Phillies shuffle rotation order for road trip
PHILADELPHIA – Ahead of a three-game series against the Astros in Houston, the Phillies are tweaking the starting rotation order.
Zack Wheeler, who pitched five innings in Friday night’s win against the Mets, will make his next start on regular rest on Wednesday. The Phillies are also looking to break up the three lefties, Jesús Luzardo, Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez. Luzardo, Suárez and Sánchez all started in back-to-back-to-back games during the Miami series.
All Phillies starters, with the exception of Wheeler, would be pitching on at least one day of extra rest. Sánchez, who became the first Phillies pitcher to throw eight innings in an outing, will get two extra days of rest as opposed to one. His next scheduled start is Thursday in Houston.
After allowing four solo home runs to the Mets in Saturday’s 11-4 loss, Abel will look to bounce back against the Braves in Atlanta on June 27.
The Phillies could use some length out of starter Jesús Luzardo on Sunday night. He did not have his best command in his last outing, an 8-3 loss over the Marlins in his hometown of Miami. He walked a season-high four batters and allowed four earned runs.
Luzardo’s best starts have come against two of the better lineups in the National League. In three starts against the Dodgers and Cubs (twice), he has struck out a combined 23 batters over 19 innings while only allowing one earned run across all three outings.
The Phillies are hoping for a repeat.
Here’s how the rotation lines up for the upcoming road trip:
- June 24 at HOU: LHP Ranger Suárez
- June 25 at HOU: RHP Zack Wheeler
- June 26 at HOU: LHP Cristopher Sánchez
- June 27 at ATL: RHP Mick Abel
- June 28 at ATL: LHP Jesús Luzardo
- June 29 at ATL: LHP Ranger Suárez