To say that 2018 will prove to be a make-or-break year for Vince Velasquez is putting it lightly. After impressing his new team in the first half of 2016, highlighted by a 16-strikeout shutout in April, Velasquez has been unable to recapture the magic that he seemed to have during his first few months with the Phillies.
After posting a 2.75 ERA over his first nine starts of 2016, Velasquez wound up finishing the year with a 4.12 ERA while also missing time due to injury. Last year, recurring elbow and finger injuries sidelined him to making just 15 starts, over which he had a 5.