The Philadelphia Phillies are locked in a fight for their postseason life in the NL Wild Card, and their recent struggles have been brutal. That’s exactly why they dropped a bomb Saturday night, sending Orion Kerkering, once a trusted reliever, down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. This wasn’t just a tough decision, it was one the team absolutely had to make because Kerkering’s recent performance left them no other option.
When a Staple Becomes a Liability
Think about it: this guy used to be a bullpen staple, someone you could count on in those high-leverage spots. But man, things have taken a dark turn this season. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, who got the scoop from team sources, Kerkering has become a total liability. The numbers? They’re screaming. Since the All-Star break, in 24 games and 21 innings, he’s walked 14 batters and given up a horrific 9.43 ERA. Yeah, his 4.81 FIP might suggest he’s had some bad luck, but you cannot ignore a 9.43 ERA. That’s just too much to handle for a team fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot.
And it gets worse, somehow. In his last 13 outings, covering 12.2 innings, he walked eight guys and struck out 12, with his ERA ballooning to 10.66. But the worst stretch? September. In just four outings this month, Kerkering posted an insane 18.69 ERA, walking six and striking out six. Are you kidding me? This is a dude who was supposed to lock things down, and he was giving up runs like it was a charity event. The Phillies had to make a change, plain and simple.
Wild Card Hopes Hang in the Balance
This isn’t some meaningless mid-season tweak. The Arizona Diamondbacks are breathing down their necks in the Wild Card race, and the Phillies cannot afford to stumble. Every single game matters right now, and carrying a pitcher with an 18.69 ERA in September is a recipe for disaster. This move is all about securing that postseason spot. They need reliable arms, not a pitcher who’s giving up runs at an unbelievable clip.
Sending him down, even with the Triple-A season literally one game from ending, shows you the urgency. The hope, of course, is that Kerkering can head to the minors, try to fix some things, and maybe, just maybe, get called back up if the Phillies actually make it to the postseason. But for now, they’ve moved on. He played so poorly that they had zero other choices. It stinks to see, especially for a guy who once delivered, but the season’s on the line.
The Phillies absolutely have to turn things around now that this painful but necessary decision has been made. Every game from here on out is a must-win to keep those Wild Card dreams alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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