With Eflin and Spencer Battling Back Issues, Enter Vince Velasquez
Baseball’s most frustrating part of the season has already partly infiltrated the Phillies clubhouse, as both Zach Eflin and Spencer Howard are dealing with back issues.
For Howard, this muddies whether he’ll begin the 2021 campaign as a flamethrower coming out of the pen or back to minors. Typically, hearing back issues doesn’t sound off the panic alarm. In Eflin’s case, though, it’s a bit disconcerting when previous injuries veer their head back around and seem to have the potential to become a season-long encumbrance.
2021 Spring Training isn’t the only time back issue arose for the presumed third man in the Phils starting rotation; in fact, this is the third time now in as many seasons he’s dealing with back problems.
Last year during the revamped Spring Training, back problems presented an obstacle, and the year prior, in 2019, his back placed him on the pine for a couple of weeks. Vince Velasquez most likely would receive the promotion to the starting rotation if this issue lingers into the regular season for both Eflin and Spencer.
Usually, I wouldn’t fret much over this type of development; however, the first two weeks are all inner division play. Not just run-of-the-mill division play either, the Mets and Braves, our most formidable division competition. By the end of those two weeks, everyone besides the four and five starters will have completed three appearances.
If wise, the coaching staff will slot Vinny fifth and let Matt Moore and Chase Anderson, who’ve both shown are ready to make the most out of their opportunity in Philly, rise to three and four.
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The other angle here beyond a possible tumultuous start in division play is, as I pointed out at the top, that back issues are beginning to become synonymous with Eflin. Successful rotations can’t have a primary arm bouncing in and out a couple of weeks every so often. Durability also enters the conversation because in Eflin’s short history (see 2019), where he threw the ball arguably the best in his career throughout the first half of the season, then posted ERA’s of 11.88 and 3.77 in the last few months of the season.
Particularly in July, where some of the most critical games occur, Eflin tossed his worst stretch of games. Now he did bounce back in the months to follow, but a drop off of that significance cannot happen if the Phillies are to capitalize on their current pool of talent fully.
All in all, the Phillies have to hope these are minor issues that find a quick resolution. Joe Girardi even said that Eflin’s ability to play catch on Wednesday made him feel “pretty good” in an article by Matt Breen at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Sitting around two weeks out leaves plenty of time for Eflin to get himself right if the issue is minor, as it appears currently.
Howard, I hope, can work through his problems sooner rather than later. Still, dealing with this on top of increasing shoulder strength, the Phils can take however long they feel necessary to ensure the golden arm of the future maintains his physical health.
If baseball gods are out there, though, for all things good and holy, keep Vince Velasquez out of the starting rotation, please, and thanks.
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