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Seranthony Domínguez returns to the Phillies bullpen on Sunday. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals, the Phillies activated reliever Seranthony Domínguez from the 15-day injured list. To make room on the roster, Vinny Nittoli was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies will carefully monitor Domínguez’s workload, but he’ll go straight back to occupying a role in the back end of the bullpen. Rob Thomson likes to play matchups rather than assign roles by inning and that will continue. The only difference is that the Phillies will have their best arm available more times than not.
The team’s best hitter, starter and reliever all missed significant time this season, but you can argue that Domínguez’s extended absence has hurt the Phillies the most. They went 12-10 and both the bullpen and rotation posted ERAs in the high 4s during his absence.
Thomson believes the bullpen’s struggles during Domínguez’s absence has more to do with starters not going as deep. In that stretch of 22 games, Phillies starters only pitched six innings or more 10 times.
“If we were getting the same amount of length that we’ve been getting, I think it would have been a lot better,” Thomson said. “We really taxed our bullpen, but I think we’re getting settled down now.”
David Robertson could benefit the most from Domínguez’s return. He’s allowed three earned runs over his last three games. He was the losing pitcher in two of those three games and was throwing with diminished cutter velocity. For Thomson, getting the 37-year-old back on track simply comes down to getting him more rest.
“I think the two days off really helped him,” Thomson said. “I think he’ll be fine.”
Phillies Notes
Nick Castellanos (right oblique strain) has resumed swinging the bat. He’s eligible to return from the injured list on Tuesday, but that’s not going to happen. The Phillies expect him to begin ramping up on Tuesday in Miami with tee work and soft tosses. It’s unclear if he’ll need to go out on a rehab assignment before returning to the lineup. “It’s gonna be a few days,” Thomson said.
Zack Wheeler (right forearm tendinitis) will throw a bullpen on Tuesday. When he eventually returns, the aim is to get him two to three starts before the postseason.
The Phillies will maintain the same rotation order in Miami. Bailey Falter starts Tuesday with Kyle Gibson on Wednesday and Noah Syndergaard on Thursday.
Aaron Nola will make his 100th career start at Citizens Bank Park. Per the Phillies, Nola and Cole Hamels have compiled an identical 3.22 ERA through their first 99 starts at home. Hamels and Nola rank No. 1 and 2 in starts made by a pitcher at Citizens Bank Park.
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