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Don Mattingly Reveals Strategy for New Phillies Pitcher José Urquidy in Upcoming Game
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- Don Mattingly Reveals Strategy for New Phillies Pitcher José Urquidy in Upcoming Game
The Philadelphia Phillies are using their newest pitching addition to reshape their weekend plans as they push toward the postseason.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly confirmed that right-hander José Urquidy will be active for Friday's game and used in a bullpen game against the New York Mets . The move allows Philadelphia to keep top pitching prospect Andrew Painter on his normal schedule for Saturday.
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Urquidy was claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He gives the Phillies another option to cover innings while the pitching staff deals with the absence of Jesús Luzardo .
The Phillies also transferred right-hander Caleb Kilian to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot for Urquidy.
The 31-year-old has spent most of the season working in a long-relief role. He threw 22.2 innings for the White Sox, posting a 4.37 ERA, 15 strikeouts and a 1.19 WHIP.
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Urquidy has also pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season and owns a 4.08 ERA across his MLB career. He previously faced Philadelphia during the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros .
Painter will now get the extra day before making his Saturday start. The rookie has made 23 appearances, including 21 starts, and has logged 115.1 innings with 100 strikeouts and 43 walks.
The results have been uneven, with Painter carrying a 5.54 ERA, but he showed what he can provide in his most recent outing. He allowed one run over five innings against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 13.
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Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The timing of the move is also important for Philadelphia's bullpen. Urquidy can absorb innings Friday and help keep high-leverage relievers such as Jhoan Duran from being overworked with the postseason approaching.
Urquidy will not be eligible for Philadelphia's postseason roster because he was acquired after the Sept. 1 deadline. His immediate value is giving Mattingly another arm to navigate the final games of the regular season.
The Phillies entered Friday trailing the Cubs (85-68) by a half-game for the top Wild Card position. With the regular season winding down, the club is clearly prioritizing pitching availability and keeping its key arms on schedule.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
