With Phillies bullpen struggling, is case really closed on Craig Kimbrel? | Extra Innings

OK, so the Phillies finally lost a game. You didn’t really think they would go 162-0, did you? Of course not. So, why that queasy feeling after yesterday’s 9-8 loss in Washington?

Maybe it was because the Phillies let slip a two-run lead in the eighth inning before getting walked off, literally, in the ninth. Or maybe it was because the loss dredged up a key question: For all their offensive might, do the Phillies have enough pitching? The jury remains out.

You’re signed up to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday during the Phillies season. If you like what you’re reading, tell your friends it’s free to sign up here. I want to know what you think, what we should add, and what you want to read, so send me feedback by email or on Twitter @ScottLauber. Thank you for reading.

— Scott Lauber (extrainnings@philly.com)

After the Phillies parted with their top prospect in the trade for J.T. Realmuto, and especially after they signed Bryce Harper for $330 million, the presumption among rival team officials was that they would finally take the plunge for either Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel.

No need, Phillies folks said. Their pitching was too deep, thank you very much, to dole out big bucks for a former Cy Young Award-winning lefty or one of the all-time best closers.

Five games — more specifically, one tough-to-swallow walkoff loss — aren’t nearly enough to change the minds of the Phillies’ top decision-makers. They will keep rolling with what they have, and they should. With an offense that can outslug most mistakes, they can afford to let their pitchers pitch for a while before deciding if upgrades are required.

But after watching David Robertson give up one hit and three walks without recording an out in the ninth inning yesterday, his third consecutive rocky outing, it was difficult not to wonder if the Phillies would be well-served to check back in on Kimbrel, whose best offer right now appears to be an invitation to attend the Red Sox’s ring ceremony next week at Fenway Park.

Kimbrel, who will turn 31 in May, reportedly went into the offseason looking for at least $100 million. And while he clearly won’t get a contract of that magnitude, he could still aim to beat Wade Davis’ $17.33 million annual salary, the record for a reliever. At that price, the Phillies almost certainly would pass in favor of preserving the flexibility to make a move before the July 31 trade deadline.

But what if Kimbrel were willing to sign a one-year deal for, say, $13 million, his 2018 salary? Many of his numbers declined last year, but he’s also two years removed from having one of the best seasons ever for a closer, posting a 1.43 ERA and 16.4 strikeouts per nine innings for the Red Sox.

And then there’s this: Kimbrel hasn’t allowed a run in 18 career innings at Citizens Bank Park.

By signing Kimbrel, the Phillies could slide Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez, Hector Neris, Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter into the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, shortening games even further and potentially decreasing the burden on their starters.

But Kimbrel is strictly a one-inning closer. He’s most comfortable in the ninth inning. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler prefers deploying his relievers based on matchups rather than setting roles. Robertson and other versatile relievers seemingly fit with Kapler’s philosophy better than conventional closers.

“I saw our bullpen as a strength coming into spring training, and I saw our bullpen as a strength when we left spring training, and I see our bullpen as a strength now,” Kapler said Wednesday. “I just don’t think we’ve had our best games yet as a 'pen.”

All of those things are true. And yet Kimbrel is still available, which will be worth noting until the Phillies prove they really don’t need him.

The Phillies expect Robertson to be one of their most reliable relievers, as Matt Breen writes. Instead, through three appearances, "I’ve been [stinking] out there, that’s for sure,” Robertson said. The problem: Cutter and curveball command, according to Kapler.

Getaway day? More like giveaway day, Bob Brookover writes. Rhys Hoskins’ eighth-inning error was particularly costly.

If the minors are your thing, don’t miss Marc Narducci’s preview of the Phillies’ farm clubs. I’ll have my eye on low-A Lakewood, where 18-year-old prospect Luis Garcia will be at shortstop and 2018 first-round pick Alec Bohm will play third base.

In case you missed it, Phillies play-by-play man Tom McCarthy was critical of Nationals fans for their reception of Harper, as Rob Tornoe writes.

No Phillies game tonight, so do yourself a favor and curl up with Bob Brookover’s piece on Harper’s journey from Vegas to Philly. It’ll be worth it. Trust me.

Today: Off day for Phillies.

Friday: Nick Pivetta vs. Twins’ Jake Odorizzi at Citizens Bank Park, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: Jake Arrieta makes his second start of the season, 2:05 p.m.

Sunday: Phillies take on Twins ace Jose Berrios in series finale, 1:05 p.m.

Monday: Vince Velasquez faces Nationals in his first start of season, 7:05 p.m.

Nola gave up six runs, all earned, in three innings Wednesday, and we would chalk it up as “just one of those starts” except that the Phillies ace almost never has starts like that.

You have to go back to Sept. 2, 2017, a 10-9 loss at Marlins Park, for the last time Nola allowed more than four runs in a game. That was 39 starts ago. To put Nola’s run into context, consider this: In the last 50 years, the only starting pitchers with longer streaks of allowing no more than four runs in a start were Kyle Hendricks (48 starts), Jim Deshaies (41), Tommy Greene (40), and Corey Kluber, Jake Arrieta, Jake Peavy, Bob Forsch and Denny Lemaster (39 apiece).

The longest such streak ever, in case you’re wondering: Ed Walsh, who went 61 consecutive starts without giving up more than four runs for the White Sox from 1908-10.

Send questions by email or on Twitter @ScottLauber.

Question: I know Kapler is talking about a more consistent lineup this year. What do you think about simply flipping [Cesar] Hernandez and [Maikel] Franco? Since Franco is so hot right now, it should get him some more pitches to look at instead of the consistent intentional walks he’s been getting.

-- Bob, via e-mail

Answer: It’s certainly possible that, in time, Franco will move up in the order, especially if he keeps driving in runs. But Kapler has liked him in the No. 8 spot since last season, and the numbers support keeping him there.

Nobody, including Franco, can explain why he’s 20-for-54 (.370) with a 1.185 OPS while batting eighth over the past two seasons. The guess here is that batting in front of the pitcher forces him to be aggressive when he does get a pitch he can handle. Regardless, the Phillies aren’t rushing to mess with a good thing when it comes to Franco, a player whose abilities they have been trying to unlock for several years.