There are benefits and drawbacks.
Ranger Suárez is set to make his season debut on Sunday after missing the first month of the season with a back issue. His return presents the Phillies first major roster decision of the season, namely if they should use a six-man starting rotation.
Currently, the Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Taijuan Walker occupying their five rotation spots. That quintet has combined for a 3.40 ERA through the first month of the season, good for fifth best in the Majors and second best in the National League entering play on Thursday. That is despite Nola’s early season struggles and Sánchez’ injury scare.
When Suárez first went onto the injured list, it was widely assumed that Walker would be the one to lose his spot in the rotation once the lefty returned. It was a fair assumption, especially considering Walker’s nightmare 2024 season. But Walker has pitched mostly very well in place of Suárez, posting a 2.78 ERA across 5 starts and 22.2 IP entering his scheduled start on Thursday. He pitched well in that start until the defense melted down behind him in the sixth. There’s still a good chance that he goes to the bullpen to serve as long man, but his performance at least makes it a debate about what to do.
There are benefits and drawbacks to a six-man rotation. Obviously, the biggest benefit is that each starter gets an extra day of rest. That would be beneficial for Suárez and Luzardo who have both dealt with injuries the last few years. It would allow the Phillies to attempt to save their starters’ innings for later in the season when they are needed most. Nola in particular has excelled in the past when granted extra rest, with a 3.23 ERA in 122 starts where he pitched on five days of rest which he would receive in hypothetical a six-man rotation.
However, the other side of that coin is that extra rest means less times on the mound for Wheeler and Sánchez, the Phillies best pitchers. You have a better chance at keeping them healthy for later in the season, but you don’t get to reap the benefits of them pitching as much and instead you would have more starts from a lesser pitcher. Also, Wheeler has stated his disdain for extra rest, preferring to stay on the normal four days rest in between starts. Nola too despite his numbers exhibited some dislike for extra rest last season as well.
An extra starter also means one less pitcher elsewhere. That extra starter wouldn’t pitch out of the bullpen, meaning the much-maligned Phillies bullpen that is already thin would be short one more arm as that roster spot is used for an extra starter.
So, should the Phillies utilize a six-man rotation? Should they take advantage of a rare occurrence where they have six effective starters healthy? Or should they remain on a regular five-man schedule and move Walker to the bullpen and let him be the long man despite his recent success?