Phils feel 'healthy, confident' before crucial series
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DETROIT -- Phillies general manager Matt Klentak answered questions this week about his team’s postseason chances and how those chances will influence the way they handle the July 31 Trade Deadline.
Essentially, the better the Phillies’ position in the standings the further they might be willing to go.
The Phillies beat the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park, 4-0, to sweep the two-game series. They preceded the sweep by winning two of three games over the weekend in Pittsburgh. The Phillies have won five of their last six games to improve to 54-48, the first time they are six games over .500 since June 19. They are neck-and-neck with the Cardinals for the second National League Wild Card spot.
“We feel good about the road trip,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “And we feel good about going home for the Atlanta series. Pretty healthy, in good spirits and with some confidence.”
The Phillies open an important three-game series against first-place Atlanta on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. It is important because if the Phillies fare well this weekend they might be more inclined to make a bigger move before the Trade Deadline. Klentak said Tuesday that the Phillies’ deadline is more likely to resemble the 2007 Phillies, when they acquired Kyle Lohse and Tadahito Iguchi, than the deadlines of 2009 (Cliff Lee), 2010 (Roy Oswalt) and 2011 (Hunter Pence).
If the Phillies win or even sweep the series, maybe the front office recalculates and finds a happy medium between Lohse and Lee. Phillies president Andy MacPhail said they are able to add salary, if needed. Klentak said they have enough talent to acquire a top talent, particularly if that player is under team control beyond this season.
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It sounds like a front office looking for a reason to take a chance. The team adjusted its rotation so Aaron Nola will face the Braves on Sunday. If it had remained in order it would have been left-hander Drew Smyly.
Of course, if the Phillies lose the series or get swept, it is easy to see the Phillies standing firm in their philosophy.
It is why it was so important to beat the Tigers on Wednesday. It keeps these different scenarios alive.
“I know what we’re going up against,” Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez said about Atlanta. “It’s going to be a good lineup. Those guys are red hot, and we’re red hot.”
Velasquez struck out nine and allowed four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. The Phillies have been trying to get Velasquez to elevate his fastball at the top of the zone. He got a couple strikeouts that way Wednesday, getting 10 swings and misses on 69 fastballs.
“When he commands his fastball over the plate, no one hits it,” Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp said. “For the most part he was throwing his heater by every single person in that lineup.”
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The next step for Velasquez is pitching deeper into games. He has completed six innings just once in 12 starts this season. He has not pitched more than six innings since Aug. 3, 2018, when he pitched 6 1/3 innings against the Marlins.
But the fact that Velasquez fared well is encouraging, especially because they chose him over Nick Pivetta to remain in the rotation.
“It seems like every day is a learning lesson,” Velasquez said. “We’re working at the top of the zone. We’re pounding the zone. It’s working. I’m studying the hitters to the point where I can find their little gray areas. I’m pretty excited for my next start.”
Phillies pitchers did not allow a run in the final 18 innings of the series. They have not allowed a home run in five consecutive games, which is remarkable considering how many home runs they had been serving up this season. It is the Phillies’ longest homerless streak since a six-game stretch from June 22-27, 2016.
Of course, the Pirates and Tigers rank 27th and 29th in baseball in home runs, respectively. The Braves are ninth. But progress is progress. J.T. Realmuto and Nick Williams homered against Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. Cesar Hernandez’s double scored Roman Quinn in the fifth. Hernandez later scored on Rhys Hoskins’ single to left field.
It all had the Phillies feeling good as they flew home.
“This is definitely a big series coming up,” Knapp said. “We’re rolling. We’re pretty confident in the way we’re playing right now, especially to win these two series on the road going into a big series against Atlanta is huge.”