The Philadelphia Phillies claimed right-hander Dylan Covey off waives from the Los Angeles Dodgers with hopes to improve their starting rotation issues that have plagued them over the first two months of the MLB season. 

The Phillies starting rotation has been brutal to begin the 2023 season and entered yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with a 5.06 ERA, which ranked a miserable 24th in baseball. 

The Phillies are pitching Taijuan Walker (3-2, 6.53 ERA) on short rest for today’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs after he managed to only throw 40 pitches in two-thirds of an inning in his last start on Wednesday against the Giants. 

Now, Zack Wheeler is scheduled to pitch on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and it’s likely that Dylan Covey will make his Phillies debut on Tuesday.

In a corresponding move, the Phillies transferred Darick Hall to the 60-Day IL to make room for Covey. 

May 20: RHP Dylan Covey claimed off waivers; 1B/DH Darick Hall transferred to 60-day IL

Covey is expected to pitch Tuesday night against the D-backs. He might even start. Covey allowed five hits, two runs, one walk and two home runs in four innings in relief on Wednesday against the Twins. It was his only appearance of the season with the Dodgers, and his first in the big leagues since 2020. He was 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He is 6-29 with a 6.54 ERA in 72 appearances (45 starts) over a five-year career with the White Sox, Red Sox and Dodgers. via MLB.com

Covey made his first appearance in the MLB on Wednesday night with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was pretty terrible, pitching in relief against the Minnesota Twins, allowing five hits, two runs, a walk and two home runs over four innings. Before getting called up by the Dodgers, Covey was 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) this season in Triple-A Oklahoma City. 

In 72 appearances (45 starts) over a five-year MLB career with the White Sox, Red Sox, and Dodgers, Cover is 6-29 with a 6.54 ERA. So yeah, not exactly an exciting waiver claim for a team that desperately needs help in the back of their starting rotation. 

The Phillies are really out of options in what can now only be described as a major misstep from Dave Dombrowski and the front office heading into the 2023 season.

Bailey Falter (0-7, 5.13 ERA) was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. The Phillies’ top prospect, Andrew Painter, is still recovering from an injured right elbow that has kept him out of action since Spring Training. 

In the minor leagues, they have options with Cristopher Sanchez (0-2, 6.08 ERA) and Michael Plassmeyer (1-3, 6.08 ERA) but as you can see by their numbers, neither can really be trusted at the major league level. 

From there, you have other prospects like Mick Abel (2-2, 4.50 ERA) but he’s struggled with his command, walking 16 batters in Lehigh Valley over 30 innings of work. 

Griff McGarry, (0-0, 1.93) has made just two starts with Double-A Reading following an oblique injury and will certainly need more time before being considered an option. 

Outside of that, there’s really nothing in the Phillies’ farm system that would provide immediate help. The only pitcher in Lehigh Valley that might show some upside would be right-handed pitcher Noah Skirrow, who’s 4-1 with a 4.46 ERA this season. Skirrow however, is not on the Phillies’ 40-man roster. 

All things considered, it looks like Dylan Covey will get his shot this week with hopes of proving himself as a reliable option for the Phillies’ fifth starter. 

The Phillies take the field today at 1:35 looking to secure a series win vs. the Chicago Cubs.

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