Nick Pivetta was cruising along last night until he met the fifth inning. 92 pitches later, the 4-run lead was gone and so was Pivetta. For the 18th time in 33 games, a Phillies starter failed to reach the fifth inning.
The reason the Phillies bullpen has struggled so much this season is not because of undefined roles, as both Joaquin Benoit and Pete Mackanin have both suggested. It is also not because of an overwhelming lack of talent.
The reason the Phillies bullpen is hemorrhaging runs lately is because the starters aren't pitching deep enough in ballgames.