Phillies call up catcher Payton Henry as Rafael Marchán joins Garrett Stubbs on the IL
Four days after Stubbs (left wrist inflammation) was sidelined, Marchán (left knee tendinitis) joined him on the IL. Enter Henry, who last played in the bigs in 2022, to back up J.T. Realmuto.
For most of the season, the Phillies have carried three catchers on their roster.
In the span of four days, both backups — Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs — have been placed on the injured list.
Stubbs landed on the shelf Tuesday with left wrist inflammation. Marchán departed Wednesday’s game in the middle of the ninth inning with left knee pain, and imaging Thursday revealed patellar tendinitis.
Interim manager Don Mattingly said the news was better than feared.
“We were worried about a tear,” he said. “They haven’t given us a real timetable, but it didn’t sound like it was extended. … I do feel like they’re pretty encouraged, get the inflammation out of there, calm it down, and see where it goes.”
Marchán played 32 games for the Phillies this year. The switch-hitter has a .102 batting average and has posted plus-5 defensive runs saved at catcher. Stubbs has made 20 appearances, including four as a position player pitcher in blowouts. In 28 at-bats, Stubbs has a .179 batting average.
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Stubbs’ placement on the injured list was retroactive to July 18. Mattingly hopes he will be ready to return once the 10 days are up on Tuesday.
Until then, Payton Henry was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley to serve as J.T. Realmuto’s backup. Henry has a .201 average with four home runs in 55 games in triple A this season. He was 20-for-47 in catching attempted base stealers.
Henry, 29, last played in the major leagues in 2022 for the Marlins, where he crossed paths with Mattingly.
“He’s always had the profile of good catch and throw. So that’s what we saw in Miami,” Mattingly said. “There is some pop in there, seeing that also. So it’s never off the table.”
To clear room for Henry on the 40-man roster, Brad Keller (right elbow UCL tear) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
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Extra bases
The Phillies have not announced a starter for Saturday’s game against the Yankees, who will have Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.40 ERA) on the mound. Brian Keller, who had a locker in the Phillies clubhouse Friday, is expected to play a role. Keller, a 39th-round draft pick in 2016, is set to be activated Saturday and is positioned to make his major league debut after stints in the minors and Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Keller also missed nearly three years because of injury, but, after signing a minor league deal with the Phillies in May, has a 2.06 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 39⅓ innings with the IronPigs.
The Phillies and Braves are set to square off again this weekend in Atlanta, so it's the perfect time to check in with Jeff Francoeur, who played for both teams and calls Braves games on TV and radio. Francoeur joined Phillies Extra to help break down the race for NL East supremacy. Watch here.
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