In the crucible of a tense Sunday ninth inning, the Phillies held a razor-thin 1-0 lead over the Pirates—hard-earned thanks to Mick Abel’s dazzling MLB debut and a gritty bullpen effort. With José Alvarado sidelined indefinitely, the pressure on Philadelphia’s relief corps has never been higher. Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm got the ball through the seventh and eighth. Then it was time for Jordan Romano to take the mound—and show just how far he’s come.
Romano didn’t just shut the door; he slammed it with authority. On just 11 pitches, he struck out the side in what may be his most dominant outing since donning a Phillies uniform. The secret weapon? His slider. All three strikeouts came on that wicked breaking ball, which he used seven times out of 11 total pitches. The Pirates never stood a chance.
This wasn’t a fluke—it’s part of a deliberate evolution. While much attention has been paid to Romano’s revived fastball velocity this May, the more revealing trend is his increased reliance on his slider. Since the calendar turned to May, Romano has thrown his slider a whopping 66.3% of the time, up from 59% in March and April. That shift represents more than just a tactical adjustment—it signals a philosophical one.
Romano has long been a two-pitch pitcher, leaning on his fastball to complement his signature breaking ball. But the 2024 season is marking a departure from his past patterns. In 2022 and 2023, Romano maintained a relatively balanced mix, using the slider just slightly more than the fastball. This season, however, he’s trending toward a significant 61/39 slider-to-fastball split, the widest of his career.
Even more interesting is when this change is happening. Earlier in the year, Romano’s fastball velocity was dipping to concerning levels—down to 92 MPH at times. But now that his velo has rebounded, one might expect a return to his usual mix. Instead, Romano is doubling down on the pitch that’s always gotten him outs, trusting the slider more than ever before—even at peak health.
The results speak volumes. In seven scoreless appearances so far this May, Romano has looked every bit the elite closer the Phillies hoped for. When he’s at his best, the slider isn’t just his most effective pitch—it’s a devastating, almost surgical tool. It’s no wonder he’s earned the nickname “Dr. Sliderlove.”
In a game where margins are thin and moments matter, Romano’s evolving pitch mix is giving the Phillies an edge when it matters most. If this version of Jordan Romano continues to show up—armed with confidence, velocity, and a slider from the depths—Philadelphia might just weather the storm without Alvarado. And fans can rest easy knowing that, in the ninth inning, Dr. Sliderlove is on call.
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