We’re lookin for positive nuggets as the Phillies schlep their way through April. They’re 7-11 and just kind of shuffling through the month.

The good news is that the bullpen has been better over the last three games. Not a massive sample size, but here’s what the group did in the Chicago doubleheader and Sunday win against the Reds:

  • Luis Ortiz – two innings pitched, one hit, 3 K, 14 strikes on 21 pitches thrown
  • Gregory Soto – one inning pitched, 0 hits, 2 K, 10 strikes on 14 pitches thrown
  • Craig Kimbrel – two innings pitched, one hit, 2 K, 16 strikes on 25 pitches thrown
  • Seranthony Dominguez – one inning pitched, 0 hits, 2 K, eight strikes on eight pitches thrown
  • Jose Alvarado – one inning pitched, 0 hits, 2 K, seven strikes on 10 pitches thrown
  • Connor Brogdon – one inning pitched, one hit, 0 K, 14 strikes on 21 pitches thrown

Obviously Ortiz was the only bullpen arm in game two on Monday because Bailey Falter went seven strong, but that game one performance from Soto/Kimbrel/Dominguez/Alvarado was very good. Impressive finish to retire 12 straight batters after Zack Wheeler came out of the game.

The Phillies now have a collective 5.74 ERA in relief, according to the SportRadar data. It’s still the fourth-worst number in Major League Baseball, but it’s down from the 6.26 number they were posting going into the weekend. Baby steps here. Gotta start somewhere.