Phillies

Since 2016, There Have Been 171 Instances of Phillies Starting Pitchers Throwing a “Velasquez”

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Apr 9th, 2026 · 2:56 PM EDT

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If you follow Coggin Toboggan on social media, he created a statistic that he calls the “Velasquez.”

It’s a pitching metric named after Vinny Velo himself, who famously would look like prime Roger Clemens in April before backsliding in May. It felt like he would always throw a ton of pitches while getting dinged and failing to make it past the 5th inning.

Therefore, the “Velasquez” stat is based on three parameters. In a single start, you must:

1. throw less than five innings
2. allow three or more earned runs
3. toss at least 70 total pitches

That’s it.

So far this season, the Phillies’ pitching staff has logged two “Velasquez” starts, once when Cy-Juan Walker gave up six earned runs in 4.2 innings while throwing 99 pitches vs. Washington. The other was Andrew Painter’s second start, when he was hit for four earned runs in four innings on 90 pitches.

If we include those performances, there have been 171 instances of a “Velasquez” thrown by Phillies starting pitchers since Vince made his debut in April of 2016. Looking down the entire list, which is below, there are great names included. Anybody remember Hans Crouse and Henderson Alvarez III? Yeah, me neither.

For what it’s worth, Vince Velasquez himself threw a “Velasquez” on 22 different occasions, which accounts for 12.8% of all such outings. Aaron Nola, however, has thrown 27, as his Phillies career has been much longer than anyone else on the list. Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler have combined for only 13 “Velasquez” starts.

Now, the full list:

2026 (2 starts)

• Andrew Painter: 4/6/26 at SF – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 90 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 3/30/26 vs WSH – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 99 pitches

2025 (13 starts)

• Ranger Suarez: 9/27/25 vs MIN – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 84 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 9/21/25 at ARI – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 79 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 9/1/25 at MIL – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 85 pitches
• Jesús Luzardo: 8/26/25 at NYM – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 87 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 7/20/25 vs LAA – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 100 pitches
• Jesús Luzardo: 7/18/25 vs LAA – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 92 pitches
• Mick Abel: 6/21/25 vs NYM – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 73 pitches
• Mick Abel: 6/10/25 vs CHC – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 89 pitches
• Jesús Luzardo: 5/31/25 vs MIL – 3.1 IP, 12 ER, 76 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 5/30/25 vs MIL – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 89 pitches
• Cristopher Sánchez: 5/24/25 at OAK – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 83 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 5/14/25 vs STL – 3.2 IP, 9 ER, 83 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 5/4/25 vs ARI – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 82 pitches

2024 (20 starts)

• Cristopher Sánchez: 9/25/24 vs CHC – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 94 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 9/19/24 at NYM – 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 71 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 9/13/24 vs NYM – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 90 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 9/7/24 at MIA – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 101 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 8/30/24 vs ATL – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 78 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 8/23/24 at KC – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 78 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 8/18/24 vs WSH – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 99 pitches
• Tyler Phillips: 8/14/24 vs MIA – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 87 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 8/13/24 vs MIA – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 76 pitches
• Cristopher Sánchez: 8/11/24 at ARI – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 96 pitches
• Cristopher Sánchez: 7/4/24 at CHC – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 79 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 6/30/24 vs MIA – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 91 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 6/21/24 vs ARI – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 77 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 6/16/24 at BAL – 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 91 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/13/24 at BOS – 3.2 IP, 8 ER, 90 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 5/22/24 vs TEX – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 86 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 5/12/24 at MIA – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 80 pitches
• Spencer Turnbull: 4/13/24 vs PIT – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 88 pitches
• Cristopher Sánchez: 4/7/24 at WSH – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 87 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 3/30/24 vs ATL – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 83 pitches

2023 (17 starts)

• Michael Plassmeyer: 9/30/23 at NYM – 3.2 IP, 9 ER, 85 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 9/27/23 vs PIT – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 90 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 9/9/23 vs MIA – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 84 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 9/2/23 at MIL – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 97 pitches
• Michael Lorenzen: 8/18/23 at WSH – 3.1 IP, 6 ER, 74 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 7/29/23 at PIT – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 98 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 6/2/23 at WSH – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 90 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 6/1/23 at NYM – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 74 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 5/13/23 at COL – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 72 pitches
• Matt Strahm: 5/2/23 at LAD – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 73 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 5/1/23 at LAD – 3.1 IP, 8 ER, 82 pitches
• Bailey Falter: 4/30/23 at HOU – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 77 pitches
• Cristopher Sánchez: 4/22/23 vs COL – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 73 pitches
• Bailey Falter: 4/13/23 at CIN – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 94 pitches
• Taijuan Walker: 4/3/23 at NYY – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 87 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 4/1/23 at TEX – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 94 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 3/30/23 at TEX – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 72 pitches

2022 (12 starts)

• Bailey Falter: 9/24/22 vs ATL – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 90 pitches
• Noah Syndergaard: 9/3/22 at SF – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 75 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 8/30/22 at ARI – 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 83 pitches
• Kyle Gibson: 7/22/22 vs CHC – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 78 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 7/13/22 at TOR – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 91 pitches
• Kyle Gibson: 7/2/22 vs STL – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 84 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 5/25/22 at ATL – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 88 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 5/20/22 vs LAD – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 84 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 5/1/22 at NYM – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 85 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 4/15/22 at MIA – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 81 pitches
• Kyle Gibson: 4/14/22 at MIA – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 91 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 4/13/22 vs NYM – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 76 pitches

2021 (19 starts)

• Hans Crouse: 10/2/21 at MIA – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 72 pitches
• Kyle Gibson: 9/30/21 at ATL – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 86 pitches
• Kyle Gibson: 9/8/21 at MIL – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 103 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 9/2/21 at WSH – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 83 pitches
• Matt Moore: 8/31/21 at WSH – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 82 pitches
• Ranger Suarez: 8/18/21 at ARI – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 86 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 8/15/21 vs CIN – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 88 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 7/16/21 vs MIA – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 79 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 7/9/21 at BOS – 2.1 IP, 8 ER, 74 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/30/21 vs MIA – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 98 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 6/23/21 vs WSH – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 86 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 6/22/21 vs WSH – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 73 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 6/18/21 at SF – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 84 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 6/6/21 vs WSH – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 80 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 5/30/21 at TB – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 86 pitches
• Chase Anderson: 5/5/21 vs MIL – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 92 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 4/28/21 at STL – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 74 pitches
• Chase Anderson: 4/25/21 at COL – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 87 pitches
• Zack Wheeler: 4/9/21 at ATL – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 94 pitches

2020 (9 starts)

• Aaron Nola: 9/27/20 at TB – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 93 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 9/25/20 at TB – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 92 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 9/14/20 at MIA – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 76 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 9/13/20 at MIA – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 91 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 8/21/20 at ATL – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 71 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 8/19/20 at BOS – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 79 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 8/18/20 at BOS – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 86 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 8/13/20 vs BAL – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 78 pitches
• Spencer Howard: 8/9/20 vs ATL – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 81 pitches

2019 (28 starts)

• Vince Velasquez: 9/27/19 vs MIA – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 71 pitches
• Jason Vargas: 9/26/19 at WSH – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 101 pitches
• Jason Vargas: 9/15/19 vs BOS – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 71 pitches
• Drew Smyly: 9/12/19 vs ATL – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 80 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 9/8/19 at NYM – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 96 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 9/4/19 at CIN – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 76 pitches
• Jason Vargas: 8/31/19 vs NYM – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 91 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 8/17/19 vs SD – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 73 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 7/27/19 vs ATL – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 73 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 7/16/19 vs LAD – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 87 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 7/6/19 at NYM – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 75 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 7/4/19 at ATL – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 74 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 6/28/19 at MIA – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 84 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/15/19 at ATL – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 93 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 6/10/19 vs ARI – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 75 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 6/5/19 at SD – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 97 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 5/26/19 at MIL – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 75 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 5/24/19 at MIL – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 77 pitches
• Cole Irvin: 5/22/19 at CHC – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 84 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 5/14/19 vs MIL – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 87 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 5/13/19 vs MIL – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 84 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 5/6/19 at STL – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 98 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 4/30/19 vs DET – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 99 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 4/23/19 at NYM – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 72 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 4/15/19 vs NYM – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 83 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 4/13/19 at MIA – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 81 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 4/10/19 vs WSH – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 94 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 3/30/19 vs ATL – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 76 pitches

2018 (19 starts)

• Nick Pivetta: 9/26/18 at COL – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 83 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 9/9/18 at NYM – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 73 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 8/29/18 vs WSH – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 75 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 8/22/18 at WSH – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 80 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 8/19/18 vs NYM – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 73 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 8/8/18 at ARI – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 79 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 7/23/18 vs LAD – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 75 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 7/20/18 vs SD – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 82 pitches
• Enyel De Los Santos: 7/15/18 at MIA – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 79 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/17/18 at MIL – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 92 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 6/15/18 at MIL – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 73 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 6/8/18 vs MIL – 3.2 IP, 10 ER, 74 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 6/1/18 at SF – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 91 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 5/30/18 at LAD – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 78 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 5/25/18 vs TOR – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 96 pitches
• Jake Arrieta: 4/30/18 at MIA – 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 79 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 4/29/18 vs ATL – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 73 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 4/24/18 vs ARI – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 86 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 3/30/18 at ATL – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 73 pitches

2017 (13 starts)

• Henderson Alvarez III: 9/30/17 vs NYM – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 87 pitches
• Mark Leiter Jr.: 9/27/17 vs WSH – 4.1 IP, 5 ER, 98 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 8/19/17 at SF – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 91 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 8/11/17 vs NYM – 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 86 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 6/26/17 at ARI – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 84 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 6/2/17 vs SF – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 72 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 5/31/17 at MIA – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 73 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 5/17/17 at TEX – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 78 pitches
• Nick Pivetta: 5/13/17 at WSH – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 92 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 5/9/17 vs SEA – 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 83 pitches
• Jeremy Hellickson: 5/7/17 vs WSH – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 98 pitches
• Jeremy Hellickson: 5/2/17 at CHC – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 95 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 4/7/17 vs WSH – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 94 pitches

2016 (19 starts)

• Jake Thompson: 9/25/16 at NYM – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 77 pitches
• Jeremy Hellickson: 9/23/16 at NYM – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 89 pitches
• Jeremy Hellickson: 8/27/16 at NYM – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 89 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 8/9/16 at LAD – 4.2 IP, 9 ER, 100 pitches
• Jake Thompson: 8/6/16 at SD – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 83 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 7/23/16 at PIT – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 80 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/26/16 at SF – 3.1 IP, 5 ER, 77 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/21/16 at MIN – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 71 pitches
• Adam Morgan: 6/17/16 vs ARI – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 96 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/16/16 vs TOR – 3.0 IP, 6 ER, 79 pitches
• Zach Eflin: 6/14/16 at TOR – 2.2 IP, 8 ER, 77 pitches
• Aaron Nola: 6/11/16 at WSH – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 82 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 5/29/16 at CHC – 4.2 IP, 7 ER, 82 pitches
• Adam Morgan: 5/27/16 at CHC – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 93 pitches
• Vince Velasquez: 5/23/16 at DET – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 95 pitches
• Adam Morgan: 5/15/16 vs CIN – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 86 pitches
• Jerad Eickhoff: 5/11/16 at ATL – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 76 pitches
• Jeremy Hellickson: 4/20/16 vs NYM – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 98 pitches
• Jeremy Hellickson: 4/15/16 vs WSH – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 79 pitches