Phillies Set to Activate Lefty Kyle Backhus as Bryse Wilson Is Designated and Starter Remains TBD

Overview

• Don Mattingly said Sunday that left-hander Kyle Backhus is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list during the upcoming four-game series in Washington, restoring a third southpaw behind José Alvarado and Tim Mayza.
• Late Sunday the Phillies designated swingman Bryse Wilson for assignment and optioned reliever Max Lazar to Triple-A Lehigh Valley as part of roster changes to prepare for the Nationals series.
• The team has not named the starter for Monday’s opener and announced it will add another pitcher to the roster before the game, with that addition likely to be a multi-inning starter rather than a one-inning specialist.
• Right-hander Alan Rangel is the leading internal candidate to fill the open rotation spot because he is Lehigh Valley’s best starter this year and the only Triple-A starter on the 40-man roster, though a bullpen opener remains a possible fallback.
• These short-term moves reflect the club’s effort to manage thin left-handed bullpen depth and rotation uncertainty while preserving roster flexibility ahead of the trade deadline and the Philadelphia club’s evaluation of controllable pitching assets.