Phillies Option Tyler Phillips to Triple-A Lehigh Valley

The Phillies are still a couple starts away from Ranger Suárez returning to the starting rotation. The Phillies have had South Jersey's Tyler Phillips in the rotation the last several turns through the rotation.  However the Phillies will go another direction for the last two to three starts before Suárez returns.

The Phillies announced that they have optioned Phillips to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  Phillips was 4-1 with a 5.50 earned run average in seven games, six of them starts.  Phillips started off strong, but has a 13.91 earned run average in three August starts. He has failed to make it through five innings the last two.

The Phillies will turn to another Tyler in Tyler Gilbert.  Gilbert was an original 2016 draft pick of the Phillies. Gilbert reached Triple-A with the Phillies in 2019 and was invited to Spring Training in 2019 and 2020.   However, during Spring Training in 2020, the Phillies traded Gilbert to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Kyle Garlick.

Gilbert was taken in the minor league Rule 5 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he made his major league debut for the Diamondbacks in 2021.  In his first start, he pitched a no-hitter.

Gilbert is 2-7 with a 4.32 earned run average in 28 appearances over three seasons for the Diamondbacks, 13 of them starts.

In 2024, Gilbert signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a minor league free agent and began the season with Triple-A Louisville. He appeared in seven games, three of them starts, pitching to a 13.11 earned run average in 11 2/3 innings.

The Phillies acquired Gilbert in a trade in May and he has performed much better for the IronPigs.  In 27 relief appearances, he is 4-0 with a 2.06 earned run average.

The Phillies may end up making another move before the open spot in the rotation comes around.  With an off day on Monday, the Phillies could skip that spot in the rotation.  But for now, it appears the Phillies will have an extra left-handed reliever in their bullpen.