After the first 17 Games of the 2018 Baseball season, the Phillies pitching staff ranks Ninth in Major League Baseball in Team ERA (3.46), Fourth Lowest Slugging Percentage Against (.335) and Third in Least Home Runs Allowed (10).  The starting staff is being led by Aaron Nola (2.22 ERA) and Nick Pivetta (21 Strikeouts in 21.2 Innings) while Vince Velasquez has tallied a team high Three Quality Starts.

Seth Everett of NBC Sports Radio joined Mike Gill on Thursday with his perspective on play of the Phillies starting rotation so far in the 2018 season:

“(Vince) Velasquez has been good, (Ben) Lively, (Aaron) Nola, it’s just been impressive - The idea is to have a Quality Start and only ask that guy to go five or six innings and that’s modern day (strategy)….If you’re effective then you’re only seeing a lineup twice and I think that’s the best thing.  If you notice it’s the third time through a lineup that’s when the wheels get turning and they start to try to play match-ups.”

Hear what Everett had to say about Gabe Kapler, the New York Mets hot start to the season, and more Baseball talk

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