The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the past several weeks searching for stability in their bullpen after losing Brad Keller to the injured list.
While Jhoan Duran has continued to establish himself as one of baseball’s premier closers and Orion Kerkering has excelled in a setup role, interim manager Don Mattingly has lacked another trusted late-inning option with Keller sidelined.
That absence has led to constant adjustments in the bullpen, with the Phillies frequently shuffling relievers between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Major League roster. Ahead of the series against the Cincinnati Reds, the club optioned Kyle Backhus to Triple-A while recalling Max Lazar.
Another roster move is already on the horizon.
According to Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic on X, the Phillies plan to activate Keller from the injured list on July 8.
Brad Keller Ready to Rejoin Phillies Bullpen
Philadelphia opted to give Keller a few extra days of recovery after his final rehab outing before bringing him back to the Major League roster.
The veteran made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, allowing two runs over two innings before the organization determined he was ready to return.
Once activated, Keller is expected to slide back into a high-leverage role late in games, the position the Phillies envisioned for him when they signed him in free agency following his breakout 2025 campaign with the Chicago Cubs.
After transitioning to the bullpen full-time, Keller posted a 2.07 ERA over 69.2 innings with Chicago while compiling 1.5 bWAR.
His first season in Philadelphia has been less dominant, as he owns a 4.15 ERA across 30.1 innings with 0.5 bWAR.
Before landing on the injured list on June 13, Keller surrendered three earned runs in one inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. It marked the first time since April 1 that he allowed multiple earned runs in an appearance and the first outing since May 8 in which he gave up more than one run.
The Phillies are hoping Keller can quickly rediscover the form that made him such a valuable bullpen arm, as the club continues looking for dependable options to bridge the gap to Duran in the ninth inning.