The Phillies are close to locking up a playoff spot, but the bigger picture is already in focus. With four games left in the regular season after Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia is in position to get where it wants to go. The real question now is which arms in the bullpen will matter most once October arrives.
That relief group has been one of the club’s shakier spots lately, and that’s why it looms so large. The lineup has had its own uneven stretch this month, but the bullpen may be the unit that carries the heavier burden in the postseason.
Philadelphia still has plenty of talent in the batter’s box. The relief corps is where the margin for error feels thinner.
At the top of that list is the 25-year-old right-hander McFarlane, one of the brighter surprises in the bullpen this season. The Phillies brought him up to help stabilize the unit, and he has answered the call.
After Orion Kerkering was demoted, McFarlane’s role became even more important. He’s shown electric stuff and has posted a 2.12 ERA in 17 games, a strong foundation for a pitcher who could be asked to handle meaningful innings in October.
Jose Alvarado also stands out as a critical piece, even if his full-season numbers do not jump off the page. This month, though, he has been one of Philadelphia’s best bullpen arms.
That matters because the Phillies could see a lineup full of dangerous left-handed hitters in the playoffs, and Alvarado gives them a weapon for exactly that kind of matchup. He was ineligible for the postseason last year because of his suspension, so there should be extra motivation attached to this run.
Then there is Duran, the late-inning anchor. Getting the ball to him with a lead is the goal, and once it happens, Philadelphia can feel good about its chances.
The Phillies acquired him from the Minnesota Twins last year, and he has delivered far beyond expectations. In his first full season with the club, he has put up a 1.88 ERA and 33 saves, giving the Phillies the kind of closer they needed when the games tighten in October.
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Alec Bohm and Derek Hill have been among the few bright spots, which only sharpens the concern around the rest of the order as the postseason gets closer. For a team built around veteran impact bats, the timing is unsettling, because October tends to expose any lineup that is still searching for rhythm when the games start to mean the most. [Read more 🡒]