Kevin Slowey has pitched decently this spring and could be an option. Sean O’Sullivan could also take the spot. Due to the way the early season schedule breaks down for the Phillies, Hamels will pitch twice in the first 5 games (Apr 6 vs Boston and Apr 11 vs Washington).
High priced Cuban Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez will not be an option for the spot as he was reassigned to minor league camp. The Phillies have paid him a lot of money to pitch in minors. So far this spring Gonzalez has allowed 25 hits and 5 home runs in just over 14 innings of work.
In the off season the Phillies also signed Chad Billingsley who could be the 5th starter. He has not pitched in a spring training game yet this season and is coming off two elbow surgeries.
They may not be much of a help this season but the Phillies do have some good young pitchers who could be September call ups or part of the rotation in 2016. Aaron Nola who was the 7th overall pick in last year’s draft made an impressive debut last Friday against the Yankees. Severino Gonzalez also pitched well last week in his debut against the Braves. On Monday in a spring training game against the Pirates, Zach Eflin will make his debut. He was acquired in the Jimmy Rollins trade.
Starting pitching will be the biggest question mark this season for the Phillies. If you think it is bad now just wait until the trade deadline. The Phillies could trade Hamels and then who knows who will pitch.
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