Even With Few Options, Phillies Option Falter to Triple-A

The Phillies have won just one of starting pitcher Bailey Falter's eight starts.  Falter is 0-7, with a 5.13 earned run average.  His ERA actually went down on Monday night at San Francisco, as some defensive miscues got him off the hook for some subsequent pitches.  But with Falter struggling with his command, and no clear replacement, the Phillies optioned to option Falter anyway on Monday afternoon.

The option at Triple-A that the Phillies were working on might not be an option anymore, either.  Nick Nelson was being stretched out at Triple-A Lehigh Valley to be a starter.  But on Saturday he exited the game after four innings and 68 pitches.

However, on Sunday, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Nelson suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's game.  Nelson has not been placed on the injured list at Triple-A, even with other transactions taking place.  So maybe it there is hope that the injury was not serious.

Lefties Cristopher Sanchez and Michael Plassmeyer are not pitching well at Triple-A.  It would seem odd if the Phillies were to pivot back to Matt Strahm at this point, especially with Jose Alvarado currently on the injured list.

The replacement on the roster for now is Erich Uelmen.  The Phillies acquired Uelmen in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs.  An injury kept him from appearing in a Spring Training game. Uelmen was 2-1 with a 4.65 ERA for the Cubs last season.  He will not be an option to start.

So the Phillies will have to come up with someone by Sunday to start for them.