Former Dodgers Reliever Is Back In The News For A Tough Reason

The Philadelphia Phillies bolster their bullpen by bringing back seasoned reliever Lou Trivino as they gear up for a pivotal series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Phillies are making a bullpen move before Tuesday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing back a familiar right-hander while sending another arm down.

Philadelphia announced that Chase Shugart has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and Lou Trivino is taking his spot on the active roster.

For Trivino, this is a return trip. The 34-year-old is back for his second Major League stint with the club after pitching in 10 games for the Phillies in 2025. In that run, he gave up two earned runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking five across nine innings.

Trivino brings plenty of big-league mileage with him. He’s a seven-year veteran who once played a major role in the Athletics’ bullpen back when the franchise was still in Oakland. His rookie season in 2018 was his sharpest stretch, when he logged a 143 ERA+ and struck out 27.4% of the batters he faced.

Since then, he’s been on the move, with stops with the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. He opened 2026 with the Baltimore Orioles, but appeared in just two games before electing free agency after clearing waivers.

His path back has also included a major setback. Trivino did not pitch in 2024 after a right elbow sprain in spring training led to Tommy John Surgery.

For now, the expectation is that Phillies manager Don Mattingly will deploy Trivino in lower-pressure spots and use him to cover innings when games start to get away.

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