Phillies solution to shaky bullpen depth behind Jhoan Duran could be 0.79 ERA prospect

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Phillies solution to shaky bullpen depth behind Jhoan Duran could be 0.79 ERA prospect originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies began the year on a terrible note, leading to Rob Thomson being fired. Don Mattingly has since taken over, and things are beginning to look up.

But there are still a few clear issues plaguing this team. Alec Bohm's mediocre at-best offense, Andrew Painter's struggles, and the bullpen depth are a few of the main issues.

While Bohm and Painter need to simply get better, Fansided.com's Christopher Kline did propose one possible solution to the shaky bullpen depth: call up reliever prospect Alex McFarlane.

"Alex McFarlane recently earned a 4-man roster spot for Philadelphia, and although the 24-year-old is still in Double-A, he's on track for a swift rise through the Phillies farm system," Kline writes.

With the bullpen depth behind Jhoan Duran a bit suspect, the Phillies adding another reliever this year makes a ton of sense. And instead of spending prospects to land a veteran, why not promote from within with McFarlane?

Phillies could promote Alex McFarlane to help bullpen depth​

This season at Double-A, McFarlane had a 0.79 ERA before lowering it on Mother's Day to a 0.73 ERA in 13 games and 12.1 innings pitched. He has three saves, a 1-1 record, 17 strikeouts to six walks, and a 1.05 WHIP.

He's been a just-okay pitching prospect the last few years, with a 4.84 ERA in 28 games and 18 starts last season, being an overall mediocre performance.

But now, the 24-year-old righty has been impressing in Double-A and could earn a promotion to Triple-A soon. And if he impresses there, a call-up to the Majors is possible.

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Outside of Duran and Orion Kerkering, the rest of the Phillies' bullpen has been a bit shaky this season.

Brad Keller has disappointed a bit this season with a 4.32 ERA, while Jose Alvarado has a 5.40 ERA, Tanner Banks has a 5.94 ERA, Jonathan Bowlan has a 5.68 ERA, and the other bullpen options have been mediocre at best.

If McFarlane's dominance this season continues, he could not just make his way up the organization, but he might even get a call-up to the Majors this season to be a key piece in the middle of the bullpen order.

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