Cole Hamels has been dominant for the Phillies this season, especially as of late, posting a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts. In his last outing, he struck out 12 over seven shutout innings against the Pirates. Hamels didn't factor into the decision as the Phils went on to lose 1-0 in extra innings. Cole was scheduled to start on Friday night against the Cardinals, but a hamstring injury will cause him to miss his turn.
Due to a mild right hamstring strain, Cole Hamels will not make his scheduled start tomorrow. RHP Phillippe Aumont will start in his place.
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 18, 2015
Scheduled to start in his place is none other than the lone remaining player from the 2009 Cliff Lee deal, Phillippe Aumont. Aumont isn't on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will have to be made for him to be added. He also doesn't have any options remaining, so the Phillies would have to place him on waivers if the decide not to keep him. Aumont would be able to elect free agency if not claimed.
Phillippe Aumont has done nothing to earn the confidence of Phillies fans at the big league level, since being converted back to a starter in Triple-A, he has been effective. In 10 starts for the Ironpigs, Aumont is 3-4 with a 2.55 ERA. Aumont has still struggled with command, walking 41 hitters and striking out 58, but has found ways to limit damage throughout the majority of his starts. He's tossed four scoreless starts for Lehigh Valley and has held opposing teams to three runs or less in each of his 10 starts. Last time out against the Orioles Triple-A affiliate, Aumont pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering four hits while striking out nine and walking five. Like we mentioned before, his walks are still an issue, but rather than attempting to blow hitters away out of the bullpen, Aumont is finding ways to escape jams by using all of his pitches effectively. Overall in 14 games with the Ironpigs, Aumont has a 2.35 ERA.
In 39 2/3 innings at the big league level with the Phillies, Aumont is 1-5 with a 6.13 ERA. Friday night will be a test against a potent Cardinals offense as the 26-year-old right-hander will look to show some improvements with his pitching in front of the home crowd.
In other news, the Phillies have recalled left-hander Jake Diekman from Lehigh Valley and Dustin McGowan has been designated for assignment. Diekman, who had command issues for the Phillies in 25 appearances, tossed seven scoreless frames in Lehigh Valley, scattering just five hits while walking one and striking out seven. Diekman also picked up three saves.
Dustin McGowan became the first Phillies reliever in baseball history, according to Phillies.com's Todd Zolecki, to allow five homers in an appearance. It happened during the Phils 19-3 loss in Baltimore. In 14 games with the Phils, McGowan posted a 6.94 ERA.
