Overview
- President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Sunday that Orion Kerkering will open the season on the 15-day injured list and remain in Clearwater.
- The IL move is effective Sunday, making the right-hander eligible to return April 6 in San Francisco, and the club is optimistic it could be a minimum stay.
- Philadelphia set its bullpen with Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, José Alvarado and Tanner Banks in higher-leverage roles, joined by Jonathan Bowlan, Kyle Backhus, Tim Mayza and Zach Pop.
- Zach Pop won a spot over Rule 5 pick Zach McCambley, who was returned to the Marlins, while Chase Shugart was optioned and Mayza was added to the 40-man roster.
- Kerkering, who debuted Friday with 16 pitches of fastballs and sweepers and did not use his new splitter, is slated for a minor-league spring game Monday and a potential Triple-A rehab series March 31–April 5.