The Phillies’ bullpen issues are hard to miss right now, and Brad Keller being likely done for the season only sharpens the need. With a few other arms also scuffling, it makes sense that Philadelphia is being linked to reliever trade targets. But the club may also have a solution brewing from within.
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are expected to move 25-year-old right-hander Alex McFarlane up soon. The catch: it’s not a major league call-up.
“McFarlane is expected to be promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the near future, according to team sources who were not authorized to speak publicly,” Gelb reports.
McFarlane has already been on the MLB roster before, though he never got into a game. That part isn’t changing yet. For now, his next step is Triple-A, not Philadelphia.
The numbers help explain why he’s getting attention. McFarlane has put together a 2.12 ERA in 31 appearances this season, along with 12 saves in 13 chances and 45 strikeouts across 34 innings.
There’s real intrigue here for the Phillies. McFarlane could still be in the mix for a major league opportunity later this season, and he may eventually factor into the bullpen picture in a meaningful way.
For now, though, the move appears to be a Triple-A promotion, with Lehigh Valley as his next stop. Phillies fans should keep an eye on him, because he could become part of the conversation either at the trade deadline or down the stretch this October.
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Zack Wheeler Is Finally Getting The Respect Phillies Fans Wanted
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Wheelers dominance has only grown as the summer has worn on, with multiple outings featuring double-digit strikeouts and a stretch that has put him near the top of MLBs starting pitcher conversation. For Phillies fans, it has been a familiar frustration and a fresh satisfaction at the same time: the performance has been obvious for months, and now the broader baseball world is finally starting to catch up. [Read more 🡒]