CLEARWATER, Fla. — The race for what looks like the final spot in the Phillies’ starting pitching rotation is getting interesting.
Very interesting.
It’s all because of Adam Morgan, the 26-year-old lefty who many had counted out of the race when the Phillies added a bunch of arms this winter.
Morgan continued to demand consideration for the position with another strong outing Sunday afternoon against the New York Yankees. He pitched four scoreless innings in helping the Phillies beat the Yankees, 3-0, at Steinbrenner Field. Morgan gave up just one hit. He walked one and struck out two.
Lefty Brett Oberholtzer, another candidate, continued his strong bid for the spot with three scoreless innings. He scattered four hits, walked none and struck out a batter.
Coming into camp, the lead candidate for the job seemed to be hard-throwing right-hander Vince Velazquez, the headliner in the trade that sent Ken Giles to Houston. He has lived up to his billing as a power arm, but has had command issues in allowing 10 hits and four earned runs over nine innings of work.
Oberholtzer, also a product of the Giles deal, is up to eight scoreless innings and he’s walked just one. Oberholtzer is a lock to make the club as he is out of minor-league options. The question is will he be a starter or a bullpen guy. He filled both roles in his time with Houston.
MLB
Morgan has pitched nine innings and given up four hits and two runs. He has walked two and struck out two.
Morgan went 5-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 15 big-league starts for the Phillies last year. He does not throw as hard as he did before a shoulder injury that sidelined him in 2013 and 2014, but has shown he can be effective when he keeps the ball down and throws strikes. He did that Sunday. He needed just 39 pitches to cover four innings against a Yankees lineup that featured mostly regulars.
“Morgan looked really good,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “It looked like he had a little more on his fastball today. He’s introduced that cut fastball and that’s been effective. He threw some nice curveballs and a lot of good changeups. That was nice to see.”
Earlier in camp, Morgan said he loves the idea of competing for a job. It seems to be bringing out the best in him as he makes this race for a spot in the rotation a tight one.
“It’s fun,” he said. “We’re doing so good as a team and as a group, it’s exciting.”
Oberholtzer concurred.
“It’s the big leagues, so there’s always going to be competition,” he said. “I don’t look at it any other way than just go out there and do the things I can control — work hard and get better.”
The game
Ryan Howard and Nick Williams both had RBI doubles and Cesar Hernandez added an RBI single to lead the Phillies’ offense in the 3-0 win. All the Phillies’ runs came against lefty CC Sabathia.
The Phillies are now 10-3-2 overall and 8-0-1 in their last eight games.
Contract outs
Reliever Andrew Bailey did not pitch Sunday, but he is off to a nice start with three scoreless innings. He has given up just one hit, walked none and struck out two.
Bailey is on a minor-league contract. If he does not make the opening day roster, he will open up at Triple A. His contract stipulates that he can opt out of his contract on May 1 if he is not in the majors and another team wants to give him that opportunity.
Bailey was the American League Rookie of the Year (2009) and a two-time All-Star with Oakland before arm problems derailed him.
Two other veteran relievers have outs in their contracts. Edward Mujica can be released upon request if he is not placed on the 40-man roster by March 26.
Ernesto Frieri can opt out on March 31 if he is not going to be on the 40-man roster and another team offers that opportunity.
Up next
The Phillies travel to Sarasota to play the Orioles on Monday. Alec Asher is the starting pitcher for the Phils.