NEWS NOW : Phillies’ Rotation Built for Glory, But Age, Injuries, and Inconsistencies Could Lead to a 2025 Nightmare

Phillies’ Rotation Built to Withstand Adversity in 2025

As the 2025 MLB season approaches, the Philadelphia Phillies enter with one of the most well-rounded starting rotations in the league. However, as history has shown, predictions only go so far—the real test begins on Opening Day.

Best-Case Scenario: A Dominant Rotation

If everything goes right, the Phillies’ rotation could be among the best in baseball. Zack Wheeler could finally secure his long-awaited Cy Young Award, Aaron Nola might overcome his inconsistency, and Ranger Suárez could regain his early 2024 form. Add in a healthy Jesús Luzardo and a continued rise from Cristopher Sánchez, and the Phillies would be in prime position for a deep postseason run.

Reality Check: Potential Challenges Ahead

However, there are concerns. Wheeler, now 35, has carried a heavy workload over the past two seasons. Nola’s performance has fluctuated year-to-year. Suárez struggled in the second half of 2024 and is already dealing with back stiffness. Sánchez saw a late-season dip in effectiveness, and Luzardo is coming off an injury-plagued year.

With every MLB team needing more than just their initial five starters, the Phillies have prepared for the inevitable. In 2024, teams used an average of nearly 13 different starters, and Philadelphia went through 12 themselves. Recognizing this, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski believes the team has built its deepest starting pitching pool yet.

Backup Plans: Reinforcements Ready to Step Up

The Phillies have several arms waiting in the wings:

• Joe Ross: A versatile veteran with starting experience.
• Andrew Painter: A highly touted prospect recovering from Tommy John surgery, expected to debut in 2025.
• Taijuan Walker: A bounce-back candidate who could contribute or serve as trade bait.
• Seth Johnson & Moises Chace: Promising young pitchers with strikeout potential.
• Mick Abel: Former first-round pick still working to refine his control.
• Jean Cabrera & Tyler Phillips: Depth options who could step in as needed.

Prepared but Cautious

While the Phillies are as well-positioned as they’ve ever been to handle injuries or underperformance, no team is immune to setbacks. As Dombrowski put it, “I’m as comfortable as you can be—but you never know if it’s going to be enough.”