J.D. Durbin, Travelin' Man, will start for the Phillies Friday against the Mets:
Righthander J.D. Durbin will have his contract purchased by the Phillies on Friday, June 29 and start for the team that day, Assistant General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today.
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Durbin, 25, is 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 starts this season for triple-A Ottawa. In 133 career minor league games (127 starts), Durbin is 49-27 with a 3.28 ERA.
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Durbin, 25, is 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 starts this season for triple-A Ottawa. In 133 career minor league games (127 starts), Durbin is 49-27 with a 3.28 ERA.
Durbin, you'll remember, is the guy who was a Twin, Diamondback, Red Sock and Phillie in the span of about two weeks this March and April. A former high draft pick of the Twins who was expected to emerge as a mid-rotation starter, he's never been able to stick in the majors. Durbin has shown a pretty good strikeout rate throughout his pro career, averaging 8.2 Ks per 9 innings at triple-A Rochester last season, and he's been pretty good at keeping the ball in the park (just 3 HR allowed in 89 IP last season)--though he's allowed 9 bombs in 59.1 IP with Ottawa this year, which is a little scary. He walks a lot of hitters, and there have long been questions about his makeup and composure.
Still unclear is who will start for the Phillies Saturday. With another callup or a bullpen game likely, and Kyle Kendrick projected to make his fourth big-league start Sunday, just a split of the four-game Mets series would be something of an accomplishment.