Phils’ Eflin heads to bullpen, determined to rebuild his game
PHILADELPHIA >> The continuing retreat of Zach Eflin from All-Star candidate to struggling starter made one more turn Tuesday: To the bullpen.
With the Phillies having traded for lefthanded starter Jason Vargas, and Eflin having sputtered in his last eight starts, the right-hander was reassigned to a role as something of a backup starter.
Aware that Jake Arrieta has a bone spur in his right elbow and that Vince Velasquez traditionally has had trouble getting past the fifth inning, Eflin effectively will be on longrelief call for the games they are scheduled to start. Yet Gabe Kapler also reserved the option to use Eflin in relief of other starters, too.
“One of the things that we’re potentially excited about is seeing Eflin in a role where he could take down several righties in a row and utilize his good fastball-slider combination among his other offerings to be effective out of the pen,” Kapler said before a game against the San Francisco Giants. “I don’t think we have to make any long-term declarations on this front, just take this first step of having him available tonight and potentially the next two days.”
Velasquez (3-5, 4.46 ERA) will pitch Wednesday night at 7:05 against Jeff Samardzija (7-8, 3.95). Arrieta will start Thursday afternoon at 1:05. Eflin promised to be ready.
“I still believe wholeheartedly that I’m a starter,” Eflin said. “But if that’s what the team needs, I’m going to be there for them.”
Eflin’s rapid decline after a strong start has become troublesome as the Phillies continue to try and concoct a workable rotation. As a winning pitcher in three consecutive starts earlier this season, Eflin provided two complete games, including a shutout of the Kansas City Royals. After his first 10 starts, his ERA was 2.76.
But Eflin has lost his last four decisions, and six of his last seven, including a 10-run (six earned) disaster in 2.2 innings in his last start, a 15-7 loss to Atlanta. During the struggle, he has said his body felt “heavy,” though the Phillies have insisted there is nothing physically wrong with the 25-yearold, fourth-year pitcher.
Though the Phillies are not ruling out Eflin’s return to the rotation, they are willing to try the bullpen route for a while.
“In order to be a successful major league pitcher, you have to be focused on the step right in front of you,” Kapler said. “So the step right in front of Zach is becoming more consistent again, like he was, with his command. That command will play well out of the bullpen.”
Eflin was scheduled to loosen Tuesday, but he adjusted his workout to throw off flat ground in the bullpen.
“It’s ultimately not my decision,” he said. “If I don’t like it, I should pitch better. I hadn’t really been doing my job. Going to the bullpen is another opportunity for me. It’s a challenge. I’m a fan of challenges. Go down there and be the best version of myself I can be. Like I said, I wholeheartedly believe I’m a starter.”
Despite a history of injury, Eflin does not believe he has a physical issue. Rather, he has tried to make some adjustments in his footwork and delivery.
“There’s been a couple of things that perhaps should stay in-house,” he said. “But for the most part I started inching over on the rubber a little bit. I’ve been exposing the ball a little bit, kind of flying open. I think moving back to the right side of the rubber and staying closed and trusting and doing my dry work and everything I need to do to keep my mechanics in tune is going to be beneficial.”
••• Continuing to tweak their bullpen, the Phils have signed Blake Parker to a majorleague contract. The right-hander was recently designated for assignment by the Twins.
Parker, 34, has major-league experience with the Cubs, Mariners, Yankees, Angels and Twins. He was 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA when he was dismissed by Minnesota. He’d struck out 34 and walked 19 in 36.1 innings. He is
9-9 in his seven-year career.
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Acquired from the Mets Monday, Vargas will take his time reporting to the Phillies. Kapler doesn’t expect to see him until “late” Thursday, likely after the afternoon game with the Giants.
The left-hander, who earlier this season drew headlines after a clubhouse confrontation with a Mets beat writer, will start Friday night at 7:05 against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
“He gives us depth,” Kapler said. “He gives us stability and a guy who has been extremely competitive over a really long period of time. The other thing that stands out is that we’ve done a lot of homework on the character and the make-up, understanding that whoever we bring into this room, we would like them to be able to make an impact outside the lines.
“We have had really, really outstanding teammate reports on Jason about his competitiveness, about how much he cares, about how professional he is, and about what he brings to a clubhouse and his teammates.”
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Jerad Eickhoff, out since June 17 with elbow tendinitis, may yet be available this season.
“Right now he is getting ready to go on a rehab assignment,” Kapler said. “He had a live BP session that went really, really well. So the answer to that question is, ‘We’ll see.’”