Is it feasible for the Phillies to take a chance on their starting lineup until the Trade Deadline?

The depth of the Philadelphia Phillies’ starting rotation made an NLCS comeback possible in 2023. Yet, there’s a chance that the outcomes of yesterday will translate into success tomorrow. It’s unclear if Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, has so far been unable or unwilling to acquire a reliable starting pitcher.

However, if he decides to start the season, or even well into the schedule, as is, the pressure will probably mount.

Will the Phillies be able to finish this season with their current rotation?

Last season, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola each started 32 games throughout the regular season. Wheeler’s tendinitis affected Wheeler’s 26 starts, which means that Nola started 32 games in 2022.

Nola, who turns 31 in June, has thrown 398 2/3 innings over the previous two seasons. With a 5.9 fWAR, Wheeler lead all major league pitchers. He turns 34 in May and has tossed 345 innings in 2022 and 2023 combined. 63 1/3 postseason innings for Wheeler and 48 2/3 postseason innings for Nola are added to the totals.

Is manager Rob Thomson able to navigate the track with both workhorses once more? If not, the Phillies run the risk of losing out on a Wild Card spot or the divisional race.

Ranger Suárez had a 0.90 WHIP over the last two postseasons, proving he is a calm left-handed talent. He falls between Nola’s (1.15 WHIP) and Wheeler’s (0.73 WHIP) playoff WHIPs. Ideally, he will start as many or more of the 29 games he worked in the regular season in 2022 than the 22 starts he made in 2023 due to injuries.

Taijuan Walker, Dombrowski’s addition to the rotation in the 2022 offseason, started 31 games and pitched 172 2/3 innings. The right-hander pitched zero innings in the postseason due to his inconsistent play in the 2023 regular season.

Walker posted on social media following the Phillies’ defeat over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the previous autumn. Should the right-hander fail to consistently hit the strike zone this spring, Thomson’s acceptance of it will be called into question. Walker might be traded before the season starts for a candidate with a comparable change of environment. On the other hand, he might be inspired to deliver in red pinstripes and disprove his detractors.

Since making his debut in 2021, Christopher Sánchez has only started 22 games. Last year, the left-hander showed great promise as he pitched a career-high 101 2/3 innings, including 2 1/3 innings in the NLCS. The squad would gain a lot if he could start 22 games this season.

Any pitcher who pitched in the Phillies system last year could be able to break camp if one of the five scheduled starts suffers a spring training injury. But unless proven differently in the top levels, every prospect, regardless of level, is questionable. Although Mick Abel would seem to be the logical choice, he struggled with command last season, throwing just 4 1/3 innings at Triple-A while recording a 5.16 BB/9.

The Phillies may once more turn to lefty Matt “The Card Life” Strahm as insurance if a spot opens up with the current rotation. He started ten of his 35 regular-season games last season. Both Strahm and Kolby Allard, the recently signed lefty from the Atlanta Braves, are capable of starting as sixth starters.

What are the Phillies’ preseason alternatives for strengthening the rotation?
The 31-year-old National League Cy Young champion Blake Snell is still available, despite the Yoshinobu Yamamoto bid failing. Could the Phillies provide a massive short-term contract that surpasses his other alternatives, or would they be ready to commit to a long-term deal with another middle-aged pitcher? Another 31-year-old left-hander who is more affordable and practical is Jordan Montgomery.

After joining the Phillies on August 1, Michael Lorenzen—who recently displayed his impressive bullpen—started seven games. He was acquired from the Detroit Tigers. Eight days later, he threw the 14th no-hitter in team history before faltering in the final few innings, pitching just 5 1/3 relief innings in the postseason. Still, he’s a reliable swingman who has started 43 games for the Los Angeles Angels, Tigers, and Phillies over the previous two seasons combined.

In March, Clayton Kershaw will turn 36. With a left shoulder surgery in the off-season and no plans to pitch until the summer, the lifetime Los Angeles Dodger may become an in-season acquisition. There would be many parallels between “The Claw” and Pedro Martinez’s 2009 signing, if there is no LA reunion and good health.

Will Philadelphia therefore take a chance and hope that the rotation holds up until July 30, MLB’s Trade Deadline? It is still feasible to support staff depth prior to that. For Dombroski and his staff, the postseason is still in play, especially because the mound is usually the focal point of the team’s elusive third World Series title chances.