MLB · 1 year ago

The Philadelphia Phillies Have Built the Best Rotation in MLB

Sportsgrid Staff

Host · Writer

The Best of the Best
The Phillies rotation was notably healthy last season as well. The last time a key Phillies starter suffered a serious injury was when Zach Eflin’s chronic knee issues resurfaced in 2022. Even then, the team managed to get him back in time for him to play a crucial role out of the bullpen down the stretch and into the playoffs.

The closest the Phillies have come to losing a key starting pitcher to a serious arm injury during Dombrowski’s and Cotham’s tenures was when top prospect Andrew Painter tore his UCL in 2023.

Despite this setback, the Phillies handled Painter's injury with patience and care, waiting four months before opting for surgery instead of rushing him toward Tommy John in hopes of a quick return.

Injuries are sometimes unavoidable, but smart teams know how to manage them to prevent worst-case scenarios and ensure positive outcomes.

Wheeler, Suárez, and Sánchez have all had arm injury scares over the past couple of years, but none turned into serious issues.

Perhaps the Phillies have been fortunate, or perhaps they have mastered their approach. Without an alternative timeline, it's impossible to know for sure.

Nevertheless, the Phillies have confidence in their strategy.

If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have signed Nola to the largest pitching contract in team history, extending through his age-37 season. They wouldn’t have signed Wheeler to the most lucrative extension (by AAV) in MLB history, also running through his age-37 season. They wouldn’t have guaranteed Sánchez $22.5 million over the next four seasons. While many around the game may still view Sánchez as a fluke, the Phillies see it differently. From front office decisions to on-field management, the Phillies are handling their pitching staff exceptionally well. They have identified proven stars to invest in and future stars to develop. They have brought out the best in their pitchers and maintained a healthy rotation in an era when that seems nearly impossible.

The Phillies have been the best team in baseball for many reasons, but their dominant pitching staff stands out as their greatest asset, and their remarkably healthy rotation is a key highlight.

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The Philadelphia Phillies Have Built the Best Rotation in MLB
The Phillies boast the best record in baseball at 53-27 and a run differential of +122. While their offense has been impressive, ranking second in runs per game (5.1) and fourth in wRC+ (114), their pitchers, especially the starters, have truly shined.

Phillies pitchers lead MLB with a 3.08 ERA and top the charts in FIP, xFIP, SIERA, xERA, and more. According to FanGraphs pitching WAR, Philadelphia has a three-win lead over the next best team.

The bullpen has also excelled, posting a 3.38 ERA (5th in MLB), 3.13 FIP (2nd), and 4.4 fWAR (2nd).

However, the bullpen has only pitched 242 innings, the second-fewest in MLB, due to the dominance of the starting rotation.

Phillies starters average just under 6.0 IP per start (5.92), the highest since the 2018 Guardians, a team with one former and two future Cy Young winners.

Compared to the average team, Phillies starters pitch an extra two-thirds of an inning per game, translating to 108 additional innings or 12 complete games over a full season.

Philadelphia’s starters lead MLB with 10.0 fWAR and boast a collective 2.92 ERA, the only rotation under 3.00. The Yankees are second with a 3.16 ERA.

The average MLB rotation has a 4.05 ERA this season, 1.13 runs higher than the Phillies' 2.92 mark, equating to 183 fewer runs allowed in 108 additional innings over a full season.

They also lead the league in xFIP and rank second in FIP, xERA, and SIERA. Any metric confirms the Phillies have one of the best rotations in the game.

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Four Aces
The top three names on the NL ERA leaderboard are currently all Phillies: Ranger Suárez (1.75), Cristopher Sánchez (2.67), and Zack Wheeler (2.73).

Aaron Nola, who leads all qualified NL pitchers in innings per start (6.31), is surprisingly only the fourth most valuable pitcher on the staff with a 3.39 ERA in 16 games.

The Phillies rotation is filled with remarkable stories. Nola, the homegrown veteran, is on track to become one of the greatest pitchers in Phillies history by the end of his seven-year contract. Wheeler has quietly emerged as the best pitcher in baseball since joining the Phillies in 2020.

Left-handers Suárez and Sánchez have both developed into solid mid-rotation arms and have taken another huge step forward this season. Suddenly, the Phillies have four aces once again.
Surprises
Another standout story on the 2024 Phillies is Spencer Turnbull. Dave Dombrowski picked him up as a bargain acquisition this offseason, and he has delivered a 2.63 ERA over 51.1 innings, including a 1.67 ERA over six starts in April.

After spending six weeks in the bullpen, Turnbull will make his seventh start of the season on Wednesday, filling in for the injured Taijuan Walker in the rotation.

Turnbull's performance is reminiscent of Matt Strahm's 2023 season. Strahm began the year in the rotation as a temporary injury replacement, making six starts with a 3.51 ERA, and has since become one of Philadelphia’s top relievers.

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Good Health
Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham has rightfully earned significant praise for his work over the past four seasons, as has Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations and architect of the Phillies roster.

However, there is one area where they haven't received enough recognition.

Dombrowski has excelled in identifying, acquiring, and retaining the right talent, while Cotham has demonstrated a genius-level ability to maximize his pitchers' performances.

Yet, the success of Philadelphia’s rotation isn't just about talent and performance. Durability and health have been equally crucial. The Phillies boast one of the healthiest rotations in baseball, which has been essential to their success.

Aaron Nola leads MLB in innings pitched over the past five years, averaging over 6.0 IP per start throughout his career, and hasn't been injured since 2017. Zack Wheeler ranks second, despite a few brief stints on the injured list.

This season, only one Phillies starter has landed on the IL: Taijuan Walker. The 31-year-old has made two trips to the IL in 2024, though neither was particularly serious.

Walker suffered a shoulder impingement in spring training that sidelined him for the first month of the year and recently returned to the IL with a "hot spot" (inflammation) on his right index finger.

Thanks to the emergence of Spencer Turnbull, the Phillies have not missed a beat in Walker’s absence. In fact, one could argue they're even better off.
The Best of the Best
The Phillies rotation was notably healthy last season as well. The last time a key Phillies starter suffered a serious injury was when Zach Eflin’s chronic knee issues resurfaced in 2022. Even then, the team managed to get him back in time for him to play a crucial role out of the bullpen down the stretch and into the playoffs.

The closest the Phillies have come to losing a key starting pitcher to a serious arm injury during Dombrowski’s and Cotham’s tenures was when top prospect Andrew Painter tore his UCL in 2023.

Despite this setback, the Phillies handled Painter's injury with patience and care, waiting four months before opting for surgery instead of rushing him toward Tommy John in hopes of a quick return.

Injuries are sometimes unavoidable, but smart teams know how to manage them to prevent worst-case scenarios and ensure positive outcomes.

Wheeler, Suárez, and Sánchez have all had arm injury scares over the past couple of years, but none turned into serious issues.

Perhaps the Phillies have been fortunate, or perhaps they have mastered their approach. Without an alternative timeline, it's impossible to know for sure.

Nevertheless, the Phillies have confidence in their strategy.

If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have signed Nola to the largest pitching contract in team history, extending through his age-37 season. They wouldn’t have signed Wheeler to the most lucrative extension (by AAV) in MLB history, also running through his age-37 season. They wouldn’t have guaranteed Sánchez $22.5 million over the next four seasons. While many around the game may still view Sánchez as a fluke, the Phillies see it differently. From front office decisions to on-field management, the Phillies are handling their pitching staff exceptionally well. They have identified proven stars to invest in and future stars to develop. They have brought out the best in their pitchers and maintained a healthy rotation in an era when that seems nearly impossible.

The Phillies have been the best team in baseball for many reasons, but their dominant pitching staff stands out as their greatest asset, and their remarkably healthy rotation is a key highlight.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
The Philadelphia Phillies Have Built the Best Rotation in MLB
The Phillies boast the best record in baseball at 53-27 and a run differential of +122. While their offense has been impressive, ranking second in runs per game (5.1) and fourth in wRC+ (114), their pitchers, especially the starters, have truly shined.

Phillies pitchers lead MLB with a 3.08 ERA and top the charts in FIP, xFIP, SIERA, xERA, and more. According to FanGraphs pitching WAR, Philadelphia has a three-win lead over the next best team.

The bullpen has also excelled, posting a 3.38 ERA (5th in MLB), 3.13 FIP (2nd), and 4.4 fWAR (2nd).

However, the bullpen has only pitched 242 innings, the second-fewest in MLB, due to the dominance of the starting rotation.

Phillies starters average just under 6.0 IP per start (5.92), the highest since the 2018 Guardians, a team with one former and two future Cy Young winners.

Compared to the average team, Phillies starters pitch an extra two-thirds of an inning per game, translating to 108 additional innings or 12 complete games over a full season.

Philadelphia’s starters lead MLB with 10.0 fWAR and boast a collective 2.92 ERA, the only rotation under 3.00. The Yankees are second with a 3.16 ERA.

The average MLB rotation has a 4.05 ERA this season, 1.13 runs higher than the Phillies' 2.92 mark, equating to 183 fewer runs allowed in 108 additional innings over a full season.

They also lead the league in xFIP and rank second in FIP, xERA, and SIERA. Any metric confirms the Phillies have one of the best rotations in the game.

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The Philadelphia Phillies Have Built the Best Rotation in MLB

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