Phillies call up reliever Alex McFarlane from double A
The hard-throwing 24-year-old right-hander will give them an eighth reliever for the series opener in Atlanta after they released Taijuan Walker and played shorthanded Thursday in Chicago.
ATLANTA — Next up in the Phillies’ banged-up bullpen: Alex McFarlane.
McFarlane was called up Friday from double-A Reading, giving the Phillies an eighth reliever for the series opener in Atlanta after they released Taijuan Walker and played short-handed Thursday in Chicago.
“He’s got a really, really good arm,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s really exciting to watch.”
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McFarlane throws in the upper-90s, but command has often been an issue. The 24-year-old righty allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks in 6⅓ innings over seven appearances for Reading. He has a 1.42 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
“There’s so much sink to [the fastball] that sometimes it’s tough to control,” Thomson said. “But if he throws it over the plate, it’s going to be hard to hit. It’s a bowling ball.”
The Phillies entered Friday night on a nine-game losing streak, their worst skid since the 99-loss 2015 season. An injury-ravaged bullpen has contributed to their struggles.
Star closer Jhoan Duran is sidelined by a strained oblique muscle in his left side. Jonathan Bowlan (groin) and Zach Pop (calf) are also out. The Phillies considered moving Walker to the bullpen but instead released the veteran righty, swallowing his 9.13 ERA and the $15.3 million left on his contract.
If McFarlane faces the Braves, he will be the fourth Phillies player to make a major league debut this season, joining center fielder Justin Crawford, right-hander Andrew Painter, and outfielder Felix Reyes.
Fifty years ago, the All-Star Game came to Philadelphia as part of the bicentennial celebration. Larry Bowa was among five Phillies who represented the National League. With the Midsummer Classic returning to town next month, Bowa joined Phillies Extra to recall the atmosphere surrounding the 1976 game and being an All-Star at Veterans Stadium, as well as the state of the current Phillies. Watch here.
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