{"id":106795,"date":"2025-09-05T22:08:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T02:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=106795"},"modified":"2025-09-05T22:08:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T02:08:15","slug":"phillies-should-be-concerned-about-rotation-postseason-nears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/09\/05\/phillies-should-be-concerned-about-rotation-postseason-nears\/","title":{"rendered":"Phillies Should Be Concerned About Rotation as Postseason Nears"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Phillies need to be concerned about their starting rotation as clinching a postseason appearance nears. With Zack Wheeler<\/a> out for the season<\/a>, they have a left-handed-heavy starting rotation. Southpaws Cristopher S\u00e1nchez<\/a> and Ranger Su\u00e1rez<\/a> have been the Phillies’ most effective starting pitchers other than Wheeler. Additionally, the Phillies are likely to have Jes\u00fas Luzardo<\/a>, another left-handed pitcher, in their postseason rotation. On August 31, the team signed<\/a> right-hander Walker Buehler<\/a> to give them another option. If the postseason started today, the Phillies’ rotation would likely consist of three left-handed starting pitchers.<\/p>\n

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Jun 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Phillies Should Be Concerned with Rotation Depth<\/h2>\n

Since Wheeler went on the injured list<\/a> on August 16, Su\u00e1rez has stepped up to fill the void. In that time, Su\u00e1rez has a 1.09 ERA along with a 1.05 WHIP in four starts. He has a 9.00 K\/BB rate and a 1.96 FIP in that span as well. During that stretch, Su\u00e1rez has the sixth-best ERA and FIP in baseball among qualified starting pitchers, along with the fourth-best K\/BB rate. With Wheeler out, the Phillies needed all of their starting pitchers to step up, and Su\u00e1rez has risen to the occasion. Meanwhile, S\u00e1nchez has a 1.37 FIP since Wheeler went on the injured list, which is the best among qualified starting pitchers in that span. S\u00e1nchez has struggled in other stat areas in that span, though.<\/p>\n

Lack of Right-Handed Options<\/h3>\n

Aaron Nola<\/a> has struggled for most of the year<\/a> and could be left out of the postseason rotation. Buehler and Taijuan Walker<\/a> are their other right-handed starting pitching options. The Phillies will be utilizing a six-man rotation in the short term once Buehler is called up. It remains to be seen how long they will stick with a six-man rotation. Buehler is expected to make his Phillies debut on September 12 against the Kansas City Royals. Currently, Buehler is with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs and will need to be added to the 40-man roster. Outside of these three, the Phillies do not have other right-handed starting pitching options that are consistently reliable. The minor league arms they could turn to are largely ineffective. Nola rebounding is the best path forward.<\/p>\n

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Walker Buehler has arrived in Allentown!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf8 Cheryl Pursell pic.twitter.com\/cd85yalnUx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) September 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n