19 Philadelphia Phillies (Velasquez) @ New York Mets (Vargas)

kmc1019 2019-04-25 10:25:57 UTC #121

Quick show of hands on who had Velasquez with an ERA under 2 and Nola over 6 as we approach the end of April.

andyb 2019-04-25 10:50:56 UTC #122

Things will level off with Velasquez but I could see him being in the mid-3s on ERA. He is learning how to compete out there rather than give in with men on base. His pitching record (ERA) also hides that he is our best hitting pitcher and a pretty good baserunner and fielder. I think he is better than Arrieta at the plate.

Now he just needs to pitch to contact occasionally so he can get to the 6th inning.

zambonir 2019-04-25 13:55:54 UTC #123

I never understood why Velasquez entered ST as the obvious #5 and the guy fans were most doubtful of. He's had the most chances to succeed and not taken them, but that also means he has the most experience, and last year was his first fully healthy year. His "tale of two seasons" was no worse than Pivetta's really and now we're seeing the two different extremes from each of them.

Still hoping Nola sorts it out, at this time in 2009 Hamels was just about to turn the corner, even if he didn' thave an ace-like season. But we knew that might be coming here too.

allentown 2019-04-25 14:04:27 UTC #124

And Pivetta. As long as they are healthy they should be fine. Did changing starting catchers hurt some pitchers and help others?