Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels scratched due to illness, Tyler Cloyd to make debut
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Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels scratched due to illness, Tyler Cloyd to make debut
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Tyler Cloyd, named the International League's best pitcher a day ago, will make his major-league debut Wednesday only because of an illness to Cole Hamels.
The Phillies announced Hamels will not start as scheduled because of a gastrointestinal illness. Replacing him is Cloyd, who was slated to pitch at triple-A Lehigh Valley. Instead, he will face the New York Mets.
Cloyd, 12-1 with a 2.35 ERA, has become a cause celebre for a fan base craving any sort of drama in the final weeks of a lost season. While posting gaudy numbers in the minors, his rise has been met with skepticism by many scouts because Cloyd rarely throws harder than 90 m.p.h.
Cloyd's strikeout numbers have dropped considerably in 2012 even as his success multiplies. That suggests a great deal of luck. The theory will be tested at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday.
An 18th-round pick in 2008, Cloyd was hardly on the radar screen entering the season. The 25-year-old righty was supposed to pitch for double-A Reading but started opening day for Lehigh Valley because of a last-minute suspension to another pitcher.
All he did was toss six no-hit innings with eight strikeouts.
It was the beginning of a charmed season for Cloyd, who finally has a chance to prove his doubters wrong.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
If Greg Maddux was being scouted today with his slow but pinpoint stuff, would he even be drafted? Too much emphasis on speed.— BigAfromBucks- Hamels has a case of the runs and misses a start..........Worley's elbow has a case of the runs all year and he's kept in the rotation. SMH.— FurlongPhilly
- Who knows? He could be the next Greg Maddux who never really threw hard.— Eddieboy
Anybody remember Lowell Palmer or Billy Champion?We shall see.- maybe howard can get the sh*ts and they'll bring ruf up!— Ryne Duren
- Cole's got the runs ?
— t4tuck - Asking whether Cloyd should be in a Phillies uniform next year on the day of his major league debut is the stupidest question anyone could ever ask.— lake
- jamie moyer has won more than 250 games and he doesnt throw more then 60 mph— stayoutofphilly
- Just to correct a few things... Nolan Ryan was 2-2 with a 3.07 ERA in the postseason. He really didn't have many appearances. Greg Maddux was 11-14 with a 3.27 ERA. That being said, perhaps the best postseason pitchers of the last 20 years, Schilling and Smoltz are both power pitchers.— SweetsErik
- Luck? It sounds like he throws the ball where he is trying to throw it when you hear Sandberg tell it. That is sometimes called "pitching" and there is nothing wrong with it.— Paul SoTX
- no doubt he has the ability the first start in the majors is all about confidence and keeping the adrenilin down. Good luck with Chuckles and Dopey Dubbe trying to help him.— rtiannelli
- Cole must have swallowed his wallet.— tellitso
