So sayeth the voters
The playoffs.
We’re allowed to talk about them since the Phillies still look like they’re going to make a strong run at them. Should they make them this year, we asked the other day which pillar of the roster is going to the one that carries them through October.
Yeah, you’re probably right.
The way this roster was constructed, leaning on the rotation has been the way the team planned on getting far in the playoffs. They have several options available to them that could start in a playoff game, the benchmark these days of teams looking to acquire a starting pitcher for their own roster. If you wouldn’t start him in a playoff game, do you really want to allocate funds from your budget to him?
So if the Phillies were to make it to October, they’re going to have to lean on that rotation. The offense has been fine lately, and adding Bryce Harper will be a great thing, but offenses can be shut down. At least, that’s what the Phillies are counting on.
The thing about this rotation is: it doesn’t just matter that they have four, five, maybe even six starters capable to going five innings at least in a playoff game. It’s that they have others that can be used in a bullpen role during that time of the year, a welcome addition to the Phillies’ 2025 version of their relief pitching. Were they to use some group of four of Wheeler, Suarez, Sanchez, Nola, Luzardo and Painter to start games, the other two can and should be throwing relief innings. It’ll be a patchwork of creativity that stretches the brain power of Rob Thomson and company, but it makes their pitching staff something to behold, however they are set up.