Phillies put reliever Caleb Kilian on injured list with left oblique strain
The Phillies recalled Chase Shugart to take Kilian's spot on the roster.
The overburdened Phillies bullpen has been dealt another blow.
Right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, the Phillies announced ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Kilian felt a grab in his left side during his second-to-last pitch in the 12th inning of Sunday’s home win over Toronto. Interim manager Don Mattingly said afterward it “didn’t look good,” and Kilian remained back in Philadelphia to get imaging, which revealed the strain.
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The Phillies’ bullpen has been extremely taxed in the last week. The club is in the midst of a stretch of 14 consecutive games before a day off Friday, and played three extra-inning games during its just-completed homestand. Kilian suffered his injury while making his fourth appearance since arriving in Philadelphia on Aug. 4.
To fill Kilian’s spot, the Phillies recalled right-hander Chase Shugart. He had previously been optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday to open a spot for Alan Rangel as emergency relief depth. Since Shugart is replacing a player on the injured list, he does not have to stay in the minor leagues for the typical 15-day minimum.
Shugart has a 4.93 ERA in 38⅓ innings this season. He pitched the 10th and 11th innings on Saturday and took the loss against Toronto after giving up a two-run homer to Nathan Lukes.
Extra bases
Cristopher Sánchez (15-4, 2.65 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday opposite Cardinals righty Andre Pallante (12-6, 3.63).
In trading for Luis Arraez at the deadline, the Phillies displaced three-fourths of their infield but left Trea Turner at shortstop. To help make sense of it all, pennant-winning former shortstop and current radio broadcaster Kevin Stocker joined Phillies Extra, The Inquirer's baseball podcast. Watch here.
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