The Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen has been a major sore spot all season, and after a four-game skid capped off by a sweep from the New York Mets, frustration in Philly is hitting a boiling point.
On a recent episode of The Phillies Show, former Chicago Cubs standout, MLB Network analyst, and Team USA manager Mark DeRosa gave his take on the Phillies’ bullpen struggles so far.
Bullpen Blues Are Haunting the Philadelphia Phillies Again
Mark DeRosa, who played 16 years in the majors and understands the pressure of a playoff push, made it clear what he thinks of the Philadelphia Phillies’ pitching department. He said on Friday, April 25, “I do think they need to figure out and make some decisions on you know, bullpen and how that’s deployed. I mean like yesterday, I saw [Jose] Alvarado come in the eighth and I was like, “Oh that’s interesting he’s using that bullet here.”
The Phillies collapsed against the New York Mets on Wednesday, April 23, where the bullpen gave up a lead and lost the game 4-3, as a moment that can seriously rattle a team’s confidence and put everyone under the microscope.
“There was two righties coming up, I think [Pete] Alonso let off the inning. It was like Alonso, [Brandon] Nimmo, and [Mark] Vientos, I’m like, “That’s an interesting move he’s running that out right now,” DeRosa added.
Through the first month of the 2025 season, the Phillies’ bullpen ranks 29th in ERA with a 5.46. Their big offseason pickup, Jordan Romano, has struggled badly in 11 games with a 13.50 ERA, and guys like Orion Kerkering and Joe Ross haven’t done much to hold leads either.
Overall, this group has given up the most hits and is among the worst in earned runs and home runs allowed from the seventh inning on. Late-inning meltdowns are starting to feel like a pattern.
“I think they are still one of the better teams in the National League, I do believe that. I think the starters separate them, right?” The 50-year-old said. “[Zack] Wheeler’s usually win day, [Aaron] Nola will get going, [Jesus] Luzardo’s been a revelation for you guys and hopefully [Cristopher] Sanchez, its not a big deal with the forearm and he can kind of resume because if you put him and Ranger back in there, I mean I can make the argument that’s the best five in the National League.”
The Phillies’ struggles also showed in the latest power rankings from ESPN, which saw the Phillies slide to No. 8 in MLB, down from No. 5 in the previous edition.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle weighed in on what’s dragging the Phillies down, and looks like it’s a familiar story for the franchise.
“President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been able to cobble together contention-worthy bullpens for the most part during his time with the Phillies, but his wizardry in that area has been tested early,” Doolittle wrote. “The Phillies have gotten solid enough work from the trio of Jose Alvarado, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks, but pretty much every other reliever has struggled.”
In fact, the Phillies have already started transitioning pitching prospect Seth Johnson into a bullpen role down in Triple-A, which shows they’re looking for help from within. But they need answers now, not months from now.
As per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Johnson will make the switch from starting games to being a part of the IronPigs bullpen.
When the Phillies traded for Johnson from the Baltimore Orioles last summer, he was seen as a possible back-end starter. He even made his MLB debut last September, though it was a rough outing that didn’t leave much of an impression. After four starts with Lehigh Valley this season, the Phillies now think his upper-90s fastball might play better in a bullpen role.
Johnson tossed two scoreless innings in relief on Tuesday, April 22, striking out two and walking two, which brought his ERA down to 3.98. He’s now got 24 strikeouts over 20 and a third innings, but with 13 walks in that span, tightening up his command will be important if he’s going to stick in the bullpen.
Right now, the bullpen is a real problem. And if something doesn’t change fast, it might end up being the defining story of the Phillies’ 2025 campaign.
That said, the Phillies are 14-13 after defeating the Chicago Cubs 10-4 on Saturday, April 26. They sit in the second position in the NL East, behind the Mets, who hold a comfortable lead.