It was going to be a one-and-done start no matter what.
Following his excellent Major League debut on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mick Abel was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Right-handed pitcher Max Lazar was recalled to take his spot on the roster, the Phillies announced Monday. Lazar will pitch out of the bullpen.
Abel threw six shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out nine in a win over the Pirates. Manager Rob Thomson told Abel before his call up that it was going to be a spot start. The Phillies will keep Abel stretched out in the Lehigh Valley rotation.
“He keeps throwing the ball like that, I guarantee that he’s going to be back,” Thomson said postgame.
Lazar, 25, has thrown five consecutive scoreless appearances in Lehigh Valley. His last outing on May 17 against the Syracuse was two innings, so the Phillies could use him as a multi-inning option.
Lazar was up with the Phillies for a month near the end of 2024. He began his big league career with seven consecutive scoreless appearances, then allowed a combined seven earned runs in his last four games.
The current Phillies bullpen mix with Alvarado gone until mid-August following a PED suspension is Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, Jordan Romano, Joe Ross, Tanner Banks, Jose Ruiz and Lazar.
The Phillies begin a four-game set against the Rockies in Colorado on Monday night. Cristopher Sánchez will start against left-hander Kyle Freeland.
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