Mick Abel gives the Phillies some stability amid the chaos in Toronto

New York Times

2 days ago

TORONTO — By the end of it, there was chaos everywhere — concern for J.T. Realmuto after taking a foul ball to his groin, further consternation about Jordan Romano's place in all of this, and lament for a failed bases-loaded opportunity in the middle of the game. And, in the corner of the visitors clubhouse at Rogers Centre after a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Mick Abel represented something stable for the Phillies.
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No pitcher in 125 years of Major League Baseball had begun his career with two starts that consisted of at least five innings, no walks and one or zero runs allowed. Abel did it. He did not throw with the massive adrenaline bump he experienced during his big-league debut last month. But he pitched into the sixth.
'I wouldn't say I had my greatest stuff today,' Abel said. 'I didn't have my A-plus stuff today. So, going as long as I did and feeling how I did, I think I did a pretty good job.'
That was something; the Phillies needed something because there was too much to digest. Realmuto was in serious pain during the ninth inning and had to leave. The team did not provide any updates on the severity of Realmuto's injury; the catcher was seen gingerly walking in the clubhouse afterward.
The delay only intensified the ninth-inning drama. Jeff Hoffman, who went from the Phillies to the Blue Jays in the offseason, earned the win by getting the final out in the top of the ninth. Romano, the native Canadian son jettisoned by the Blue Jays, took the loss for the Phillies when Alejandro Kirk crushed a 97 mph fastball off the wall for a run-scoring single.
Romano, who had spent more than 30 minutes before Wednesday's game acknowledging various Blue Jays fans who welcomed him back, hunched over on the mound. He put his hands on his knees as his former Toronto teammates celebrated on the infield.
It was too poetic.
'Definitely a lot of emotion coming here,' Romano said. 'Got on the mound focused. I felt good. Stuff felt good. Obviously, not good enough.'
Without his best stuff, Abel survived. He is here to stay — perhaps longer than expected. The Phillies created a rotation opening by shifting Taijuan Walker to the bullpen. Abel will have a spot so long as Aaron Nola is sidelined, and there is a chance Nola's absence will be extended.
The Phillies paused plans for Nola to throw a live session to hitters Thursday afternoon at Rogers Centre because he felt soreness in his right side. 'Very mild,' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. Nola described the decision to halt his throwing program as 'precautionary' and did not express much concern.
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But he is going to need more time. Nola said his injured right ankle is feeling much better. But he's also been sick; an illness has spread through the clubhouse.
Nola could need two minor-league rehab outings whenever he reaches that point in his recovery. That means more runway for Abel.
'I think it's the same thing,' Abel said. 'My job is to go out there and pitch every fifth day. And if that changes, that changes. I'm going to do the same thing every day throughout the week in order to prepare for those starts. Mentally, I think I'm in a really good spot right now. Not trying to ride the highs too high or really lull in the lulls. It's just trying to stay neutral the whole time.'
Abel pitched Wednesday on four days' rest, only the second time in his professional career he has done that. The Phillies planned for him to have an extra day, but Zack Wheeler left the team to be with his wife, who is expecting this week. The team is unsure when Wheeler will make his next start; if he's not ready by Saturday, they will have to do a bullpen game.
Knowing that Abel was in uncharted water, the Phillies did not plan to push him. But he kept throwing strikes; he fired first-pitch ones to 13 of the 19 batters he faced. Abel has yet to walk a batter in the majors. His 11 1/3 innings without a walk are the longest to begin a Phillies career since Carlton Loewer went 12 walkless innings in 1998.
He began the sixth inning at 66 pitches. His command wavered. He allowed a one-out single to Andrés Giménez. Thomson let Abel face Bo Bichette for a third time. Bichette worked a 3-0 count, then took a huge hack at a 92 mph sinker. Brandon Marsh could not reach it in the left-center field gap. It was a run-scoring triple — the first big-league run Abel allowed.
That ended his night.
He has shown more conviction on the mound than the Phillies could have imagined.
'It's kind of clicked for him, you know?' Thomson said. 'He's been around now for a few years, and I think he's learned a lot. He's confident in his stuff. He understands now to attack hitters and trust his stuff, and that goes a long way.'
There would have been less scrutiny on Romano in the ninth had the Phillies scored more runs. They missed a great chance in the fifth when Bryson Stott popped out and Trea Turner flied out with the bases loaded. The bullpen held — Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks preserved the tie.
If anything, the Phillies are worried about Romano having a backbreaking weakness. Opponents have stolen nine bases against him this season, already tied for Romano's season high. The Blue Jays know him well; they were going to exploit it. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had two steals since the beginning of last season, took second base on Romano despite the pitcher trying a slide-step delivery.
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He was still too slow.
'It's kind of part of Jordy's game a little bit; you can see him try to be a little bit quicker,' Toronto manager John Schneider said. 'We talked about that with him for a long time. Good job by Vlad recognizing it.'
Thomson said Romano has improved his times to the plate. 'But, still, we have ways to go here,' Thomson said. Is it something Romano can fix?
'I hope so,' Thomson said. 'Yeah.'
Quality starting pitching fixes most things. Abel's performance was not the eye-popping type from his debut, but it was just as impressive given the circumstances.
He is, for now, one less thing to stress.
'Just trying to go out there and win,' Abel said. 'It's the most important thing. I don't know if it's really a mentality shift or what. But I've felt good.'