Phils look to ease Neris' workload
On Friday, Hector Neris appeared in his 62nd game. It was his easiest yet. He threw five pitches, four of them splitters, and retired the Cardinals in order.
On Friday, Hector Neris appeared in his 62nd game. It was his easiest yet. He threw five pitches, four of them splitters, and retired the Cardinals in order.
The 27-year-old Dominican, who could not carve out a regular role in a big-league bullpen before 2016 and was one of the last additions to the roster when spring training concluded, leads the league in appearances. When informed of that Saturday, his eyes widened.
"I did not know that," Neris said. "That is surprising."
Neris, known as one of the happiest men in the room, laughed. Years of hard work have produced a breakout season in which he has accumulated a whopping 82 strikeouts against just 18 walks with a 2.24 ERA. His 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings is among the best rates ever for a Phillies reliever.
With another late lead Saturday, Neris appeared for the 63rd time. He struck out the side.
If the Phillies have their way, Neris will not lead the league in games pitched by the end of the season.
Neris is not tired. He said he feels fine. He actually has gained a tick on his fastball velocity with every month this season, according to PITCHf/x data. He was averaging 92 or 93 mph earlier in the season. Now, he regularly throws 95 and 96 mph.
But Phillies manager Pete Mackanin is cognizant of Neris' workload. It is one reason Mackanin said that he wants "as many bullpen guys as I can get" in September when rosters expand.
"Not necessarily to get a look at them; just to have them so I don't have to overdo it with the guys who I think need to be protected a little bit," Mackanin said. "I look at Neris, he has a lot of appearances. I want him to back off a little bit."
Neris said he prepared both mentally and physically last winter for a more prominent job. He wanted to be a setup man, someone his manager could depend on every day.
For the last four winters, Neris logged considerable innings in winter ball, mostly for Toros del Este in the Dominican Republic. He said he might reconsider that this winter, perhaps just five or six winter-ball innings to stay sharp.
A little rest will not hurt.
Extra bases
Vince Velasquez, after two rough starts against the potent Dodgers, faces another strong test Sunday against St. Louis. The 24-year-old righthander has a 7.24 ERA in his last five starts. He'll be opposed by Mike Leake, who has a 4.78 ERA in the first season of a five-year, $80 million contract with the Cardinals.