18 New York Yankees (Cessa) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Eflin)

tom81 2018-06-28 10:05:58 UTC #81

That was a huge game for the Phillies last night, a real confidence builder and also highlighted the need for another bat, or two, in the lineup. After Santana’s spot in the lineup it really gets shaky. Eflin has really stepped up and this from Gelb highlights it: “The Phillies won all five June games started by Eflin. They were against the Cubs, Brewers (twice), Nationals and Yankees. Three of those wins stopped three-game losing streaks.”

We have a fun team to watch again! I hope Klentak is bold and reinforces this team this year!

EastFallowfield 2018-06-28 15:05:20 UTC #82

Reading how the Yankees 'bullied' the Phils in the previous two games, maybe it felt like it in game 2 but game 1 was certainly winnable. Sure, they scored twice as many runs off Adam Morgan as Phils did against Aroldis Chapman, but you'd kinda expect that based on the two pitcher's careers. Now, the losses to the Brewers, that was some bullying.

California_Dreamin 2018-06-28 15:11:24 UTC #83

EF...I agree. I was hoping for 1 of 3 since A] the Yankees look like the best team in baseball and B] came in on a 3 game losing streak and were due to start winning. If the Phils can go 2-2 against the Nats, finishing off a 5-5 run during this brutal 10 game Bataan Death March, I will be more than satisfied.

Of course, if the Phils win the first 2 games of the Nat series.......

Austinfan 2018-06-28 16:00:54 UTC #84

ITYS about Eflin, when I saw his new body after knee surgery and working out, I knew he was going to be much better than people were projecting. However, I thought it would take this season for him to get his mechanics down with his new body, not two months.

I doubt we trade for any SP, with Nola, Eflin, Pivetta, Velasquez as your big 4, Arrieta as your #5, De Los Santos, Irvin, Lively and Anderson pitching well in AAA, Eickhoff coming off the DL, we have too many SPs.

zambonir 2018-06-28 17:17:10 UTC #85

I agree SP seems like the least-important area to address.

It wasn't a bullying but it never really felt like the Phillies had a chance to win Game 1, against the starter or the bullpen. Last night the broadcast mentioned the Yankees had an ERA of just over 2 for the entire month of June. If Morgan hadn't given up the extra runs that game probably would have ended 2-1 (though it would have been nice to find out).