The Philadelphia Phillies made a roster move prior to Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins, optioning catcher Payton Henry to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to clear space for the reinstatement of catcher Garrett Stubbs from the 10-day injured list .
The transaction comes amid a difficult stretch for the Phillies, who have lost five of their last six games entering Tuesday’s contest and are in the midst of a critical series against a Marlins team that just snapped a 12-game losing streak .
Henry, 29, did not appear in a game during his brief stint with the major league club . The corresponding move reinstates Stubbs, who was in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game, forming the battery with starter Aaron Nola .
The Phillies’ official announcement confirmed the roster adjustment ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Marlins .
The Phillies entered Tuesday’s game coming off a heartbreaking 8-7 loss on Monday night, where All-Star closer Jhoan Duran blew a save in the bottom of the ninth as the Marlins rallied for three runs . The loss snapped Miami’s franchise-record 12-game losing streak in dramatic fashion .
Monday’s game saw Marlins starter Griffin Conine deliver his first career walk-off hit, a single that scored the winning run against a drawn-in Phillies infield . Prior to the ninth-inning collapse, Philadelphia had fought back from an early 5-2 deficit to take a 7-5 lead .
The Phillies, who currently sit at 57-50 overall and second in the NL East, have struggled since the All-Star break, losing eight of their last 11 games . The offense has been particularly quiet during this stretch, being shut out twice and held to one run four times .
The demotion of Henry is the latest in a series of roster adjustments the Phillies have made as they navigate injuries and performance issues. Earlier this month, the team optioned left-handed pitcher Kyle Backhus to Triple-A while recalling Max Lazar . The bullpen has been a particular area of concern, with the team struggling to build reliable bridges to closer Jhoan Duran .
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is reportedly looking to make deals before the trade deadline, with both offensive and pitching needs being evaluated . The Phillies have been particularly thin in the fifth starter spot, posting a 5-21 record in those games .
The Phillies continue their three-game series against the Marlins on Wednesday, with Jesús Luzardo (9-5, 3.31 ERA) scheduled to start against Miami’s Ryan Gusto (0-2, 4.50 ERA) . Philadelphia will look to halt their recent slide and regain momentum in the NL wild-card race.
Leave a Reply