As you watch the Phillies so far this season, it seems like they have plenty of pencils. Because they sure as hell don't have a "pen". Maybe PA should be spelled "Pencil-vania", because the Phillies have a big pen problem. If they hope to really compete for a world championship this season, they have to fix it, and soon.
As I write this, the Phillies have a record of seven wins and three losses, and are coming off of a Tuesday night loss in Atlanta where the bullpen once again struggled. Even with the loss, that is still a very good record. But when you think about it, three of those Phillies wins were games the offense bailed out the bullpen after the pen gave up the lead. This team could easily be 4 and 6.
I'm going to list the arms the Phils have in the bullpen, and you can tell me who you have confidence in.
Jose Ruiz
Joe Ross
Carlos Hernandez
Jordan Romano
Tanner Banks
Orion Kerkering
Matt Strahm
Jose Alvarado
Eight names, and for me, only ONE I have a lot of confidence in right now...Alvarado. When he is on, he is filthy. I know Strahm has had his issues, but I like his stuff and his makeup. That's it for me. Alvarado, and maybe Strahm. In a high-leverage situation, who would YOU want in the game? If I'm the other team, this list doesn't scare me right now.
Of course, it is early and it's a small sample size. But it's enough to worry Phillies fans about what this pen will be like through the summer. The Phils miss Jeff Hoffman a lot. Up until he had some struggles at the worst possible time last season...the playoffs...Hoffman was a solid bullpen arm.
The Phillies big off-season bullpen pick-up was Jordan Romano, who has been awful so far for his new team. His velocity is down, and he has no idea why. That's not good. The Phils must get Romano right. If Romano can find himself and if Orion Kerkering can get back the stuff he had when he was first called up, the pen will be OK. But those are two big "ifs".
Right now the best bullpen at Citizens Bank Park is Greg Luzinski's writing implement. For you younger Phils fans, Luzinski is known as "The Bull". But if the Phillies want to write the history of the 2025 season, it can't be in pencil. They need to fix their pen.