Phillies Notes: Phils reliever Giles unfazed that fastball is losing steam

Ken Giles' fastball has yet to reach triple digits this season. The Phillies reliever has not lived up to his "100 Miles Giles" nickname. But, "95 Miles Giles" has proven effective despite his fastball's decreased velocity.

"100 miles per hour is just a luxury thing," Giles said. "I'm still 95-96. Who cares? I'm going to be more effective if I learn how to pitch. That's how I get out. Not blowing guys away. It's learning how to pitch."

Giles' fastball has averaged this season at 94.7 m.p.h., according to Pitchf/x data. It is nearly three ticks below last season's mark. The righthander has allowed just one earned run in 121/3 innings.

Giles, 24, has not allowed a hit in five of his last six outings. His lone run scored last Sunday when Giles pitched a second inning for the first time this season. His 0.73 ERA is the lowest in the Phillies bullpen and tied for fourth best among National League relievers with at least 10 appearances.

"I'm just making pitches, that's it," Giles said. "Throwing strikes and trying to ground out these outings. Do what I do best. Basically I got to the point where I just needed to pitch."

The decrease in velocity has not caused Giles to rely less on the fastball. He threw almost three times as many fastballs as sliders in Monday's outing. A day earlier, Giles needed just five pitches - four of which were fastballs - to retire three batters. His fastball reached 95 m.p.h. both days.

"Speed doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how fast you throw," Giles said. "As long as you know how to pitch and you hit locations, no one is going to be able to hit you."

Chase Utley was back in the lineup after three days off. He entered Friday with a league-low .103 batting average. Manager Ryne Sandberg inserted Utley into his usual third spot in the batting order. Utley went 0-for-4 Friday, dropping his average to .099.

Utley was 6 for 15 with a home run against New York starter Matt Harvey before Friday night's game. Sandberg gave Utley three days off as a mental break.

"He just needs a game and a series where things fall his way and he gets some hits, too, just for the confidence," Sandberg said. "Hitting is so much confidence. . . . A series, a week, or 10 days or two weeks of getting rewarded for doing the right thing and hitting the ball hard. That's what Chase needs."

The New York Mets placed Dillon Gee on the disabled list with a groin injury Friday. Bartolo Colon will start on Sunday against the Phillies instead of Gee.

- Matt Breen