Phillies Will Get A Look At Their 2023 5th Starter
On Thursday Phillies ace Zach Wheeler was placed on the 15 day IL retroactive to August 22nd. Wheeler has been dealing with a forearm strain. Wheeler has struggled in his past few starts so getting some rest will hopefully do him some good and get him back to his “ace” stuff. He is eligible to come back September 6h. In the meantime we get another ace in his place! AAA Ace Bailey Falter.
Phillies fans dont exactly get excited for a Bailey Falter start. Its understandable because Falter has been treated like many recent Phillies pitchers where he pitches out of the bullpen…..and then a spot start…..a little long relief….hey! You’ll start, BUT its a bullpen game. Never being able to adapt and get comfortable in a role. The Phillies have actually allowed Falter to start and hes pitched fairly well.
In 8 starts this season he has a 4.30 ERA. In AAA this season he has 9 starts and a 1.41 ERA. So he truly has nothing left to prove in Lehigh Valley. At 25 years old, the former 5th round pick is seemingly here to stay. And come 2023 he will be your 5th starter.
The Phillies already have Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez. The Phillies have Kyle Gibson and Noah Syndergaard as pending free agents while Zach Efflin has a mutual option for $15 million that wont get picked up. The Phillies could very well bring one of the 3 back, depending on the price. The Phillies also know that Andrew Painter is probably a year away from joining the rotation if he continues his current torrid pace in the minors. So i’m assuming that the Phillies will sign a veteran to a 1 year deal and whoever he is will be your 4th starter. Which leaves Falter as your #5.
So as we await Zack Wheeler to get healthy take solace in knowing that the Phillies aren’t throwing a scrub with no future into the role. They are giving you a look at what is likely to be the teams 5th starter next season.
Phillies Release 2023 Schedule
