VINCE VELASQUEZ NEWS

Alonso, Mets top Phillies 8-7 after replay reversal

Pete Alonso capped New York’s six-run eighth inning with a three-run double, and the Mets used a defensive meltdown by Philadelphia and a replay reversal to beat the Phillies 8-7

MAY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pollock 8 RBIs, Beaty 7 RBIs, each slam as Dodgers bop Brews

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MAY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Receiving another start Monday Velasquez will start Monday's game versus the Brewers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact The 28-year-old will receive another turn through the starting rotation while Matt Moore is eased back into action as a reliever following his stint on the COVID-19 injured list. Velasquez has surrendered five runs on 10 hits with a 9:3 K:BB over 8.1 innings across two starts, so he may need a strong performance Monday to have a chance of earning a longer look in the rotation.

MAY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Throws 4.1 innings Velasquez allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five across 4.1 innings Wednesday against the Cardinals. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Velasquez surrendered two home runs, which accounted for all three of his charged runs. However, he showed some positive signs otherwise by racking up five strikeouts on 12 called strikes and seven swinging strikes. Velasquez now figures to return to the bullpen. as Matt Moore (COVID-19) should be prepared to return to the rotation the next turn through.

APRIL 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Harper hit in face, leaves game as Phils beat Cardinals 5-3

Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup and drove in the go-ahead run, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 after Bryce Harper was hit in the face by...

APRIL 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cardinals host Phillies, aim to build on Martinez's solid outing

St. Louis looks to follow up a dominant outing by Tuesday starter Carlos Martinez

APRIL 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On track for Wednesday start Velasquez is in line to make a second straight turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Cardinals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact Velasquez started in place of Matt Moore (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) on Friday in Colorado, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over four innings in a no-decision. Though Moore was activated from the IL on Monday, the Phillies plan to let the lefty get reconditioned while working out of the bullpen over the next several days before reinserting him into the rotation. It's conceivable that Moore may be called upon to piggyback Velasquez once the latter exits his start Wednesday.

APRIL 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Goes four innings Friday Velasquez did not factor in the decision Friday against the Rockies. He pitched four innings and allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four.

Impact Velasquez got the opportunity to start with Matt Moore currently on the COVID-19 injured list. The right-hander fared decently well given the venue, allowing only a pair of runs -- each on solo homers -- and striking out four across four frames. Velasquez has now struck out 13 batters in eight innings this season, though he has also issued nine walks. He's likely to return to the bullpen when Moore rejoins the rotation.

APRIL 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Velasquez hits right notes in rotation return Phillies manager Joe Girardi said prior to Friday's series opener against the Rockies that he would be "thrilled" if Vince Velasquez could g...

APRIL 24, 2021 • MLB.COM

Knapp's 9th-inning single leads Phillies past Giants 6-5

Andrew Knapp hit the winning single in the ninth inning, Bryce Harper  hit a tying solo homer in the seventh and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In line for spot start Velasquez is preparing to start Friday against the Rockies, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Velasquez lost out on an Opening Day rotation spot but remained on the roster in a swingman role. With Matt Moore landing on the COVID-19 injured list Monday, Velasquez lines up as his temporary replacement. He unlikely to be a particularly appealing fantasy option in Coors Field, however. He's struck out an impressive nine batters in four innings of work this season but has also walked eight and given up four earned runs.

APRIL 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stroman sharp in return, Mets beat Phillies 8-4 for 1st win

Marcus Stroman tossed six sharp innings in his first start since 2019, Dominic Smith and Pete Alonso each hit a two-run homer and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8...

APRIL 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In line for Opening Day relief role President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Saturday that Velasquez (oblique) is on track to begin the season as a member of the Phillies' bullpen, Todd Zolecki of MLB.co...

Impact Velasquez hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 9 due to an oblique injury, which effectively took him out of the running for a spot in the rotation. The injury apparently won't disqualify Velasquez from making the Opening Day roster as a reliever, provided he's able to face hitters without issue before camp ends. The Phillies could revisit the idea of using Velasquez as as starter once the oblique injury is further in the rear-view mirror and if he has some time to get fully stretched out.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Battling oblique issue Velasquez is dealing with an oblique injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact It's not clear exactly what the issue or is when he'll be able to return. Velasquez had been looking like an underdog to open the year in the rotation, though Zach Eflin and Spencer Howard are both dealing with back issues, which could have given him at least a temporary opening. If all three pitchers need to miss time, non-roster invitee Ivan Nova could make a spot start or two to open the year.

MARCH 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Roster spot at risk Velasquez is at real risk of losing not just his rotation spot but his roster spot as well, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Velasquez has continually failed to deliver on his potential, posting an ERA of 4.85 or worse in each of the last four seasons. The ERA estimators have been a bit kinder to him, with both xFIP and SIERA giving him a mark of 4.75 or better in each of those campaigns, but he may simply be someone who consistently underperforms those metrics. The Phillies brought in veterans Matt Moore and Chase Anderson on big-league deals this offseason, and the plan appears to be for them to start. Velasquez's career 4.78 ERA as a reliever is a near match for his 4.72 mark as a starter, so the Phillies could elect to give his roster spot to someone else if he can't win a rotation role.

MARCH 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rocky outing doesn't help Vince Velasquez's rotation chances As is his way, five-year Phillie Vince Velasquez took a step backward Tuesday in what has almost been a match-play pitching contest with new...

MARCH 10, 2021 • DELCOTIMES.COM

Now in Chisox 'pen, Kopech makes debut after 2020 opt-out

Michael Kopech is getting used to his new relief role with the Chicago White Sox

MARCH 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Improved Phillies seeking to end 9-year postseason drought

Joe Girardi held up the Philadelphia Phillies’ roster on a sheet of paper and made it clear improvements in the offseason don’t matter once players hit the field

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NL East teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chase Anderson, Phillies finalize $4 million, 1-year deal

Right-hander Chase Anderson and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized their  $4 million, one-year contract

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP Source: Phillies, righty Chase Anderson agree on deal

The Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Chase Anderson have agreed on a one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal

FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillies agree to 1-year deals with 3, including Hoskins

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to one-year contracts with first baseman Rhys Hoskins, right-hander Vince Velasquez and left-hander Jose Alvarado on Friday to avoid salary arbitra...

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reaches deal Velasquez signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Phillies on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Impact Now heading into his seventh big-league season, Velasquez continues to fail to take the next step, but he's remained just useful enough for the Phillies to keep him around at a fairly low price. His 5.56 ERA in 34 innings last season was a career high, though his 4.16 FIP and 4.07 xFIP painted a much more optimistic picture, as did his career-high 29.9 percent strikeout rate.

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

3 questions for Phils after non-tender moves While the Phillies look for new leadership in baseball operations, they created some news this week when they brought back each of their sev...

DECEMBER 3, 2020 • MLB.COM

Neris, Eflin among 5 to reach deals with Phillies

Pitchers Héctor Neris, Zach Eflin, David Hale and Seranthony Domínguez have agreed to one-year contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies along with catcher Andrew Knapp

DECEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS