Phillies Reliever Daniel Robert Placed on IL With Forearm Strain

The Philadelphia Phillies are shuffling their roster again as they try to survive the grind of a long MLB season. They’ve placed reliever Daniel Robert on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.

The move, announced Wednesday and retroactive to Tuesday, lands right before their matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers. Robert has been a steady bullpen-by-signing-veteran-david-robertson/”>bullpen option, but now he’ll sit while the Phillies call up Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his spot.

Daniel Robert’s Season So Far

Robert, 31, has given the Phillies some quality relief innings this year. In 15 appearances, he’s tossed 13 innings, notching a 4.15 ERA and 15 strikeouts.

Hitters are batting just .224 against him, so he’s been a reliable arm for manager Rob Thomson when the pressure’s on. The right forearm strain knocks out a piece of bullpen depth that’s tough to replace, especially as the summer schedule wears on.

Impact on the Phillies’ Bullpen Strategy

With Robert out for at least two weeks, the Phillies have to rethink their late-inning plan. His mix of strikeouts and command helped bridge the gap from starters to closers.

Now, others will have to step up, and the workload for the rest of the bullpen probably just got heavier. Matchups in the late innings might look different for a while.

Max Lazar Gets Another Opportunity

To fill the roster spot, the Phillies recalled right-hander Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Lazar’s been up and down this year—he’s already made 28 appearances for Philly.

He’s gone 1-1 with a 4.78 ERA in the big leagues, showing some flashes but also some inconsistency. Down in Triple-A, Lazar’s looked sharper, putting together a 3-2 record with a 3.38 ERA over 18 games.

He’s shown he can handle tough competition there, so the Phillies are hoping he brings that same edge back to the majors. It’s a bit of a wait-and-see situation.

What Lazar Brings to the Mound

Lazar leans on a lively fastball and a breaking ball that can miss bats when he spots it right. His MLB stats say there’s room to grow, but his minor league numbers hint at real potential.

For Lazar, it’s all about command. If he can limit the walks, he could hold things together while Robert recovers.

Phillies’ Pitching Outlook Moving Forward

The Phillies’ bullpen has been a bit of a moving target this season. They’ve had some strong outings, but injuries and managing workloads keep things interesting.

Manager Rob Thomson might have to get creative, maybe leaning harder on multi-inning relievers or mixing up matchups more often until Robert’s back.

Key Statistics Before and After the Move

Here’s a quick look at the numbers for these two arms in 2024:

• Daniel Robert: 15 games, 13 innings, 4.15 ERA, 15 strikeouts, .224 opponent batting average.
• Max Lazar (MLB): 28 games, 1-1 record, 4.78 ERA.
• Max Lazar (Triple-A): 18 games, 3-2 record, 3.38 ERA.

Final Thoughts

Injuries show up every baseball season, don’t they? For the Phillies, Daniel Robert’s forearm strain brings both a headache and a weird sort of chance.

His absence will test the bullpen’s depth. On the flip side, Max Lazar gets another shot to prove he can hang at the major league level.

Phillies fans just want Robert’s recovery to stay on track. If Lazar can step in and help Philadelphia keep its momentum, that’d be huge in a crowded NL race.

 
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