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Phillies option lefty reliever with funky delivery to activate Orion Kerkering
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- Phillies option lefty reliever with funky delivery to activate Orion Kerkering
Phillies option lefty reliever with funky delivery to activate Orion Kerkering originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Philadelphia Phillies had a bit of a shaky start to the season, but they're still a great team, and that's especially the case in the bullpen.
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Jhoan Duran is one of the best closers, while Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado are some great set-up men. And that group of set-up relievers is getting a bit better this offseason.
As Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports, the Phillies are optioning a funky lefty reliever to activate Orion Kerkering from the injured list to join the bullpen for the first time after his NLDS blunder against the Los Angeles Dodgers .
Phillies option funky lefty, activate Orion Kerkering
"The Phillies optioned LHP Kyle Backhus after Monday night's game," Zolecki reports, "RHP Orion Kerkering will be activated from the IL today."
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Backhus, the funky lefty reliever with some intriguing potential thanks to his arm angle, posted a 9.00 ERA in four outings forthe Phillies.
But those all came in his debut on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers , when he allowed three runs in 0.1 innings of work. He struck out four and gave up just one hit in his next three outings, totaling 2.2 innings pitched.
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Taking his place on the active roster is Kerkering, the 25-year-old righty reliever who posted a 3.30 ERA in 69 games last season for the Phillies.
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In 2024, Kerkering had a very impressive 2.29 ERA in 64 games. He's struggled a bit in the postseason, with his 6.75 ERA in four games last year, along with his series-losing error, making for a brutal way to close 2025 for Kerkering.
However, the Phillies righty is still a good reliever, and with Keller, Alvarado, Duran, and a few others in the bullpen, Kerkering's addition should be a nice way to bolster the bullpen a few weeks into the regular season.
