It looks like the Phillies have moved on from Jordan Romano as the team’s closer, and are now focused on Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering sharing the eighth and ninth innings moving forward. Strahm has a 6.52 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over his past 9.2 innings pitched, so that’s an interesting choice, but at least Kerkering makes sense in the role, right? Well, Kerkering has not allowed an earned run since May 6 and has allowed just one earned run since May 1, a stretch of 18 innings, which is great. But he hasn’t exactly dominated over this stretch, with just a 1.19 WHIP, 4.59 SIERA, as well as 6.8% K-BB and 8.7% SwStr rates as he has tiptoed around trouble. If we want to get a super small sample, Kerkering has looked a lot better in his past three outings, allowing zero hits and just one walk while striking out four, but two of these outings were against the Marlins, whose offense is inconsistent to say the least. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, especially given how much the manager trusts him, but we need to see longer streaks of dominance to move him up further.
Notes
- It’s been a rough year for Edwin Uceta, as every time it looks like he may be turning the corner, he hits a roadblock. June has been much better, though, and over his past 7.2 innings, Uceta holds a 2.35 ERA (1.94 SIERA), 1.04 WHIP, and the swing and miss over this span backs it up as he holds a 40.6% K rate and a 21.5% SwStr rate. That’s the Uceta we saw last season, and hopefully, he can continue this dominance moving forward.
- Since his last save, Ryan Walker holds a 2.89 ERA (2.30 SIERA), 0.86 WHIP, as well as 26.3% K-BB and 32% CSW rates over 9.1 innings. This is more like the Walker we had envisioned entering the season, and while I could see him potentially back in the closer role, I still feel like he’s best off in a setup role (as the numbers this year show).
- Greg Weissert is second in baseball in holds since the start of May with 11 (plus three saves!), so why has it taken so long to push him up the list? This looks more like a lucky hot stretch for Weissert than a true breakout. Yes, he holds a 2.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP since May started, but it comes with an inflated 4.42 SIERA, plus poor 17.3% K, 7.4% K-BB, 7.5% SwStr, and 24.4% CSW rates. Stuff+ grades out average at just 100, and PLV is also not a huge fan with a 4.93 mark. Feel free to ride the hot streak for now, but beware of potential regression in the second half.
- While other relievers in the Orioles’ bullpen, such as Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge, have struggled lately, Gregory Soto has been a massive plus and could net the team a nice return at the deadline. Over his past 8.1 innings of work, Soto holds a 1.08 ERA (0.72 SIERA), 0.48 WHIP, and gaudy 44.8% K-BB and 39% CSW rates. He also leads MLB in holds over this stretch with seven, tied with Abner Uribe.
- I still have my doubts on Tony Santillan over the remainder of the season (unless the velo and swing and miss from last year all of a sudden return), but he’s been solid in June with three holds, a save, and a win while not allowing any earned runs and just two baserunners. Over those 6.2 innings, he still has just a 3.17 xFIP and 25.7% CSW rate, but the 30.4% K rate is still an improvement. I’m just not sure it’s sustainable.
