Phillies right-hander Connor Brogdon already opened the season as one of manager Joe Girardi’s most trusted relievers.

Archie Bradley’s oblique injury only elevated his status.

“It increases Brogdon’s opportunity,” Girardi said before Monday’s series opener against the Mets at Citi Field was postponed because of rain. The teams will play a seven-inning doubleheader Tuesday beginning at 4:10 p.m ET. Right-hander Chase Anderson will pitch Game 1. Fellow righty Aaron Nola will pitch the nightcap.

“I feel really good about the way Connor is throwing the ball,” Girardi said.

Brogdon is 4-0 with a perfect ERA in 10 appearances dating to September, when he returned from the team’s alternate training site in Allentown, Pa., with renewed confidence and his cutter. In 13 1/3 innings, he struck out 18 and allowed just four hits and three walks.

Brogdon pitched the 10th inning of a tie game on Opening Day against the Braves. He got the win. The right-hander pitched the eighth inning on April 5 with the Phillies trailing the Mets by two. He got the win again. Brogdon pitched 1 2/3 innings on Wednesday in another victory over the Mets to become the first Phillies pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1900) to win three of the team’s first six games. Brogdon then pitched the sixth inning on Sunday night with the Phillies holding a one-run lead against the Braves.

Girardi said he had no update on the severity of Bradley’s strained left oblique, which landed the reliever on the 10-day injured list on Sunday. Bradley cannot be activated until April 21 at the earliest.

Bradley’s fastball averaged 93.0 mph before the injury. It averaged 94.2 mph in 2020 and 95.5 mph in ‘19. On Sunday, Bradley said: “Obviously, I’m not pumping 97, 98, like I want to, but I found a way to get it done and pitch and be a professional, but yeah, I would love to see my [stuff] bounce back up to 95-97, but it kind of is what it is right now. Maybe this gives me a chance to reevaluate some things.”

Girardi said Bradley, other than the oblique, is healthy.

“I still think some guys are probably gathering arm strength,” Girardi said. “This little setback is probably not going to help. It might take a little bit longer, but Archie isn’t a guy that throws 97 or 98 anymore. He’s 94-95, probably, at the max.”

How is Scotty Jetpax doing?
The Phillies optioned Scott Kingery toward the end of Spring Training because they want him to work on his swing without the pressures of performance.

It is why the Phils are not interested in promoting him just to give them another right-handed bench bat. The bench on most nights includes Brad Miller (left-handed hitter), Matt Joyce (left-handed), Andrew Knapp (switch-hitter), Ronald Torreyes (right-handed hitter) and either Roman Quinn (switch-hitter) or Adam Haseley (left-handed).

“Scotty went down to get right,” Girardi said. “We don’t feel like Scotty is ready to come back.”

Some of Kingery’s at-bats at the alternate training site in Allentown, Pa., have been OK. Others, not so much. If and when he returns, his role is undetermined. If he is hitting the ball well, he could be the everyday center fielder, or he could rotate around the field.

“He’s used the whole field a little bit more down there,” Girardi said. “We feel like it’s going in the right direction.”

Extra bases
• Andrew McCutchen is batting .179 (5-for-28), but he has a .343 on-base percentage and .357 slugging percentage. His .700 OPS ranks ahead of Alec Bohm (.623), Jean Segura (.506), Adam Haseley (.474) and Roman Quinn (.273). Despite just three hits in his last 15 at-bats, McCutchen has an .827 OPS in his last four games. “It’s just a little bit of timing for him,” Girardi said. “I do believe he is closer than he was.”