Leaky bullpen has Phillies flirting with disaster

As Corey Seidman of NBC Sports activities Philadelphia identified, the Phillies are 7-6 over that stretch. Nonetheless, 4 of the Phillies’ six losses got here when the bullpen goofed late in video games, together with winnable matchups towards the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, together with two dropped contests to the Nationwide League-leading Atlanta Braves. 

With eight video games left on their regular-season schedule, solely a monumental collapse stands in the way in which of the Phillies and one of many NL’s three wildcard spots. Nevertheless, a leaky bullpen has made the duty of getting there harder than wanted. 

The Phillies bullpen has been half Jekyll, half Hyde. At instances, the likes of Matt Straham and Jeff Hoffman have been the membership’s most dependable arms. In the meantime, veterans Gregory Soto and Craig Kimbrel have struggled to seek out consistency. On Friday, the pair gave up two earned runs off three hits in 1 2/3 innings mixed. 

Issues are getting so dire that the Phillies wish to their farm system for assist. Whereas starter Michael Lorenzen, contemporary off a no-hitter, will possible be a part of the pen, the Phillies additionally called up an intriguing prospect with a killer identify, Orion Kerkering. 

A tough-throwing right-hander able to hitting 102 mph, Kerkering started the 12 months enjoying with the group’s Low-A crew in Clearwater however rapidly shot up the ranks. On the farm this season, Kerkering has sported a 1.51 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, with 14 saves and 79 strikeouts, incomes the Paul Owens Award, given to one of the best pitcher within the crew’s minor league system. 

The Phillies are digging deep, searching for some depth forward of a possible playoff run. Nonetheless, one factor is obvious, the crew’s relievers should be higher and fast if the they aspire to return to the World Sequence.