"Zack Wheeler is gonna turn 35, Aaron Nola is north of 30" - Phillies insider makes feelings clear on 6-man pitching rotation idea

Phillies insider Jim Salisbury talked about a six-man starting pitching rotation, which has started to pick pace ahead of the 2025 Spring Training. Much of the idea is floated from the Dodgers camp, which believes that 2-3 fewer starts won't hurt the team if it means their aces would be fresher during the postseason.

Discussing about the same with respect to the Philadelphia Phillies pitching group, which includes the likes of Aaron Nola and Zack Wheelers, Phillies insider Jim Salisbury said on The Phillies Show (14:01)

"I think I’d toy with the idea of going six-man. At least explore it, and have some meetings about it. Zack Wheeler is going to turn 35 in May, and Aaron Nola is north of 30. Since 2021, they’re number one and number three in the majors in innings pitched.

"This team will be defined in October; they’re going to get to October, and that’s when it counts. I want Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, and the rest of the rotation healthy and dealing when it matters most."

---

Former Phillies GM explore strategies to counter "dead-arm" starters

During the same conversation, former general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. also shared his thoughts about the six-man pitching rotation idea for starting pitchers.

Amaro echoed Salisbury’s sentiments, adding that a six-man rotation could help pitchers avoid the "dead arm" period that often occurs between late June and August.

"I talk to Jeff Cooper all the time—he used to be the Phillies’ trainer," Amaro Jr. said. "Jeff always talked about that 'dead arm period' for starters, which happens between late June and August when guys just don’t have it.

"Maybe they could shelf some guys for a bit with a six-man rotation. You could skip Wheeler for a start (though he doesn’t like being skipped), Nola, or even Lardo for a start. Slide the sixth man in and rotate—it’s complicated but doable. That could help them through the dead arm period and ensure they have life in September and October."

---

Both Salisbury and Amaro emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure the team’s rotation is firing on all cylinders in October. If the six-man rotation helps, then why not implement it. What are your thoughts?