Overview
- Orion Kerkering returned from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, and the Phillies optioned left-hander Kyle Backhus to open the roster spot.
- The right-hander missed the first 10 games with a spring hamstring strain and logged four rehab outings at Triple-A while adding a splitter to pair with his fastball and slider.
- Manager Rob Thomson expects Kerkering to handle seventh- or eighth-inning work as a right-handed setup arm behind the club’s late-inning anchors.
- The move trims the bullpen to three lefties after an opening stretch with four, and Backhus went down despite three straight scoreless outings after a rough Opening Day because Tim Mayza cannot be optioned.
- Kerkering posted a 3.30 ERA over 69 games last season, and this stint offers a reset after his season-ending throwing error in the 2025 NLDS.