Philadelphia Phillies: Can Kyle Kendrick Earn a Rotation Spot in 2013?

Kyle Kendrick must have something on the Philadelphia Phillies’ brass because he’s somehow managed to remain in the team’s starting rotation for much longer than he should have.

There are some possible, if implausible, explanations for some of his first starts after the trade deadline.

His spot start following Joe Blanton’s trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers was going to be a one-time thing prior to Tyler Cloyd (12-1 at Triple-A) being called up, right?  Not quite.

Then the Phils must have kept him in the rotation for his 15th start of the season so he could earn a $100,000 bonus in his contract before heading to the bullpen? Well, now he’s made 18 starts.

So, how has a pitcher who had a 6.96 ERA in June and an ERA as high as 4.86 nearly three weeks ago remained in the Phillies’ starting rotation for so long?

Furthermore, is there any way that Kendrick, who now has nearly the same win total as Roy Halladay, can earn a spot in the team’s rotation for 2013?

Kendrick has now given up just two earned runs in his last 21.2 innings. 

Whether or not his last three starts are indicative of things to come remains to be seen, but Kendrick has started to do a better job of using the remaining games as auditions for a spot in next season’s rotation.

And the Phils have yet to rule him out for the job.

Here are four things the Phillies may be considering when it comes to Kendrick’s chances of earning a spot in the team’s rotation for 2013.

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