Jordan Romano doesn’t set himself on fire for once, drops ERA a full point in Phillies win on Sunday night

Call the police and the fire department. Jordan Romano got through an inning without a disaster. Romano came in for the 10th inning on Sunday night with the Phillies holding a slim 3-1 lead over the Cubs. And somehow, some way, he actually did the job.

Phillies grind out a series win against the Cubs thanks to a 10th inning sac fly from Bohm

Three up, three down. He even made a nice little play to end it — maybe just to show us he can field a baseball after all.

Jordan Romano with a rare 1-2-3 inning

Jordan Romano knocks it down and makes the toss to secure the win! #SundayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/ICxDjSy6do

— MLB (@MLB) April 28, 2025

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Context matters.

Before Sunday night, Jordan Romano was basically tossing batting practice in live games:

• 13.50 ERA (yes, you read that right)
• Tied for most runs allowed among all relievers
• 15 hits, 3 home runs in just 9 1/3 innings
• Opposing hitters were looking like prime Barry Bonds against him: .341/.431/.659

So yeah, it’s not like expectations were high. It was literally “please don’t explode” every time he took the mound. But Sunday night? No explosions. No gasoline. No crime scene tape. Just one calm, clean inning — enough to drop his ERA all the way down to a sparkling 12.19.

Progress, baby.

What’s actually happening?

Jordan Romano’s slider is basically his last hope. It’s not fooling anybody sideways — the horizontal break is mid — but it’s his best pitch right now. He’s chucking it about 59% of the time at 86 mph and praying.

The fastball? Meh. Sitting at 95 mph (barely top 25% of the league) and being thrown about 40% of the time. It’s not scaring anyone.

If Romano’s going to be anything close to the guy the Phillies thought they traded for, the slider needs to carry him until further notice. Just grip it and rip it. Forget the fastball. Forget thinking. Just throw that slider like your baseball career depends on it. (Because it kinda does.)

Big picture:

Look, nobody’s saying Jordan Romano turned into 2008 Brad Lidge overnight. But one clean inning, on the road, after the disaster stretch he had? You take it.

The Phillies are 15-13. They survived a five-game losing streak. If Romano can slowly — very slowly — rebuild himself into even half the reliever he used to be, it’s a huge win.

Go Phils.

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