The Phillies’ second half has opened with more questions than answers, and the bullpen has been right in the middle of it.
Philadelphia fell 1-0 to the New York Yankees in the opener, a result that only added to the unease around a stretch that was supposed to help set the tone for the rest of the season. The club is still sitting on a strong record, but the early returns after the break have not matched expectations.
Even with a tough three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers, this homestand was a chance to build momentum. Instead, the Phillies have come out of it with concerns in multiple places.
The list is not short. The lineup needs help.
The starting rotation needs help. And the bullpen, above all, has become the biggest focal point.
Brad Keller’s injury dealt a major blow to that group, and there is no easy way to replace what he brought. Still, the Phillies may have found an internal answer worth leaning on in Bowlan.
The right-hander has put together a 2.86 ERA with 42 strikeouts across 34.2 innings pitched, and the offseason trade that brought him over from the Kansas City Royals is starting to look like a useful piece of business. He has also taken a clear step forward in July, posting a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings with 12 strikeouts this month.
That kind of run has put Bowlan squarely in the conversation for a bigger job. With the bullpen likely needing more than one arm, Philadelphia would still be wise to look outside the organization for help. But Bowlan is making a strong case to be part of the solution, and he could be asked to help bridge the gap to Jhoan Duran at closer.
Over the last two months, Bowlan has allowed just two earned runs, and at a time when the Phillies need stability, he has given them exactly that.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Got A Troubling Pitching Update Before The Deadline
The Phillies have spent much of the summer trying to patch together a roster that has been tested by injuries on the right side of the outfield and by some uneven pitching behind the front of the rotation. With the deadline approaching, the conversation inside the organization has only sharpened around how much help the staff actually has in reserve, especially when it comes to finding reliable innings beyond the starters who are already carrying the load.
Alex McFarlane and Gage Wood are part of the systems long-term picture, but neither is viewed as a quick fix for the kind of late-game pressure the Phillies need to solve right now. Wood is still being developed as a starter, while McFarlane remains a work in progress, which leaves the front office staring at a familiar deadline question: whether the answer has to come from outside the organization rather than from a prospect breakthrough at home. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Linked To Francisco Lindor In Trade Idea Mets Fans Need To See
With the trade deadline approaching, the Phillies are still searching for ways to sharpen a roster built to win now, with pitching and bullpen help sitting near the top of the list. A recent hypothetical idea put Francisco Lindor into the conversation, which is enough to get attention around the league, but it also comes with an obvious question for Philadelphia: where exactly would he fit on a team that already has Trea Turner locked in long term?
Lindors production this season has not exactly made the case for a major reshuffle, and the Phillies have reason to be cautious about forcing a move just because a big name is available. For all the intrigue attached to a star shortstop, the cleaner path may be to use the deadline to add a more natural fit, with an outfielder on an expiring contract looking like the kind of upgrade that would make more sense for what this roster actually needs. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Linked To A Trade Idea That Would Frustrate Fans Fast
The latest trade chatter around the Phillies has a familiar kind of frustration attached to it, because it asks them to chase help at a spot that already looks occupied. Bleacher Reports Zachary D. Rymer floated a deal that would send two pitching prospects to Minnesota in exchange for a catcher, but Philadelphias current setup makes the idea feel more like a detour than a solution. J.T. Realmuto is healthy and still entrenched as the starter, while the broader roster picture points elsewhere for upgrades.
Catcher has become a depth conversation in Philadelphia more than a true need, especially with Rafael Marchan sidelined for a while and Garrett Stubbs not viewed as a reliable emergency starter. Even so, the Phillies front office has more pressing holes to address, particularly in the search for a right-handed slugger and outfield help, which is why a move like this would likely test fans patience fast. The market may exist for a catcher, but for the Phillies, the fit looks awfully hard to justify. [Read more 🡒]