Phillies building up Tanner Banks to multi-inning role as he nears return from injured list
Banks, who has been out since July 9, has made four rehab appearances for Lehigh Valley as he builds into the three-inning range as a bulk option in the bullpen.
Tanner Banks is eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Monday, but the Phillies want to give him more time to build up.
The left-hander has been on the shelf since July 9 with a left forearm strain, and has already made four rehab appearances for triple-A Lehigh Valley as he works to rejoin the major league bullpen. But the Phillies want to continue building him into the three-inning range, so he can be a bulk option for the major league club.
“He’s getting to the point where he’s pretty much ready if needed,” said interim manager Don Mattingly.
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Banks has been efficient in his rehab outings. Across 6⅔ innings, he has allowed just two hits and one earned run. He is next scheduled to throw three innings and/or 40 pitches on Tuesday for the IronPigs.
“I think you can kind of see how we’re building him right now, is that we kind of would look at him as more of a length option; be able to come in, throw multiples, do different things like that,” Mattingly said. “We’re sitting with three lefties (José Alvarado, Tim Mayza, and deadline acquisition Brooks Raley); they’ve all been actually pretty good lately. So it would be hard to say I got to force Banks into that, in one of those roles.
“But I think the way we’re building, is that he is a guy that can come into a game and throw two or three innings, if he’s been built up to a pitch count where you’re comfortable and he’s used to that.”
Before his injury, Banks was having a down season and was even optioned in June. He had a 7.14 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in 29 major league innings in 2026, a stark drop-off from his 3.07 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in the majors in 2025.
“You just kind of keep paying attention, who’s kind of rolling and who’s getting their outs, things like that,” Mattingly said of his bullpen mix. “But this is our team. This is our club. Roles are semi-set, but I think you try to make decisions based on what’s best right now, and not necessarily how it’s been all year long.”
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Cortes update
Nestor Cortes will see his first official game action Tuesday since signing with the Phillies on Aug. 19. The left-hander is scheduled to be reinstated from the seven-day injured list and pitch for single-A Clearwater.
Mattingly said he wasn’t sure if Cortes will start the game for the Threshers, but he is scheduled to appear at some point. Cortes, 31, was signed to a major league deal as organizational pitching depth, but he has been on the injured list since Aug. 25 to give him time to build up. He last appeared in a game on Sept. 3, 2025, for the Padres before undergoing arm surgery that sidelined him for most of 2026.
Extra bases
Andrew Painter (3-8, 5.55 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday’s series opener against Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski (4-1, 3.18).
With the minor league season winding down, Phillies farm director Luke Murton returns to Phillies Extra to discuss the state of the system and upcoming changes to his role. He also offers an encouraging update on injured top prospect Aidan Miller. Watch here.
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Previous episodes: Mike Hazen | Tony Gwynn Jr. | Kevin Stocker | Bobby Dickerson | Jim Bowden | John Middleton | Ryan Howard | Dan Baker | Ricky Bottalico | Preston Mattingly
