The Philadelphia Phillies have hit a rough patch after dominating much of May. They posted a stellar 19-6 record to start the month but have now dropped four straight games to begin June. Over the weekend, they were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers and outscored 28-11 in the process.
Fortunately, the team gets a breather with Monday as a scheduled off-day, offering manager Rob Thomson and his players a chance to regroup. As the team looks to bounce back, one of their former pitchers has found his way back to the big leagues with one of the American League’s top teams.
The Phillies’ long history includes many forgotten names, one of which is Carlos Carrasco. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia in 2003, Carrasco was later dealt to Cleveland in 2009 as part of the trade that brought Cliff Lee to the Phillies. Once the AL wins leader, Carrasco’s recent years in the majors have been turbulent.
His struggles continued this season when the Yankees designated him for assignment in early May. Despite his performance issues, New York is giving the veteran right-hander another shot. Before Sunday’s 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, the Yankees announced Carrasco had been recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It’s unclear when he’ll next take the mound, having last pitched in the majors on May 6.
Now 38, Carrasco earned a spot on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster after signing a minor-league deal in February. However, he struggled in the role, posting a 2-2 record with a 5.91 ERA and 1.531 WHIP before being sent down. His time in the minors didn’t go much better, as he allowed a 9.95 ERA across two appearances (6 1/3 innings) with the RailRiders.
Whether Carrasco can leave those poor performances behind remains to be seen. Baseball is a results-driven sport, and if he can’t show the Yankees he belongs, the former Phillies prospect could be on his way out of New York once again.