WASHINGTON — The Phillies have a solution for their fifth spot in the rotation, for the time being.
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The team called up Alan Rangel from triple-A Lehigh Valley ahead of Monday’s game against the Nationals. The right-hander, who has a 3.99 ERA in 70 innings with the IronPigs, was scheduled to appear behind lefty opener Tim Mayza on Monday, which started in a rain delay. And according to interim manager Don Mattingly, the plan is for Rangel, 28, to stick around with the big league club for now.
“I mean, at this point I think we’ve kind of made a commitment to that spot,” Mattingly said. “I’m not saying we’re making a commitment to a full start every time. It could be openers, it could be starting. Sometimes the team lineup construction depends.”
This marks Rangel’s second stint with the big league club this season. He appeared in one game in April, allowing one earned run and striking out five over three innings against the Cubs. In six career major league games, Rangel has a 2.57 ERA.
The fifth rotation spot had been vacated by Andrew Painter, who was optioned last week to reset and work on his fastball after struggling to a 7.06 ERA. Painter is scheduled to throw multiple bullpen sessions before seeing game action in triple A.
The Phillies used Mayza as an opener on Monday because of the Nationals’ left-handed heavy lineup. Washington had six lefties and switch-hitters penciled into their lineup for the series opener. But facing a team with more righties, Mattingly said he would feel comfortable using Rangel as a traditional starter.
“I’ve seen him only pitch a little bit in spring training, but I think the fact that Rangel has kind of been the guy throwing the best, they felt like, down there, and he was going to be the best guy, long-term, for us,” Mattingly said. “ … We’ll see what he can do. He’s throwing the ball well. Last time he came up, felt like he threw the ball well. So we’ll see what it looks like.”
Backhus reactivated
The Phillies had the flexibility to use Mayza in an opening role because Kyle Backhus (left elbow inflammation) was activated from the 15-day injured list on Monday, giving the Phillies three lefties in the bullpen, also including José Alvarado.
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Backhus, a sidearmer, had a 4.66 ERA before landing on the injured list on April 30. However, that number is skewed by his first appearance of the season on March 26, when he gave up three earned runs in ⅓ of an inning.
After that, Backhus had been pitching his way into a higher-leverage role, and had allowed one earned run across his last five appearances before the injury.
“He was throwing the ball really well, and it felt like he was getting his outs and looking really good,” Mattingly said. “As you get a guy back, you just kind of get comfortable first, we wouldn’t like stick him in the eighth or anything like that. But we do think he is a guy that matches up well with the lefties. He’s a different look for us. I like him, he’s really athletic, he handles the position well, so has a lot of good things other than just pitching.”
Extra bases
MLB released its second update for its All-Star fan voting on Sunday, and Brandon Marsh has accumulated 1,256,874 votes and ranks second among National League outfielders, only behind the Dodgers’ Andy Pages (1,518,451). The top two position players and top three outfielders once voting closes on June 25 will advance to the second phase. Also in position to advance is Kyle Schwarber (1,540,202, second among designated hitters), Bryson Stott (801,006, second among second basemen), and Alec Bohm (804,309 votes, second among third basemen). … Jesús Luzardo (6-4, 4.20 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday opposite Nationals right-hander Zack Littell (6-6, 5.45).
Father’s Day will hit a little differently this year for Don and Preston Mattingly. After years of working in baseball for different teams, often on opposite sides of the country, they are together with the Phillies as the first father-and-son manager-and-GM combination ever. Preston Mattingly joins Phillies Extra to discuss working with his dad, as well as the Phillies’ decision to demote Andrew Painter to the minors and their preparations for the trade deadline. Watch here.
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