The Phillies made a roster move on Saturday afternoon, optioning one of their struggling starting pitchers to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while also calling up a struggling reliever and announcing the debut of Chad Billingsley.
Phillies send David Buchanan to Triple A and recall lefty Elvis Araujo. Billingsley pitches Tuesday.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) May 2, 2015
Buchanan impressed in spring training this offseason, tossing 21 innings and allowing just three runs, good for an ERA of 1.29. It seemed as if Buchanan was going to be the second best arm in the rotation, but has not endured much success at all this season, struggling with command in each start. Buchanan allowed five or more runs in three of his first five starts. In his last outing against the Cardinals, Buchanan surrendered seven earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander heads to Lehigh Valley, where he holds a 3.56 career ERA in 18 starts for the Ironpigs. I'm sure we'll be seeing Buchanan back in Philadelphia this season.
Getting the surprising promotion to the big league club is left-handed reliever, Elvis Araujo. While the Phillies are in need of left-handed relief, Araujo has not fared well with Double-A Reading this season, posting a 7.45 ERA in 9 2/3 innings of relief. The Phillies signed Araujo to a major league deal this offseason. Araujo pitched five innings and gave up one run for the Phils in Grapefruit League play this spring.
Meanwhile, as Jim Salisbury reported above, perhaps the biggest news of this transaction is that of Chad Billingsley. The 30-year-old right-hander went 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts for Lehigh Valley and will start for the Phillies on Tuesday, May 5th in Atlanta. In his last start against Durham, Billingsley tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings, striking out six. When he joins the team, Araujo could get sent down, depending on his performance out of the bullpen.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
