When we think about the Phillies starting rotation for 2019, we think about an ace at the top, a grizzled veteran in the No. 2 spot and three young arms with outstanding stuff but a questionable ability to harness it in a way that will make them effective. And of those three young arms, the one fans seem to have the least confidence in is Vince Velasquez.
It’s understandable. After the incredible 16-strikeout, three-hit shutout in his second career start in a Phils uniform, Velasquez has been uneven. In 69 career starts with the Phillies, he has a 19-25 record with a 4.