Maikel Franco in the return leg against the nationals

PHILADELPHIA – Jake Arrieta describes the bone spur in his right elbow as a "very good marble" that blocks the joint.
This causes pain every time he throws, but he said that he would try to throw with this pain the rest of the season, hoping that he would perform well enough to

PHILADELPHIA – Jake Arrieta describes the bone spur in his right elbow as a "very good marble" that blocks the joint.

This hurts him with each pitch, but he said that he would try to bear that pain the rest of the season, hoping that he would be performing well enough to stabilize a spin that would rank at the bottom of the league national.

Arrieta's Sunday afternoon efforts at Citizens Bank Park – he conceded four hits and a five-run score – allowed Maikel Franco to score the goal for the center-center first-half with two out-outs. the ninth inning on a 4-3 victory the nationals. Franco's 100th career match prevented a sweep of the series and allowed the Phillies to return to second place in the NL Wild Cards.

"We needed this game so badly," said Franco.

• The score of the box

But the presence of Arrieta and his performances in the upcoming rotation deserve to be watched closely. The rotation came Sunday in 11th place in the National League with a time of 4.53 and one last with a FIP of 5.02.

Aaron Nola earned a silver medal of 0.76 (three earned runs in 35 innings and two-thirds) with five starts since June 15, while the rest of the rotation has a period of 6.62 (66 points in 89 2/3) and 18 starts.

"The more throws I throw, the harder it gets," said Arrieta. "It does not feel good, I'll tell you."

"What did Jake's 85% look like for us? That's it, right? Said Phillies director Gabe Kapler. "It's a guy who can fight despite a discomfort. It's a guy who can fight without being at his best, but who can still give us a chance to win. A truly impressive, burst and resilient effort by Jake. "

Arrieta's fastball speed averaged 93.2 mph on two runs, but at 91.3 mph in the third, 92.9 in the fourth and 91.0 in the fifth. He launched his trimmer only once in his last two starts. He pitched the field 15.2 percent of the time in his first 17 games, according to Statcast.

"It's probably the tone that hurt the most and was most affected by this bone spur," said Arrieta. "I try to pitch the pitch the way I've always done it, but I just can not get it done what I usually do. The break is not there. I'm going to use it at times, but every time I have to turn my hand on the spinning ball or the cutter, I have some problems with it. "

He leaves Arrieta with a lead, a curved ball and a change of direction. He said that may be enough.

"My combination of curveball and change of direction is generally very good and if I can locate it, get ahead of the guys and use those terrains in situations that will allow them to put the ball down and get the ball rolling. To get swings and failures, I'll do it. Said Arrieta.

Of course, it would be a mistake for the Phillies to bet on Arrieta to start the rest of the season. At some point, the pain may become intolerable. Nobody knows. What they really need are right-handers Zach Eflin, Vince Velasquez and Nick Pivetta to better pitch. The trio will face the Dodgers in that order in the first three games of a four-game series starting Monday night.

"Obviously we need them to get on and improve a bit for us and I think they will," said Arrieta. "They know what's at stake. They are well aware of that. We believe in the group we have, no matter what I go through. I always know what I am capable of even with this problem. We need a little more of our beginners collectively and I think that was the message of Day 1. "

The Phillies could seek help from outside. Two post-season contenders have just found reinforcements for their rotations at little cost. The Red Sox acquired right-handed Andrew Cashner (9-3, 3.83) and 17.25 FIP Orioles against two hopes and 17-year-old silver. None of the two prospects are in Boston's Top 30. These are essentially lottery tickets. The Red Sox will pay Cashner less than $ 2 million. Homer Bailey (FRF 7-6, 4.80, 4.47 FIP) acquired by right-hander A for double league Kevin A, Kevin Merrell, who was their No. 17 hope. Oakland will pay about $ 250,000 to Bailey .

Kuwait signed southpaw Dallas Keuchel (3-2, 3.09 ERA, 4.89 FIP) last month. The Phillies had no interest in him.

It's hard to imagine the Phillies acquiring a pitcher like left-handed Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. It's going to cost a lot and Phillies chairman Andy MacPhail said on Friday that the team was up to more than one player in the World Series win, saying it was unlikely they would negotiate the best prospects for rental.

"I think the band here can do it," said Arrieta. "Some of our guys need more productivity. It's simple and clear. It's easy to always look for the outside solution. It may be a cliché, but we have guys who can continue to win steadily, we just need to be successful and that's really all there is to it. "