CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The competition for the final spot in the Phillies’ starting pitching rotation appears to be down to two.
Though nothing is official, lefty Brett Oberholtzer has apparently been eliminated from consideration and will open the season in the bullpen.
“The writing is on the wall, I guess,” Oberholtzer said Sunday.
Indeed it is.
The Phillies had their pitching schedule for the week posted on the clubhouse bullpen board Sunday morning. Oberholtzer is scheduled to pitch in relief Tuesday and Wednesday. Pitching on back-to-back days is a routine hurdle that relievers must clear late in camp.
The competition for the final starting job is down to right-hander Vince Velasquez and lefty Adam Morgan. Velasquez will start in a minor-league game Tuesday while Morgan will start Thursday night against the Braves at Disney World.
The power-armed Velasquez allowed just three hits and one run while walking one and striking out seven in his last outing. Morgan has racked up 12 straight scoreless innings in Grapefruit League starts.
Oberholtzer, 26, came over to the Phillies along with Velasquez in the same December trade that sent Ken Giles to the Astros. He pitched in 45 games with the Astros the last three seasons, making 42 starts. Oberholtzer came into camp as a shoo-in to make the big-league roster — he is out of minor-league options — but his role was unclear because the Phillies had depth in the rotation. Oberholtzer’s ability to pitch multiple innings in relief made the bullpen a logical landing spot for him.
Still, Oberholtzer, a local guy from New Castle, Delaware, came into camp looking to win a job in the rotation. He actually did nothing to lose a rotation spot — he pitched eight scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts in Grapefruit League action — but the bullpen is clearly a better fit for what management is trying to do with the roster.
“I guess it’s a little (disappointing) because I’ve been so efficient this spring and in my big-league career so far,” he said. “But things can change. As for right now, I’m going to be a reliever. My job is to still get outs.
“I couldn’t be happier to be with this team and have a job in any role.”
Oberholtzer has a 3.94 ERA in 253 2/3 big-league innings.