PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies could use one more start like this from
Eflin allowed a single to Cavan Biggio in the bottom of the first -- the Blue Jays were the “home” team in Game 1 following postponements earlier this season -- but struck out Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernández swinging on curveballs in order after the hit.\n\n“We had a game plan going in and mixing in a little more offspeed,” Eflin said. “So, that worked out obviously in the first inning and kind of carried that momentum. I was having good spin on it and knew it was going to work, so I just kind of went with that and made them respect all the pitches I was throwing up there.”
\n\nEflin has shown this stuff most of the season, although his line does not necessarily reflect that. He has a 4.28 ERA, but Eflin is generating the weakest contact of his career. Entering Friday, his expected statistics -- like expected batting average (.236), expected wOBA (.298) and expected ERA (3.48) -- were career lows.\n\n“I feel like I’ve clearly had my best stuff of my career and kind of run into some bad luck,” Eflin said. “I’ve made some bad pitches along the way, too. But I’m happy with where I’m at. I have more confidence than ever, and I’m really just trying to carry that momentum on for as long as I can.”
The Phillies finished Game 1 with 10 games remaining on the season. They have been hit hard with injuries. They have the worst bullpen in baseball. Their organizational depth has been exposed over the past couple weeks.\n\nBut here is the thing: If the Phillies can make the playoffs, they will have Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler lined up to pitch two of the first three games in the Wild Card Series. If Eflin is on like he was on Friday, he could cause problems in a best-of-three matchup.\n\n“The more I pitch, the better I think I’m going to get,” Eflin said. “I always want the ball. I never shy away from the ball.”
The Phillies carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning, before