While we were caught up in the Phillies’ first win over the Mets in 2017, the Phils made a sneaky roster move.
They sent Howie Kendrick to the 10-day disabled list (that’s a new thing this year), retroactive to Sunday, with a right abdominal strain.
With Kendrick out, the Phils called up pitcher Mark Leiter Jr., who has a 1.69 ERA in two games with the Ir-
Wait. MARK LEITER JR.?
It’s a funny move because Leiter Jr. isn’t a highly touted prospect, and he wasn’t on the 40-man roster. But he is now, as Elniery Garcia was placed on the restricted list because of PED suspension.
So why Leiter Jr.? He’s a warm body to help a bullpen desperately needing one. He’ll assume the role of long-man-as-needed, taking over for the recently departed Adam Morgan, who put up a 10.50 ERA before a quick hook.
Tim MalcolmTim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.
