After the Philadelphia Phillies claimed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza on Sunday, they added him to the roster on Monday as Major League Baseball rosters expanded to 28 players. Manager Rob Thomson wasted no time throwing him into the mix, facing the team with the best record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Phillies trailing 5–3.
Mayza was recently designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who has been out since April with a lat injury that put him on the 60 day IL. He had not appeared in an MLB game since April 18 against the Cleveland Guardians, however did make four rehab appearances, per Sean Kane of NBC Philadelphia. In seven games this season, he posted a 2.89 ERA. Over his career, which began with the Toronto Blue Jays, Mayza holds a 20–9 record with a 3.84 ERA across 375 appearances.
Tim Mayza makes strong early case for a chance at Red October with Phillies
Mayza shined in his debut outing, delivering a perfect 1-2-3 inning against the heart of the Brewers’ lineup: Christian Yelich, Jake Bauers, and Blake Perkins (hitters 4–6). He threw 13 pitches, eight for strikes, recording one strikeout. He left the game in line for his first win as a Phillie after a three-run top of the sixth gave Philadelphia a 6–5 lead, however the Brewers tied the game at 6-6. He leaned heavily on his sinker, throwing it eight times out of his 13 pitches, with a max velocity of 94.1 mph.
A 1-2-3 inning for Tim Mayza. His stuff looked really sharp.
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His Monday performance was an encouraging start to his tenure in Philadelphia, as the team looks to finalize its postseason bullpen. The Phillies will be without José Alvarado in October, following his suspension for violating the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program after testing positive for exogenous testosterone.
Hell of a debut by Tim Mayza. More usable bullpen arms is never a bad thing. Phils might’ve found one to start September.
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Mayza’s role with the team is still unclear whether he will be used in high-leverage situations or remain in middle relief, as he was on Monday when the Phillies were trailing. Assuming this final month serves as a tryout for the postseason roster, we can expect to see him tested in more critical moments to determine if he can be relied upon in October.
Yes, it’s only one game but it’s a better debut than fans have seen in the past from others, and the Phillies will need someone to step up come October. It was an encouraging sign, especially against a strong team with a solid offense.
