GDT 8/26/18 Philadelphia Phillies (Velasquez) @ Toronto Blue Jays (Estrada)

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Great chance to give Dominguez a day off.

On to pitch for the Phillies, Dominguez.

I really am puzzled by the use of Seranthony.

Not sure why they chose to use Dominguez a second day in a row, but perhaps there were some conversations after yesterday’s game about how to get him back on track. Low leverage situation today - he looked like a different pitcher. Hopefully he’s regained some confidence. He was much more aggressive out there today, wasting little time in between pitches.

[zambonir]

Clearly the internal take on Seranthony was that his usage pattern (or volume) is not the issue. At least not this week. But his days of rest and over-25 pitches numbers do seem to tell the story. Since using him today guarantees he won't pitch tomorrow I reckon that means they've already decided to keep him out of higher-leverage situations for a little while.

Would have been really rough to lose this one with the Braves winning too. Whew.

[EDmuch]

Any good relievers on waivers ?? I think we are now in a good position to claim one if they are available.

[andyb]

I guess there is a possibility they claim a reliever. There are 40-man rosters issues of course. I wonder how the scouts feel about how Eickhoff is pitching. The results are certainly good. I wonder if they do a little tandem start strategy with Eickhoff in September to keep the pitchers on rotation but also have the starters only go through a lineup twice.

[DurhamBull]

Had 'em all the way, Harry! At least they avoid sweeps on the trip?

Do we have an “at least they avoided the sweep “ emoji?

[zambonir]

This is the same bullpen that excelled for all of July, when Hunter started levelling off and Neshek came back. And they've acquired two relievers since then (while also punting on Curtis and Milner because they liked Davis and Loup). Just seems unlikely someone will come available easily who's actually worth the combination of who he'd replace, who he'd knock off the 40 (even if it's the same guy) and what you might give up. Especially with Eickhoff and Florimon in the mix. It's just gotta be someone else's turn to pick up Arano and Seranthony (i.e. Garcia, Ramos or Neris) regardless of role/inning.

And you've got De Los Santos and Suaraz coming available (Irvin too but you'd have to get him on the roster as well).

[Austinfan]

Took Velasquez out after 84 pitches and a big lead, tells me Kapler is getting concerned about the innings mounting up for his young pitchers who aren't used to the workload. In a few days he'll have extra pitchers, and with tomorrow off he can move everyone back a day and give them that extra day off.

Won't surprise me with a deeper bullpen in September if he limits all three young pitchers to 85-90 pitches and even cuts back with Nola, who is going way past his career high in IP.

[zambonir]

There's a game tomorrow, don't miss it! (Thursday off though).

[Austinfan]

Silly me, didn't look, usually the day off is a travel day.
But the point is the same, the IP are piling up on arms not used to the workload.
Same with Ramos, have to baby him through the next month, which will be easier when Knapp returns (you can take him in late innings).

[LoneStarPhan]

Knapp was recalled 8/23/2018.

[Austinfan]

I need a scorecard with Kapler and Klentak juggling the lineups.
Everytime I look up, 3 players are coming and 3 players are going.

[LoneStarPhan]

Only 5 days until they can start to add the other 15 players from the 40 man roster to the active roster.

I'm looking for Kapler to use 35 players in a game before the end of the season.

[andyb]

Set your DVRs to record for 5 hours and start watching the game an hour after it starts.