Phillies recall Nick Nelson, Demote Tyler Phillips

The Philadelphia Phillies have been trying to find someone to plug the fifth spot in their starting rotation.

With Taijuan Walker and his replacement on Tuesday night, Tyler Phillips not getting the job done, the team has promoted veteran right-hander Nick Nelson from triple-A Lehigh Valley.

To make room for Nelson, Phillips was optioned to Lehigh Valley, and to make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Michael Rucker was designated for assignment.

Kolby Allard is not eligible to be recalled from Lehigh Valley until Sept. 10.

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Nelson is a veteran, who was a part of the Phillies 2022 World Series team.  This season he has appeared in 31 games (5 starts) for the IronPigs, going 2-5 with two saves, a 6.30 ERA (35 ER, 50.0 IP) and 39 strikeouts.

During the 2022 season, Nelson appeared in a career-high 47 games, going 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 68.2 innings pitched.

Rucker had a 7.04 ERA for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 26 innings since returning from an injury that had him sidelined due to a right hand arterial vasospasm.

After Walker was demoted to the bullpen, Phillips replaced him in the rotation on Tuesday and allowed six runs on eight hits in 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays. Since his complete-game shutout of the Cleveland Guardians, the Lumberton, N.J., native has struggled and now has a 6.87 ERA on the season.