Kerkering to be optioned by Phillies after recent woes in bullpen

NEW YORK -- Twenty minutes after the final out of the Phillies’ 10-3 blowout loss to the Mets on Saturday night at Citi Field, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly summoned Orion Kerkering to his office.

A few minutes later, Kerkering emerged, visibly shaken. He looked at his phone, then dropped it into his locker. He quietly showered, changed and left.

The Phillies optioned Kerkering to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following Saturday night’s game because they could no longer pitch him with seven games remaining in the regular season and so much on the line. Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series is Sept. 29, and despite the Phillies losing 10 of their last 16 games, they remain in a strong position to make their fifth consecutive postseason appearance. But they still want to earn home-field advantage in a best-of-three series.

Every out matters.

Kerkering allowed four runs, four hits, two walks, one hit batter and one wild pitch in the eighth inning to extend his multi-month nightmare. He has allowed a run in eight of his last nine appearances for an 11.57 ERA. He has a 10.24 ERA in 22 appearances since July 22.

Kerkering was spiraling. Mattingly acknowledged his concerns about the 25-year-old right-hander to reporters before he called him into his office.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Mattingly said. “Yeah, I’d say high. You know, pretty high.”

The Phillies’ 2025 season infamously ended when Kerkering panicked and misfired a throw to home plate in Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. It was a difficult moment to watch, but Kerkering stood in front of reporters with tears in his eyes as he relived the moment over and over.

The Phillies worked with him in the offseason to get him right again. They believed he would bounce back.

He went 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA in 41 appearances through July 20. He struck out 43 and walked 21 in 38 2/3 innings. He earned a save on May 15 in Pittsburgh. He picked up 10 holds.

But things started to unravel at the end of July.

“Just a rough couple months,” Kerkering said on Friday.

Before Saturday’s game, Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham and Kerkering had a long chat in the outfield at the end of batting practice. They continued the conversation as they returned to the clubhouse.

Mattingly tried to find a low-stress situation for Kerkering on Saturday. Phillies relievers Brooks Raley and Chase Shugart had allowed two runs in the sixth -- they allowed a combined two hits and three walks -- to hand the Mets a 6-3 lead. The eighth seemed like a good spot for Kerkering, who wouldn’t have to worry about holding a lead and keeping a game tied.

“You have to be able to use him there in a game like that,” Mattingly said. “I’m not going to try and chase a three-run deficit in that inning. Yeah, it’s hard to find places to use him.”

Marcus Semien started the eighth with a bloop single to right. Kerkering walked Brett Baty to put runners on first and second. A wild pitch on a 1-2 sweeper to Francisco Alvarez advanced them to second and third.

Alvarez struck out swinging, but Kerkering hit Ronny Mauricio on his right foot with a 0-1 fastball to load the bases. Francisco Lindor walked on four pitches to score a run. Juan Soto, Bo Bichette and Carson Benge each followed with singles to score three more runs.

The Phillies have not announced Kerkering’s trip to Triple-A yet. They need to decide who will take his place.

They need somebody who can get outs.

The bridge from starting pitcher to closer Jhoan Duran has been problematic for some time. They just lost Jonathan Bowlan, who suffered a “mild” right groin strain on Thursday. It leaves rookie Alex McFarlane and Shugart as perhaps Mattingly’s two most trusted right-handed relievers to accompany left-hander José Alvarado.

Phillies rookie Andrew Painter, who allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings as Saturday’s starter, could move to the bullpen in the postseason. He has a 3.88 ERA since his return from the IronPigs on July 31.

Painter said Saturday he is more than willing to do it, if asked. He thinks he could handle the new role.

Seven games to go. The Phillies are a game behind the Cubs and Padres for the first NL Wild Card spot. They are four games ahead of the Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card. It would take an epic Phillies collapse and an epic Arizona hot streak to knock Philly out of the postseason.

“I think we're OK,” Mattingly said. “I just don't think these guys are going to sit back and panic. We're in a better spot than a lot of teams, and so I think we're positive on it. Honestly, we know what we're capable of. Again, we're in a good spot.”