After last night's horrendous outing by Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick, one would have to assume that the 7 runs he surrendered to the Marlins, in just 1 1/3 innings, will be his last as a starter with the Phils.

Next year, the Phillies will have six guys competing for five spots in the rotation. With Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer set to take the top four spots, J.A. Happ and Carlos Carrasco will be vying for the final opening. That doesn't include Adam Eaton, who hopefully will be released, and Kendrick, who probably will be traded in the offseason, or sent to Lehigh Valley to waste away until some pitching coach thinks that he can bring Kendrick in and fix him up. It also doesn't include any starter that the Phillies might take a flyer on in the free agent market.

In his last six starts, Kendrick has given up 7, 6, 1, 2, 6, and 7 runs. If only Rich Dubee could harness the middle two starts, Kendrick would be an ace. However, the reality is that Kendrick is more of a smoke and mirrors type pitcher, so he'll probably be gone this offseason.

The 10-8 loss, in which Chase Utley stranded the tying run at second base in the sixth inning, dropped the Phils 2.5 games back of the Mets. The season isn't over, but they can't lose too many more of the final 17 games.