Lou Trivino is back in the Phillies bullpen. The club purchased his contract Tuesday afternoon and sent Chase Shugart to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the right-hander gave up three runs for a second straight game.
Don Mattingly called it “Just needing a fresh arm” and said, “We talked about it a little bit last night, kind of (that) the bullpen’s been on fumes.” The move came after Shugart’s ERA rose to 4.97 in 26 games.
Trivino’s second Phillies stint
Trivino, 34, is in his seventh big-league season and returned to the Phillies’ bullpen after two days of rest. He had made 10 appearances with a 2.00 ERA for the Phillies late last year, and he re-signed with the club on a minor-league deal before this season.
He spent most of the year with the IronPigs, where he posted a 1.27 ERA in 22 total appearances. In May, he had a two-outing cameo with the Orioles after opting out, allowing six runs in his first appearance before a scoreless 2 1/3 innings in his next outing sent him off Baltimore’s roster.
Chase Shugart’s recent slide
Shugart, 29, began the year at Triple-A before joining the big-league club in April. He had recorded two wins in a doubleheader and had taken the ball often for the Phillies, but the recent stretch changed the math on the roster spot.
Mattingly said, “I know Shug’s given up a couple of homers lately, but he’s been really good for us this year,” and added, “He did what we needed from that role, taking the ball a lot, always ready to take it.” He also said, “So he’s just a guy that had options, and we needed an arm.”
Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park
The roster move set the Phillies up for a right-handed matchup Tuesday night against Bubba Chandler. That keeps the bullpen aligned with the short-term need Mattingly described, while Trivino’s return gives the Phillies a reliever who already handled late-game work for them last season.
Trivino said, “It’s nice to be back,” and, “I feel like I’ve thrown pretty well this year.” He added, “I had one awful outing with the Orioles, but things happen,” and, “I’m feeling good, and I’m thankful that the Phillies gave me an opportunity.”
