Phillies Send Nick Pivetta To Minors, Jerad Eickhoff To Stay

The Phillies optioned popular breakout candidate and number two starting pitcher Nick Pivetta to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday morning, paving the way for Jerad Eickhoff to remain in the rotation full time.

The move comes following Pivetta's solid, if not overwhelming performance on Tuesday night, in which he allowed three runs over five innings in a 14-3 drubbing of the Mets.

Regardless, it took Pivetta over 100 pitches to get through the fifth, and he allowed seven hits and three walks on just two strikeouts. And on a night where the Phillies scored 10 runs in the first inning, the most impressive performer might have been the man who followed Pivetta on the mound.

Eickhoff fired four shutout innings, allowing three hits, no walks, and firing six strikeouts. Most importantly, he looked dominant. When the Mets made contact, it was often weak contact, dribblers in the infield. And Eickhoff's big curve left a few hitters standing and staring.

It's yet another turn of fortune for two pitchers who have already experienced their fair share of ups and downs in Philadelphia.

The move is as much about helping Pivetta, whose ERA sits at 8.35 and who has not looked comfortable yet this year, back on track, as it is about giving Eickhoff the chance he deserves.

Eickhoff came over in the Cole Hamels trade in 2015 and immediately produced, flashing the makings of a second or third starter in 2016. Injuries derailed him in 2017 and 2018, however, and it wasn't until late this spring that he was finally healthy again.

Pivetta, who came to Philadelphia in the Jonathan Papelbon trade, went from unheralded back of the rotation arm to a solid performer last year, with many in the industry speculating this offseason that he was in line for a breakout in 2019.

In a cooresponding move to Pivetta's demotion early Wednesday, the Phillies called up infielder Phil Gosselin, and moved Tommy Hunter to the 60 day injured list to make room for Gosselin on the 40 man roster. Gosselin will serve as infield depth following minor injuries to Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura this week.

The Phillies will turn to Jake Arrieta, who holds a steady 2.25 ERA this year, as they take on the Mets in the series finale at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday.