Phillies' Gomez likely to lose closer's job in 2017

The Phillies season ends in less than two weeks, which makes it a great success that Jeanmar Gomez lasted this long as the team's closer. But the pitcher's luck - and his time in the closer's role - appears to be running out.

Gomez was pulled on Tuesday night after allowing three ninth-inning runs in an eventual 7-6 win over the White Sox. Manager Pete Mackanin said he is unsure if Gomez is the team's closer. But at least this makes next year's decision a little easier. There will be no qualms if the team decides to see how a pitcher like Edubray Ramos or Hector Neris handles the ninth inning.

"Maybe he is running out of gas," Mackanin said. I still see velocity and I still see stuff but he is missing location. He's up in the zone more which may indicate that he is getting tired."

It could be as simple as Gomez's luck waning. He is a pitcher who relies on contact, and en route to 30 saves, opposing hitters' batting average on balls in play was .286. They hit enough balls at Phillies defenders for Gomez to survive.

But in his last 16 games, the batting average on balls in play has skyrocketed to .412. Mackanin said Gomez has failed to keep his pitches low in the zone, which has resulted in harder contact.

The 28-year-old righthander entered the season as one of the last options to close; he had thrived before as an anonymous middle reliever. He is one of the most integral parts to the Phillies' 68 wins because he protected so many of those one-run victories early in the season.

But his recent slide could make the Phillies' decision to use someone else at closer in 2017 easier. With 10 games left in 2016, Mackanin is reluctant to make a change. He said on Wednesday that he is unsure if Gomez would handle the ninth if their was a save chance.

"I don't want him to finish the season on a sour note. I'd like him to finish on a positive note," Mackanin said. "That's going to enter my decision on that. I don't want a guy to hit .300 and go 0-for-50 the last month of the season, the last two, three weeks of the season and end up hitting .270. For his own benefit."

The manager could opt for Hector Neris, although he is the first Phillies pitcher to appear in 75 games since Ryan Madson in 2009. Rookie Edubray Ramos is another option. He has quietly blossomed with 40 strikeouts and 10 walks in 392/3 innings.

Michael Mariot, too, has made a fine impression minus a horrific night at Citi Field in August. He threw two sliders to jump ahead, 0-2, against Tim Anderson on Tuesday night when he replaced Gomez. A groundout ended it, while Gomez watched from the dugout.

Odubel Herrera, who has 15 hits in his last 28 at-bats, was out of Wednesday's lineup against lefthander Chris Sale. "He's swinging so well, I don't want to screw him up, put him in a slump. This guy's tough on lefties. So that's the only reason," Mackanin said. . . . Adam Morgan will start Thursday to begin a four-game series in New York against the Mets. Morgan will be followed by Jeremy Hellickson, Alec Asher, and Jake Thompson. The Mets will start Seth Lugo on Thursday but have not named a pitcher for Friday. Noah Syndergaard and Robert Gsellman will pitch the final two games.