There have been rumblings for days that the Phillies could go to a six-man starting rotation for the rest of the month of September. The benefit is that young arms such as Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, and Alec Asher, none of whom have pitched this late in a season, can have more time to rest between starts. The Phillies may have added their sixth man as well as some relief help.
According to Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer, David Buchanan is the "likeliest" to join the Phillies starting rotation, though official word has not come:
There was no definitive word, however, on who will pitch Wednesday when the Phillies shift to a six-man rotation to protect the arms of their four rookie starters. The likeliest candidate is David Buchanan, who along with relievers Ken Roberts and Nefi Ogando will be added to the roster before Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves.
"TBA right now," interim manager Pete Mackanin said before the series opener.
There may be just one other candidate in addition to Buchanan.
Jerome Williams held down a spot in the Phillies starting rotation in 2015, although since Asher joined the rotation he has been relegated to the bullpen. Yesterday, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer seemed to think Williams would be the sixth starter. Buchanan was not a strong starter for the Phillies in 2015, but at least the Phillies can get a look at him down the stretch as they figure out his future.
Ogando had a quick call-up for the Phillies once earlier this season. Almost as quick as Ogando joined the Phillies bullpen he was gone, making room for Asher. Ogando had a nice season split between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley. Combined, Ogando was 4-5 with a 2.86 earned run average. Very consistent, Ogando had the 2.86 ERA mark at both AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley.
Roberts was a Phillies waiver claim from the Colorado Rockies. Appearing in nine games for the Rockies, the lefty Roberts was 0-1 with a 5.79 earned run average. In the minors, Roberts was 1-4 with a 3.79 earned run average between the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs and AAA Albuquerque Isotopes.
Buchanan is 2-7 with a 9.00 earned run average for the Phillies big league club so far in 2015. At Lehigh Valley Buchanan fared better, going 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA. Buchanan also had two rehab appearances for the rookie Gulf Coast League Phillies as he recovered from a right ankle sprain. In nine innings Buchanan won a game and allowed one earned run for the GCL Phillies.
