SAN FRANCISCO - When the Phillies reported for spring training in mid-February, their bullpen was viewed as their strength, and their rotation didn't look half-bad, either.
It was scoring runs that would prove a big challenge.
But with the Phillies ready to cap the unofficial first half of their season, it's the starting pitching that is letting them down as much as anything else. Baseball's worst team entered Saturday's game against the Giants with a major-league-worst 5.45 ERA and 580 hits allowed.
When David Buchanan took the AT&T Park mound on Saturday night, the Phillies pitching staff had a combined 18-48 record.