19 Philadelphia Phillies (Smyly) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Agrazal)

LoneStarPhan 2019-07-21 22:10:12 UTC #101

Really a tough game to lose for either side. Thankfully, it is the Pittsburghers who have to suffer the tough loss today.

Phillies take the series in Pittsburgh and after the off day tomorrow, go into Detroit for two games. I hope we can take both.

Really good pitching today from both sides although some of the bullpen work for us late in the game gave us a pretty good scare. I don't know how Smyly will work out in future starts, but he looked pretty good today.

bkeich 2019-07-21 23:07:45 UTC #102

I thonk it is fair to say Smyly has already earned what we gave up for him.

Of course he could still bring negative value, but we are pretty much playing with house money at the moment

Austinfan 2019-07-21 23:51:16 UTC #103

Great start by Smyly, but a little strange, 90-91, then throws a half dozen at 92 in the 2nd, one at 93, back to 90-91, then 92 in the 5th, and even 94. Nice cutter and curve. Maybe he just needed time to get his arm strength back, pitchers are often erratic after TJ surgery, probably a one game fluke, but we're owed a break by the baseball Gods after Morton.

Suarez is for real, 93-94, good slider, changeup, he's pitching so well out of the pen it's hard to move him, but he was being groomed as a starter until injuries derailed him.

Kingery drew another BB as a leadoff hitter, OPB > .350 now.

andyb 2019-07-22 00:00:57 UTC #104

Perhaps the reason Suarez is pitching well is that he is pitching out of the bullpen where his stuff plays up in shorter stints. I see no reason to think he could really be a successful starter from these bullpen outings.

Smyly was good today, though the stuff was not great. Maybe we can get a first time around the league luck (the Pirates had a pretty mediocre lineup today) until we figure things out. Smyly always gave up HRs even before his surgery, so I am not buying a good 6 innings quite yet. He is a relatively fresh arm which is something to have in a hot July.

nycphils 2019-07-22 01:30:15 UTC #105

First time around the league luck is fine with me. If we can get 3-5 more good starts out of him that is a huge win.

I think Suarez’s stuff is playing up - he’s quoted as saying out of the pen he just goes 100% in short stints and doesn’t have to save energy like when he’s a starter...if he can do well in the pen just leave him there for now.