A whole lot to be excited about.

Lehigh Valley

Mark Appel, 24, Acquired from Houston in 2015; 7 starts; 3-2 with a 3.58ERA; 37.2IP 36H 18BB 34K; .250 opp avg; 1.43 WHIO; 0.97 GO/AO; 4.3BB/8.1K per 9; .220 vs LHH, .271 vs RHH, .258 opp avg in May; Appel has thrown generally well however his control has been the demon that has really gotten him into trouble at times.

Alec Asher, 24, Acquired from Texas in 2015; 8 starts between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 4-2 with a 2.30ERA: 54.2IP 39H 7BB 35K; .193 opp avg; 0.84WHIP; 1.18 GO/AO; 1.2BB/5.8K per 9; For Lehigh Valley: 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and .144 opp avg in 4 starts; After the disappointment of having been sent to AA to start the year, Asher has been consistently excellent for both Reading and Lehigh Valley.

David Buchanan, 27, Phils 7th round pick in 2010; 7 starts; 2-2 with a 3.92ERA; 43.2IP 46H 7BB 18K; .274 opp avg; 1.21 WHIP; 1.40 GO/AO; 1.4BB/3.7K per 9; .302 vs LHH, .257 vs RHH, .275 opp avg in May; .250 opp avg with RISP.  Buchanan is a serviceable AAA starter but really doesn’t have the “stuff” right now for any more than that.

Zach Eflin, 22, Acquired from Padres in 2014; 7 starts, 5-0 with a 2.36ERA; 45.2IP 30H 7BB 39K; .185 opp avg; 0.81 GO/AO; 1.04 GO/AO; 1.4BB/7.7K per 9; .190 vs LHH, .182 vs RHH, .185 opp avg in May; Eflin has been outstanding through the first six weeks of the season and has played himself in a position as a potential call up should Adam Morgan continue to struggle.

Jake Thompson, 22, Acquired from Texas in 2015; 7 starts; 2-4 with a 3.32ERA; 38IP 33H 13BB 30K; .237 opp avg; 1.21 WHIP; 0.98 GO/AO; 3.1BB/7.1K per 9; .229 vs LHH, .242 vs RHH, .169 opp avg in May; A very slow start for Thompson, which he has overcome in his last 3 starts, yielding 1 ER in 19IP spanning those starts.

Reading

Ben Lively, 24, Acquired from Cincinnati in 2014; 8 starts, 6-0 with a 1.53ERA; 47IP 31H 14BB 46K; .185 opp avg; 0.96 WHIP; 0.84 GO/AO; 2.7BB/8.8K per 9; .174 vs LHH, .195 vs RHH, .177 opp avg in May; Lively has been as good as any pitcher in the organization through 8 starts.  Look for a call to Lehigh Valley over the next month. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching →