Phillies get great news on righty reliever behind infamous NLDS blunder vs. Dodgers

The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen this season might be the best one that Rob Thomson has had since his takeover of the manager position in the middle of 2022.

Jhoan Duran is incredible, and add on Jose Alvarado and Brad Keller, the Phillies have a few great set-up relievers. With Tanner Banks and Jonathan Bowlan, along with a few others, the bullpen is in a great spot. And it's going to get even better soon.

According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are set to get Orion Kerkering - the righty reliever behind the now-infamous NLDS error against the Los Angeles Dodgers - back into the bullpen very soon.

Phillies set to get Orion Kerkering back soon

"Orion Kerkering will pitch one more time for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, then join the Phillies in San Francisco," Gelb reports. "Plan is to activate him either Monday or Tuesday."

Kerkering has been out for the beginning of the season due to a hamstring issue, but he's been working out in the minors in a few rehab outings. Those have gone well, and if this last one goes well, he'll be back in the Majors soon.

The Phillies righty reliever will turn 25 years old on April 4th and begin his fourth season in the Majors in a very solid bullpen for the Phillies.

He had a 3.30 ERA in 69 games last year, and a 2.29 ERA in 64 games the year prior. Hopefully for the Phillies, and especially for Kerkering, he can have a repeat of his 2024 season rather than his 2025.

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His game-losing and series-losing error against the Dodgers in the NLDS will live in MLB and Phillies infamy, but moving past that would be huge for the Phillies and Kerkering.

He's been a great reliever, and while he's not going to be the top right-hander coming out of the bullpen, he should be a big help for the bullpen when he's back up in the Majors.

This report is some good news for the Phillies. They will need to make a roster move with one of their relievers, so one of Tim Mayza, Zach Pop, or Kyle Backhus will no longer be in the Majors with Philadelphia by the time Kerkering comes up, barring an injury.

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