Phillies reliever Brad Keller was placed on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis, the team announced Tuesday.
The move is retroactive to Sunday. Keller has a 4.15 ERA in 31 appearances for the Phillies and is 3-for-4 in save opportunities. Interim manager Don Mattingly has used the right-hander in a high-leverage role this season, often as a setup for closer Jhoan Duran. The bulk of Keller’s appearances have come in the eighth inning.
In his last outing in Milwaukee on Saturday, Keller allowed three runs to score in the eighth on three singles, two walks, and a wild pitch.
“He’d been having little stuff going on, and it kind of continued, and it was something that we felt like we’re better off knocking it out right now, and not letting it get too far,” Mattingly said. “We feel good about him and we’re looking more long game with him, make sure that he’s going to be available as we go forward.”
Mattingly added that Keller will get imaging done, since that is a usual part of the process, but the Phillies do not expect it to reveal a major injury.
“Just probably inflammation and stuff like that,” Mattingly said. “But it is something that we know has been nagging. … We don’t need any heroes right now. Into September or something, and guys want to push through, you’ll allow it, but right now we don’t want that.”
In a corresponding move, Max Lazar was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley to join the Phillies bullpen. Lazar started the season on the injured list after suffering an oblique injury during the World Baseball Classic. He has a 3.86 ERA in 11 appearances for the IronPigs this year.
Marsh leading off; Schwarber at first
The Phillies lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Marlins had a few twists.
Brandon Marsh was leading off against former Phillie Tyler Phillips, his first time starting a game atop the order since 2022.
Kyle Schwarber, hitting second in the order, started a game at first base for the first time since 2021. He had previously played an inning at first late in a blowout loss to the A’s in May, after Mattingly emptied the bench.
Trea Turner, who was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning Monday and later exited, was out of the lineup but is feeling better, according to Mattingly.
Schwarber started at first base on Tuesday to allow Bryce Harper to move to designated hitter and take a day off from defense, Mattingly said.
“Him being on the field like 10, 12 times a year has been in the works. He does work there occasionally,” Mattingly said. “We’re not going to kill him anywhere, but he handles himself all right out there. But we have to be able to do it some to be able to get Harp off his feet. This is kind of the week that we’re a little dinged up in the infield. … Just trying to give everybody a day, the guys that are kind of in there every day, before the extra off day coming.”
Mattingly, a nine-time Gold Glove winner at first base, is confident in Schwarber’s ability to adjust to the position.
“These guys have played their whole life, and I know we’re putting them in positions that aren’t really what they do, and you don’t want to do that all the time, but these guys are baseball players,” Mattingly said.
“They’ve been the best athletes on their teams from the time they were 8 years old, probably. So, him going out there, he’s probably going to have fun out there.”
The Marsh-Schwarber-Harper configuration stacks three lefties at the top of the Phillies order, which Mattingly felt comfortable doing because of their production against left-handed pitchers this season.
“Harp handles lefties, Schwarb handles them, Brandon’s been good with them,” Mattingly said. “They’re playing every day anyway. So this was one of those things that, today, felt OK.”
Turner expected to return Wednesday
Turner’s bruised right wrist felt better Tuesday, Mattingly said, though he was still sore and stiff.
The Phillies shortstop was in the midst of a deep slump before he was hit by a fastball in the sixth inning on Monday.
Over his last seven games, Turner is 3-for-29 with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. His batting average has dropped to .216. In addition to helping him rest his wrist, Mattingly hopes a day off could help Turner reset at the plate.
“I think obviously getting off your feet, when you play every day, getting off your feet always helps a little bit,” Mattingly said. “I mean, I don’t know if we’re talking like he’s going to get hot or anything like that, but days off are good now and then.”
Extra bases
Right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge, who was designated for assignment by the Phillies on June 11, was released. … Andrew Painter (1-7, 6.43 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (6-4, 4.25).
