After losing 99 games last year, the 2016 Philadelphia Phillies have played like contenders. Heading into June, the Phillies have a winning record (24-17); they have done this despite giving up more runs than they have scored this season.
Young pitchers Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.42 ERA, 59 strikeouts) and Aaron Nola (3-2, 2.89 ERA, 58 strikeouts) have led the team on the mound. In the bullpen, virtually all the question marks have turned into exclamation points. Voorhees, N.J.’s Andrew Bailey – coming off a long layoff due to injury – has two wins. Hector Neris is striking out almost 11 batters per 9 innings pitched. Jeanmar Gomez has saved 17 games. (To put those 17 saves in perspective, The New York Yankees have 18 wins.)
Young pitchers Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.42 ERA, 59 strikeouts) and Aaron Nola (3-2, 2.89 ERA, 58 strikeouts) have led the team on the mound. In fact, when it comes to the bullpen, virtually all of their question marks have turned into exclamation points. New Jersey’s own Andrew Bailey — coming off a long layoff due to injury — has two wins, Hector Neris is striking out almost 11 batters per 9 innings pitched, and Jeanmar Gomez has saved 17 games. (Just to put those 17 saves in perspective, The New York Yankees have 18 wins.)
The Phillies don’t hit much — they, shall we say, jab their way to wins — but maintain a ridiculous 14-3 record in one-run games. Outfielder Odubel Herrera is always a playmaker, providing boundless energy and a .453 on-base percentage, and young slugger Maikel Franco leads the team with 23 RBIs. Credit goes to manager Pete Machanin for juggling his lineups and using his full bag of tricks — bunts, squeezes and steals — to scratch out runs.
Realistically though, the team stats say the winning won’t last; the talented Washington Nationals and New York Mets should stay atop the National League East. But come July, the Phillies should expect reinforcements from their stocked farm system. Struggling first basemen Ryan Howard may give way to Tommy Joseph (3-hit game on May 17 vs. Florida); Light-hitting outfielder Peter Bourjos may lose at-bats to Nick Williams (.276, 3 home runs in the minors); and Freddy Galvis may look over his shoulder one day and see J.P. Crawford (Phillies #1 prospect with a .384 on-base percentage in AAA). The Phillies even have the top pick in the 2016 MLB Draft and might select Barnegat High School’s Jason Groome. So, regardless of how the Phillies finish the season, they have already won big.
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