Before the Philadelphia Phillies resumed their series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, the team announced a change in their bullpen. Coming back from the quirky mid-series off day on Tuesday, right-hander Daniel Robert was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Sept. 2, with a right forearm strain.
In Robert’s place, the Phillies have recalled former Brewers draft pick right-hander Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies have placed right-handed pitcher Daniel Robert on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to 9/2) with a right forearm strain. To fill his spot on the 28-man roster, right-handed pitcher Max Lazar was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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Phillies recall Max Lazar with Daniel Robert heading to 15-day IL, again
Lazar will try to help the Phillies defeat the team that originally drafted him and win the series against the Brewers. If the Phillies can build on their rousing 10-8 win on Monday and take the next two for the sweep, they’ll even the season series between the two top National League teams and have a chance at the playoff seeding tiebreaker.
Pitching in Triple-A this season, Lazar has a 3.37 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in 21 1/3 innings for the IronPigs. The 31-year-old had previously been in the Phillies’ bullpen for three months after initially being called up on May 19. He was optioned back to Lehigh Valley on Aug. 18 after surrendering three runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Washington Nationals.
In 32 innings in the majors this season, Lazar has a 4.78 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and nine walks. Most of that damage came in one rough outing, however. The Chicago White Sox tagged him for six runs on seven hits in just 1/3 of an inning on July 30.
Before that disastrous appearance, Lazar had registered a 2.96 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. Following that tough showing at the end of July, he threw up another six innings of scoreless work before the Nationals got to him in his final big league appearance.
Robert, 31, recently came off the injured list in mid-August after suffering a blister on his right middle finger. He was optioned at that time but was recalled to the Phillies on Aug. 26 as part of the bullpen shuffle when Joe Ross was released and Jordan Romano was placed on the 15-day IL. Unfortunately, the new ailment sounds more menacing, as forearm strains can be a precursor to elbow problems.
Robert had spent four stints on the active roster (five if you include a quick trip as the 27th man for a doubleheader) after the Phillies acquired him from the Texas Rangers on May 1. In 13 innings pitched, he has a 4.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP, an unflattering stat exacerbated by his 10 walks. Despite having intriguing strikeout stuff, with 15 strikeouts out of the bullpen this season, problems with command have continued to be his Achilles heel.
