Phillies reinstate Orion Kerkering from the 15-day injured list
A right hamstring strain kept Kerkering out at the start of the season. Kyle Backhus was sent to triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room on the roster.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Phillies bullpen, which entered Tuesday’s game against the Giants on a 16-inning scoreless streak, just got a reinforcement.
Right-hander Orion Kerkering was reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, the Phillies optioned Kyle Backhus to triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he would like to ease Kerkering back into action, so he will likely be tabbed for the sixth or seventh inning.
Kerkering’s start to the spring was slowed by a mild hamstring strain he suffered before camp opened this year. He made four appearances for triple-A Lehigh Valley as he built up on a rehab assignment, pitching to a 2.25 ERA and 0.75 WHIP.
The Phillies right-hander introduced a splitter over the offseason to his arsenal of sweeper, sinker, and four-seam to add a different look to his repertoire.
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Thomson believes the splitter is a major-league-ready pitch.
“It’s been really good,” Thomson said. “And it just gives the hitter different look, gets them off the slider a little bit, but it’s got a lot of bottom to it.”
Backhus, a lefty sidearmer, was acquired by the Phillies in December in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu. He made his first career opening day roster this year, and allowed three earned runs in his first appearance on March 26 but had scoreless outings in his next three appearances out of the bullpen.
“Backhus, every time out, he’s been getting better,” Thomson said. “It’s a good problem to have.”
Thomson said that having closer Jhoan Duran anchor the ninth inning and giving the rest of the relievers more solidified roles has contributed to the unit’s success so far this season.
“It’s a little bit easier to match up, because with our starting pitching, typically you expect five [innings] and so you really have to match up six, seven and eight,” Thomson said. “You got Duran in the ninth, if it’s a save situation. So it makes it a little easier.”
Alec Bohm out of the lineup
Dylan Moore drew in Tuesday’s lineup at second base and Edmundo Sosa started at third. Alec Bohm came out of Monday night with groin tightness from running, but Thomson said he should be fine for Wednesday.
Adolis García slid up to the cleanup spot. He entered Tuesday with a .270 batting average with two homers. García has consistently made solid contact. His average exit velocity of 94.1 mph ranks in the 94th percentile of hitters.
Plate discipline has been a main focus for García since joining the Phillies. He had a 35.8% chase rate and 24.7% strikeout rate last season, which so far this season are 31.8% and 22%, respectively.
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“I think he’s worked hard at it,” Thomson said. “There’s gonna be some games that he’s gotten out of the zone a little bit, but for the most part, I think he’s done a pretty good job.”
With the Phillies facing left-handed Giant starter Robbie Ray on Tuesday, Otto Kemp started in left field.
Extra bases
J.T. Realmuto was removed from Tuesday night’s game with a bruised right foot after taking a foul ball off it in the first inning. … Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet decompression surgery) is set to make his third rehab start Wednesday for triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is tabbed for four innings and/or 65 pitches. … Aaron Nola (1-0, 3.18 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against San Francisco Giants righty Tyler Mahle (0-2, 7.00).
As the Phillies continue to seek more production out of the cleanup spot, Rhys Hoskins was back in town with the Cleveland Guardians. Hoskins sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss his role with the first-place Guardians, his legacy with the Phillies, and more. Watch here.
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