The Phillies recalled Alan Rangel on Sunday morning and optioned Chase Shugart to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, a move designed to give the bullpen a little more length after a heavy stretch of work. Rangel is back with the club after throwing 6 1/3 innings for the IronPigs on Aug. 1.
The timing reflects how much Philadelphia has had to lean on its relievers. Since Aug. 3, the Phillies bullpen has covered 24 2/3 innings, a workload that has grown even more stressful because of two extra-inning games and early exits from recent starts by Andrew Painter and Aaron Nola.
Why Rangel was the choice
Rangel is not being brought in as a short-term, one-inning fix. He has already filled the long-man role for Philadelphia and also handled the fifth spot in the rotation for five turns in June and July. That background makes him a logical option when a team needs innings, not just fresh arms.
Don Mattingly described the approach as one where Rangel could simply take the ball if the situation calls for it. As Mattingly put it, on certain days it may be Rangel's game and the club will live with whatever happens. He also said the team is not worried about stretching him out right now, noting that he has been doing it all year long.
What the move means for Philadelphia
The Phillies did not add a starter at the trade deadline, so the rotation and bullpen have had to absorb more of the burden on their own. That has left little margin for error when starters exit early or games go beyond nine innings. Saturday night was a good example: Shugart threw 39 pitches in a 7-5 loss to Toronto in the 11th inning at Citizens Bank Park.
In the short term, Rangel gives Philadelphia a pitcher who can cover multiple innings if needed. That matters for a bullpen that has already been pushed hard over the last four games and could continue to be asked for length as the Phillies try to protect the rest of the pitching staff.
