Shortly after New York Yankees right-hander David Phelps found a way to earn a 7-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, manager Joe Girardi stopped short of endorsing him as a full-time starter.
I'll come out and say it: Phelps deserves to remain in the rotation when Ivan Nova returns from triceps inflammation. While Nova suffered a recent setback, is saddled with a 1-1 record and 6.48 ERA, and has seriously regressed since a 16-win rookie season, Phelps has continued to get it done as a starter or out of the bullpen. There's little doubt what to do with Phelps once a decision has to be made, and Nova may find himself in the bullpen or perhaps Triple-A the way Phelps is living up to internal expectations.
"We have always envisioned him as a starter," Girardi said after Phelps allowed one run on seven hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings of work. "From the time he came up that is what we have envisioned him as. It is not just that he is able to locate and change speeds. He does all the other little things right, too. ... We like what he is doing."
Where Nova tends to unravel, Phelps bears down and delivers with runners on base. He got in immediate trouble in the first with two one-out walks, but struck out J.P. Arencibia and picked off Jose Bautista at second. When the Blue Jays threatened again in the third, Phelps got Melky Cabrera to ground into a double play and whiffed Edwin Encarnacion following a two-out walk.
Despite the Blue Jays cutting the Yankees lead to 3-1 in the fourth, Phelps bore down again by striking out Maicer Izturis to prevent further damage.
"I was making pitches when I needed to," Phelps said. "I was all over the place today."
He still got the job done, just like the rest of the Yankees starters, who along with the bullpen are the primary reason why the team is a surprising 27-16. The rotation is still peaking and to get to that next level it needs, besides health, reliable production from the back end. Phelps has proven his worth, now let it ride.
Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC
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