Bailey Falter’s name was an afterthought, at best, during most discussions about the Phillies rotation going into spring training. The conversations centered on the proven veterans, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, and the promising youngsters, Ranger Suarez and Andrew Painter.
Things can change quickly in baseball, Suarez and Painter are both on the injured list. Falter, moved by necessity into the spot in the rotation, reminded again Saturday that he’s capable of being more than a Band-Aid.
It wasn’t just that he held the Reds to one run on four hits in his five innings of Saturday’s 3-2 come-from-behind win Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. It was also the way he figured things out after a scary first time through the order.
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The second batter he faced, third baseman Spencer Steer, ripped a home run to dead center field. With two outs, DH Tyler Stephenson and shortstop Kevin Newman lined singles to left.
He got out of that jam, but rightfielder Stuart Fairchild opened the second with a solid base hit to left-center.
Centerfielder Jose Barrero drilled another line drive that was caught by leftfielder Josh Harrison and, with that, the storm passed. The 25-year old lefthander who went 6-4, 3.86 in 20 games (16 starts) for the Phils last year retired the last 11 batters he faced.
“He had some hard early contact, but he made the adjustment,” said manager Rob Thomson.
MLB
Falter said the adjustment was twofold. Unlike many pitchers, who thrive by keeping the ball down, he tries to throw his fastball up in the zone, above the barrel.
“Early on I was having trouble keeping my fastball up,” he said. “So I was mixing in some curves. I felt like after the second inning I was in a pretty good groove.”
Maybe his success in his first two starts – a 2.61 earned run average – has surprised some people. And maybe it shouldn’t have. Since July 29 he’s 6-2 with a 2.93 ERA, the lowest of any of the six Phillies starters with at least 30 innings in that span.
The Phillies offense has been inconsistent early but, in the long run, it’s probably pitching that will determine whether the Phillies make it back to the World Series, or maybe even win it all. Bailey Falter could end up being a big part of that equation. People might even start talking about it.