A first look at how starters are performing around the organization.  Next report will be the catchers, late this week.

Lehigh Valley

Adam Morgan, 23, Phils 3rd round pick in 2011; 7 starts; 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA; 38.1IP 37H 12BB 28K; 5HR allowed; 0.75 GO/AO; .253 opp avg.; 2.8BB/6.6K per 9; .212 vs. LH, .265 vs. RH, .243 with RISP; 7.91 ERA in last 4 starts. Morgan started well but has been simply bad in his last four outings.  The home run ball has really hurt him.

Ethan Martin, 23, Acquired from Dodgers in 2012; 7 starts; 3-2 with a 5.77 ERA; 34.1IP 29H 23BB 34K; 1.10 GO/AO; .228 opp. avg., 6.0BB/9.0K per nine; 1.66 WHIP; 3 HR allowed; .310 vs. LH; .159 vs. RH, .281 with RISP.  Martin has looked very good in his last two starts, but he still struggles to throw strikes consistently. My prediction: by this time next year, he will have been moved to the back end of the bullpen.

Tom Cochran, 30, Signed as a free agent in 2012; 5 starts between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 0-4 with a 4.64 ERA; 21.1IP 26H 9BB 12K; 1.64 WHIP; 3.8BB/5.1K per nine; 0.62 GO/AO; .313 opp avg., Cochran has not been very good after spending the first three weeks of the season in Extended Spring Training. I would expect the minor league veteran to improve with time, as he did last year.

BJ Rosenberg, 27, Phils 13th round pick in 2008; 7 starts; 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA; 37.2IP 37H 20BB 24K; 1.23 GO/AO; .265 opp. avg., 1.51 WHIP; 4.8BB/5.7K per nine; 3 HR allowed; Rosenberg had really struggled this year prior to an excellent outing on Sunday during which he threw seven shutout innings.  Rosenberg has talent, but the Phils have had a hard time figuring out if the rotation or bullpen is the best place to attempt to get the most of it.

Tyler CLoyd, 26, Phils 18th round pick in 2008; 7 starts including one major league start; 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA; 41.1IP 42H 15BB 36K; 1.37 WHIP; 3.2BB/7.9K per 9; 0.80 GO/AO; .275 opp. avg., AFter early season troubles, Cloyd has really picked it up an earned himself a call up for last Fridays start against Arizona and pitched well.  He is likely to be back up when the Phils need a 5th starter the week after next.

Reading

Jesse Biddle, 21, Phils 1st round pick in 2010; 7 starts; 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA; 36.2IP 16H 18BB 45K; 2 HR allowed; 0.89 GO/AO; .128 opp. avg., 0.96 WHIP; 4.4BB/11.0K per nine; .048 vs. LH; .144 vs. RH, .217 with RISP.  Ok, opponents are hitting .128 against him for gods sake. Biddle has been outstanding other than his last two starts when he had been suffering from a significant respiratory infection.  The lone complaint is a walk rate that is slightly high but dominant is an understatement for his performance thus far.

Seth Rosin, 24, Acquired from San Francisco in 2012; 7 starts; 1-3 with a 3.20 ERA; 39.1 IP 37H 5BB 28K; 0.81 GO/AO; .247 opp. avg., 6 HR allowed; 1.1 BB/6.4K per 9; .194 vs. LH, ..289 vs. RH, .359 with RISP; Rosin will have alot of success if he maintains the type of control he has shown early this year.  I have seen Rosin a couple of times and like the way he pitches. the down side: the HR ball.

David Buchanan, 24, Phils 7th round pick in 2010; 7 starts; 1-4 with a 6.46 ERA; 39IP 52H 14BB 21K; 1.02 GO/AO; .333 opp. avg., 1.69 WHIP; 3.2BB/4.8K per nine; 4 HR allowed; .333 vs. LH, .333 vs. RH, .347 with RISP. Buchanan simply hasnt been the same pitcher since he injured himself last year.  Very hittable, and he just cant put the batter away the way he did in early 2012.  Still injured?

Hector Neris, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2009; 10 games (5 starts); 3-1 with a 3.71 ERA; 34IP 30H 12BB 28K;  5HR allowed; 1.00 GO/AO; .245 opp. avg., 1.23 WHIP; 3.2BB/7.4K per 9. .295 vs. LH, .212 vs. RH, .192 with RISP. Neris has been a nice surprise since being placed into the rotation because of injuries.  At this stage, he is likely in the rotation to stay.

Greg SMith, 29, Signed as a free agent in 2013; 2 starts; 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Smith has been around the block in the majors and will ultimately be a help to a Reading rotation bereft with injury.

Brody Colvin, 22, Phils 7th round pick in 2009; 3 starts; 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA.  The disappointment that is Brody Colvin continues.  After a miserable 2012, Colvin had a decent start, injured himself, came off the DL for 2 innings and reinjured  himself. Currently on the DL with continued groin issues.

Austin Wright, 23, Phils 8th round pick in 2011; 2 starts; 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. Wright was placed on the DL with arm issues after 2 starts where he had zero control, walking 11 in 9 innings. On the DL for a full month now, Wright is in CLearwater rehabbing. 

Clearwater

Perci Garner, 24, Phils 2nd round pick in 2010; 7 starts; 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA; 42IP 38H 16BB 34K; 2HR allowed; 2.55 GO/AO; .259 opp. avg., 1.28 WHIP; 3.4BB/7.3K per 9; .214 vs. LH, .280 vs. RH, .195 with RISP. Garner has pitched very well and is a prime candidate to move quickly this year after spending all of last year at CLearwater.  The Phils will need to make a 40 man decision on him after this year, so I expect to see him in Reading come July, if not sooner.

Nick Hernandez, 24, Phils 12th round pick in 2009; 7 starts; 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA; 36IP 35H 15BB 42K; 6HR allowed; 0.74 GO/AO; .263 opp. avg; 1.38 WHIP; 3.8BB/10.5K per nine; .143 vs. LH, .286 vs. RH, .258 with RISP. AFter not having pitched for two full seasons, you have to be pleased with the progress of Hernandez this year. He has struggled at times, but dominated the competition during others.

Hoby Milner, 22, Phila 7th round pick in 2012; 7 starts; 4-2 with a 4.54 ERA; 33.2IP 39H 8BB 36K; 4HR allowed; 0.65 GO/AO; .300 opp. avg.; 1.39 WHIP; 2.1BB/9.6K per nine; .100 vs. LH, .360 vs. RH, .406 with RISP. Some startling lefty/righty splits for Milner who really struggled in April and has come on with a few nice starts in May. A University of Texas product, Milner should be having success at High A.

Ethan Stewart, 22, Phils 47th round pick in 2010; 7 starts; 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA; 28.1IP 35H 33BB 18K; 0.76 GO/AO; .315 opp. avg., 2.42 WHIP; 10.5BB/5.7K per nine; .318 vs. LH, .315 vs. RH, .304 with RISP.  I cant imagine a line much worse that Stewart’s after 7 starts. Ten and a half walks per nine innings? 

Gabrial Arias, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2007; 9 games (4 starts); 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA; 36IP 33H 9BB 27K; 0.67 GO/AO; .254 opp. avg., 1 HR allowed; 1.16 WHIP; 2.2BB/6.8K per 9; .237 vs. LH, .261 vs. RH, .226 with RISP, 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA as a starter. Arias moved into the rotation after Kleven went on the DL and has been outstanding and forcing people to begin noticing him.  He will be very difficult to move out of the rotation based on the way he has pitched.

Colin Kleven, 22, Phils 33rd round pick in 2009; 3 starts; 0-3 with a 14.29ERA. AFter three awful starts where Kleven gave up 21 hits in 11 plus innings of work, Kleven was placed on the DL, clearly injured.  He has now missed close to a month after a very consistent 2012 in Lakewood.

Lakewood

Nick Hanson, 21; 8 games (2 starts); 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA; 26.2IP 27H 9BB 24K; 1HR allowed; 1.04 GO/AO; .265 opp. avg; 1.35 WHIP; 3.0BB/8.1K; .324 vs. LH, .231 vs. RH, .323 with RISP.  Hanson just joined the rotation and has thrown 11 shutout innings since becoming part of it.

Yoel Mecias, 19,7 games(5 starts); 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA; 28.1IP 27H 14BB 31K; 1.32 GO/AO; .246 opp. avg., 1.44 WHIP; 4.4BB/9.8K per 9; Mecias, just 19 has shown some promise and has very good stuff.  It is about learning to pitch for the youngster.

Shane Watson, 19, Phils 1st round pick in 2012; 7 starts; 1-3 with a 6.19ERA; 32IP 32H 13BB 20K; 6HR allowed; 1.55 GO/AO; .262 opp. avg., 1.41WHIP; 3.6BB/5.6K per nine; .238 vs. LH, .275 vs. RH, .276 with RISP. Watson has had an excellent start or two to show he is capable but beyond that fairly consistent poor performances. The home run ball has really hurt him and Watson has not gone more than 5 innings in over a month.

Lino Martinez, 20; 1 start; 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA; Martinez was just activated last week and his first start of the year was a lackluster effort.