29-year old righty starting pitcher Joe Blanton got off to a late start this season after a D.L. stint. But he has been awful since getting healthy. He has started 7 games for the Phillies this year and he is 1-4 with a 6.07 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Blanton has given up 51 hits already this season in 43 innings and 9 of them have left the yard. The Phillies don’t have many other options so they hope that Blanton turns things around soon.

Last season Brad Lidge had a season for the ages as he pitched in 72 games for the Phillies in which he was 2-0 with 41 saves, a 1.95 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Lidge did not blow any saves last season as he was a big key to them winning the World Series. But, this season has been a disaster for the closer. Lidge has pitched in 62 games for the Phillies this year and he is 0-7 with 31 saves, a 7.24 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP. Lidge has already blown 10 saves this season and that’s flat out unacceptable. He has been all over the place this season allowing 66 hits (11 homers) and he has walked 33 batters despite only pitching 54 2/3 innings. He has whiffed 58 batters this season so he still has good stuff it just appears as if he has forgotten how to pitch. Ryan Madson has been sharp in the 8th inning for the Phillies this season and he could close if the team wants to go that route. Madson has pitched in 75 games this season for the Phillies and he is 5-5 with 8 saves, a 3.25 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has 72 strikeouts in 72 innings this season showing he indeed has the stuff needed to close games. Brett Myers has also been a closer in the past. But, he is just coming of a injury so the trust factor is probably not there yet. Since his return from the D.L., Myers has pitched in 5 games (0 starts) and he is 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. If I were the manager I would go with Madson as the closer as Lidge just can’t be trusted.

The Phillies have left starting pitcher Adam Eaton off the playoff roster in the first round and I can’t blame them for it.  Eaton started 30 games this season for the Phillies and he was 10-10 with a 6.29 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.  He worked 161.2 innings this season and he has allowed 192 hits, 30 homers, walked 71 batters and whiffed 97.  Don’t look for Eaton to pitch again for the Phillies this season unless one of there four starting pitchers gets injured.

It’s amazing that Adam Eaton has a 8-5 record considering how poorly he has pitched this season.  Eaton has a 5.69 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP which proves how lucky he is that he plays for a team that can hit the ball the way the Phillies can.  Eaton has allowed 17 homers and he has walked 48 batters in 104.1 innings this season and he will need to improve on those numbers if he has any hope of finishing this season with a winning record.

Antonio Alfonseca has pitched poorly so far this season for the Phillies.  In 20 games this season, Alfonseca is 2-1 with a 5.03 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP.  In 19.2 innings, he has allowed 25 hits, walked 9 batters and whiffed 8.  The Phillies need Alfonseca to pitch better because their bullpen is pretty weak right now due to injuries.