Phillies Claim Urquidy off Waivers to Patch the Rotation

Philadelphia claimed right-hander José Urquidy off waivers, adding a body to a rotation that now has a genuine hole in it. Luzardo, who I noted looked fine as recently as a few days ago, is on the 15-day IL, and the Phillies needed someone to fill innings while they wait to see how quickly he comes back.

Urquidy is a veteran arm who spent several years with Houston — a guy who knows how to take the ball every fifth day and keep a team in games. He's not Wheeler or Sánchez, but that's not what this move is asking him to be. With Andrew Painter posting a 5.24 ERA and Aaron Nola at 4.47, the back of this rotation has been soft for a while. Urquidy slots in as depth, not a solution.

The Phillies are 81-65 with 16 games left, sitting six back in the division but holding a playoff spot. They can afford to be patient with Luzardo if the IL stint is genuinely precautionary. What they can't afford is to burn Wheeler and Sánchez on short rest trying to cover for a missing starter. Urquidy buys them flexibility, which right now is worth something.