Phils closer Duran (left oblique strain) placed on 15-day IL

PHILADELPHIA -- Things are going so poorly for the Phillies lately that closer Jhoan Duran hasn’t pitched since April 11, but he still landed on the 15-day injured list with a “very mild” strained left oblique.

The Phillies placed him on the IL on Saturday (retroactive to Wednesday), recalling right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his roster spot. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said right-hander Brad Keller will receive the bulk of ninth-inning save opportunities while Duran is sidelined.

“It’s nothing strong, something really light,” Duran said Saturday at Citizens Bank Park ahead of the Phillies’ game against the Braves. “Something pinched me when I did my rotation [trying to throw on Friday]. We said we won’t throw anymore.”

The Phillies haven’t put a timetable on Duran’s return, but he is eligible to be activated as early as April 30.

“It’s not going to be long, but I can’t hold you to that,” Thomson said.

The Phillies planned to pitch Duran in Wednesday night’s blowout loss to the Cubs, but Duran “was feeling a little something in his side,” according to Thomson. Duran got treatment after the game and he felt OK on Thursday’s off-day. But then he lightly threw in the bullpen before Friday’s series opener against the Braves and “he felt it just a little bit,” Thomson said.

Duran got medical imaging done on Saturday morning.

Duran opened the 2024 season on the IL because of a Grade 2 strained right oblique. He missed a little more than a month.

“This time, it’s not that bad,” Duran said.

Duran, 28, is 1-1 with five saves in seven appearances this season. He has allowed two runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts and no walks through 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander was acquired last July before the Trade Deadline from the Twins and has recorded a 1.98 ERA across 27 1/3 innings with the Phils. He’s also converted 21 of 24 save opportunities.