What the _______ is going on with the Phillies pitching?
- Sabrina Workman
- May 18
- 2 min read
You can choose your own word to fit in the blank there.
The Phillies' pitching has been weird lately for a team once thought to be at the top of the league with both its starters and bullpen. There are 3 main storylines to cover with this:
Aaron Nola is placed in the 15-day IL with an ankle sprain
Jose Alvarado is suspended for 80 games due to using PEDs
Mick Abel ties a record in his major league debut
Let's go into Nola's situation. This is his first time on the IL since 2017, a testament to his durability. Surprisingly, the injury to his ankle didn't occur during a game but during a workout. Nola and the Phillies initially believed he could pitch through. However, his performance suffered as he began to overcompensate in other areas on the mound for comfort. Perhaps this is a way to get Nola off his feet and reset. This is just unlike the workhorse we have known Nola to be.
Let's talk about the suspension. My first reaction was, "Uh oh. The bullpen is in real trouble."
It's disappointing to see Jose Alvarado, a key player for the bullpen this season, receive an 80-day suspension (without pay!) and miss out on any potential playoff appearances. How does that make sense? He can help get the team to the postseason when he comes, but he can't pitch in it. But moving on, the reason Alvarado failed the PED (performance-enhancing drug) screen is apparently due to a weight loss drug that contained exogenous testosterone (@feinsand on X).
Alvarado has been great for the bullpen this season. In 20 innings of work, he's struck out 25, has a 4-1 record, a 2.70 ERA, and a 1.20 WHIP. Alvarado is in the final year of a $17.5 million deal, but the Phillies have a $9 million club option for 2026.
Let's discuss the former first-round pick who broke a record in his MLB debut - Mick Abel!
While we have been hearing variations of "Abel just needs to throw strikes" and "his walk rate is high, bring it down, and he will pitch in "Philadelphia", that didn't seem to be the case today. Abel threw 84 pitches, 62 of which were strikes. He pitched 6 shutout innings and struck out 9.
You know who has the most strikeouts in their debut in franchise history? Mick Abel tied with Curt Simmons (1947) with 9! What a debut for Abel!
Now, the real question is how the Phillies will rearrange their pitching. We know Taijuan Walker will start on Wednesday against Colorado (taking Nola's rotation spot), and Jose Ruiz was activated off the injured list, so that's an arm in the pen.
It's anyone's guess how the Phillies will handle the pitching rearrangement. But one thing's for sure: Our needs at the deadline just got a lot more interesting.
As always, Go Phillies!
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