Do the Phillies Have a Solid Bridge to Jhoan Duran?

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ bullpen was expected to be a strong point of their ball club entering the 2026 season. The team signed Brad Keller, traded for Jonathan Bowlan, picked up José Alvarado’s club option, and returned the likes of Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, and Jhoan Duran.

Philadelphia presumed that Keller would lock down the eighth inning. They thought they had reliable high-leverage left-handed arms in Banks and Alvarado who could pick up a late inning or come into a big spot. They believed Bowlan’s stuff was good enough to pitch big innings.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, the relief corps has been a weak point for the club of late. A team in need of quality innings from its bullpen to shut down games in its push for October baseball has seen those arms let it down instead.

The Phillies are a team built on pitching. Their lineup is among the worst in baseball. So, they’re going to need the bullpen to stabilize and provide them a bridge to Jhoan Duran in the ninth inning.

Stats updated prior to games on September 18.

Duran Has Changed the Equation

For many years, the Phillies’ closer role was by committee. They would approach the bullpen based on matchups as opposed to deeming one player their closer.

Jhoan Duran has been one of the best bullpen arms in all of baseball since coming over from Minnesota at last season’s trade deadline. Since his acquisition, the Phillies feel confident that if they can just get to the ninth frame with a lead, they will win a lot of ballgames.

As a Phillie, Duran has a 1.87 ERA with 48 saves. This season, he’s one save away from his career-high at 33. The 28-year-old has found some of the best strikeout stuff of his career in 2026, fanning 12.62 hitters per nine innings.

Duran has amassed a 2.7 fWAR this season, tied for third among all relievers. While the Phillies feel confident about their closer, the rest of their bullpen poses several questions. No other Phillies reliever is in the top 50.

The Seventh and Eighth Inning Options That Have Struggled

As previously mentioned, the eighth inning was Brad Keller’s to lose. With Keller going down due to an elbow injury, it opened the door for someone else.

However, the club has had trouble finding stability in the setup role for their All-Star closer.

Orion Kerkering was the initial choice to shoulder the eighth inning load. For the Phillies’ righty, this season has been a tale of two halves. Prior to the All-Star break, Kerkering posted a 2.43 ERA and was dominant for the club. Since then, he’s posted a 7.11 ERA and has fallen out of favor with manager Don Mattingly. The latest news is that he’s going to be optioned to Triple-A.

The next option the Phillies deferred to was righty Jonathan Bowlan. Bowlan earned the role while in the midst of an elite run. From June 1 to August 15, the Phillies’ hard-throwing reliever posted a 1.37 ERA while striking out 12.65 hitters per nine, and a 95.7% left-on-base percentage.

Since the end of that run, Bowlan has struggled. He’s allowed eight runs in 12.2 innings of work, giving up four homers in that stretch. Bowlan is losing some trust and may lose his role entirely.

Another potential option was trade deadline acquisition Brooks Raley. The southpaw was the main bullpen move Dave Dombrowski made at the deadline, and once again, it has been a disappointing move from the Phillies’ president of baseball operations.

Raley had a 1.96 ERA with the Mets, but since the move from New York, he has a 6.97 ERA. He’s served up four home runs in just 10.1 innings and is no longer a viable option.

Who Ultimately Gets the Ball in the Eighth?

José Alvarado and Alex McFarlane appear to be the best options for the Phillies before they hand the ball off to Jhoan Duran.

The Phillies were in desperate need of production from left-handed relievers. Alvarado had a 6.82 ERA prior to the break, while Tanner Banks has fallen off and Brooks Raley has been bad as a Phillie. That has left a lot of question marks on the left-handed side.

Fortunately for the Phillies, Alvarado has been back to his old self lately. Since the break, he boasts a 2.82 ERA and has quietly become one of the Phillies’ more dependable bullpen pieces.

According to Baseball Savant, Alvarado ranks in the 96th percentile with a 29.8% hard-hit rate. His ERA currently sits at 5.20, but he has an xERA of 3.91, reflecting a fairly unlucky campaign.

While it has been a small sample for McFarlane, the Phillies’ rookie flamethrower has been one of the most dependable arms in their bullpen.

McFarlane came straight up from Double-A Reading, and his elite stuff has helped him look very good. In 14.2 innings of work, he has a 2.45 ERA. Aside from a three-run shot he gave up to Ronald Acuña Jr. after Garrett Stubbs called seven straight fastballs, McFarlane has been lock down.

The Phillies should mix and match McFarlane and Alvarado based on matchups. If they’re facing a left-handed pocket in the seventh inning, they should deploy Alvarado first. With the way both of them are throwing the ball lately, the Phillies will certainly rely on them heavily.

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Who Can Handle the Middle Innings?

With Dombrowski’s other trade deadline acquisition, Caleb Kilian, landing on the 60-day IL, the Phillies’ options are becoming increasingly thin.

One of the best options the Phillies have that is not talked about enough is lefty Tim Mayza. The Phillies have used him in primarily low-leverage spots this season, but he’s quietly been one of the best relievers on the team. Mayza sports a 3.08 ERA and has been even better in the second half. Since the break, Mayza has a 2.05 ERA.

Mayza has been extremely productive against left-handed hitters this season. In left-on-left matchups, opposing batters have hit .216 with a .583 OPS against Mayza.

However, he has struggled in the few high-leverage spots the Phillies have deployed him in. In those appearances, the opposition hits .368 against him with a .935 OPS. Still, Philadelphia can likely count on him to pitch the sixth or seventh inning in a big game.

The Phillies’ starting pitchers make Don Mattingly’s bullpen decisions much easier. The club can expect their starting pitchers to regularly make it through the sixth or seventh inning. Philadelphia is second in baseball when it comes to quality starts with 70. In October, the club will feature three elite pitchers who they expect to give them seven innings every time out. That will take a lot of stress off a struggling bullpen.

Can the Phillies Actually Build a Bridge to Duran?

Every time the Phillies enter the final frame with a lead, they feel great. Jhoan Duran has established himself as one of the most dominant closers in the game. The problem the Phillies currently face is getting themselves in a position to hand the ball to him in the ninth.

José Alvarado and Alex McFarlane have solidified themselves as viable options for the Phillies in the seventh and eighth innings. Alvarado has experience pitching in big moments for the Phillies. McFarlane is new to the bullpen, but his average fastball velocity is just under 100 mph, with a wicked sweeper that has made him a very effective arm.

Tim Mayza has emerged as an option for middle innings, or in situations where they have to face a pocket of left-handed hitters.

Jonathan Bowlan suffered a groin injury in the Phillies’ game against the Mets on September 17. Since the Phillies’ bullpen lacks depth, Bowlan is likely still going to be very much in the mix in October, despite his struggles. The Phillies are hopeful his injury is minor.

Kerkering is the Phillies reliever who has floundered the most lately. Since his debut, he has pitched numerous high-leverage innings for the team. Philadelphia will hope that with some time off and some lower-leverage opportunities, he can return to form and be an arm they can depend on in October.

Don Mattingly has the luxury of one of the best starting rotations in the game. He also has the comfort of one of baseball’s premier closers. Philadelphia has been able to trust Alvarado and McFarlane, two guys helping them build that bridge. If Kerkering and Bowlan can regain the form they showed earlier in the season, the Phillies could have enough depth to provide a solid bridge to Duran as they head into October.