Phillies shuffle 'pen: Romano to IL, Ross released, Trivino, Robert selected
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NEW YORK -- The Phillies shuffled their bullpen ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Mets at Citi Field, releasing veteran right-hander Joe Ross and placing righty Jordan Romano on the 15-day injured list with right middle finger inflammation.
In corresponding moves, the team brought up right-handers Lou Trivino and Daniel Robert from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he first heard of Romano’s inflammation on Sunday or Monday, though he wasn’t quite sure of its origin. Of note, Romano’s velocity has been inconsistent in recent outings. In his last appearance on Monday, Romano’s four-seam fastball topped out at 97 mph, but it also dipped to as low as 93.2 mph.
Thomson believes the volatility is related to the injury, which affects Romano’s grip.
“I would think that had a lot to do with it,” Thomson said. “... The indicator for me is the fluctuation in velocity. That’s been going on for a while.”
Regardless, it’s another snag for the 32-year-old Romano in a disappointing season. Signed on Dec. 9 to serve as a reliable high-leverage arm, he has been anything but: After allowing four runs in one inning on Monday, Romano’s ERA sits at 8.23 across 42 2/3 innings. That’s the second-highest ERA of 350 pitchers to throw at least 40 innings this season.
Ross -- another offseason acquisition -- relieved Romano on Monday and allowed three runs in the eighth inning. In total, the 32-year-old pitched to a 5.12 ERA in 37 games with the Phillies, with all but one of those appearances coming as a reliever.
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“Just performance, more than anything,” Thomson said. “Ross is a good man, good teammate, took the ball whenever. We wanted to get a look at Trivino.”
Trivino, 33, was signed by the Phillies as a Minor League free agent on Aug. 4. He pitched eight scoreless innings over seven outings at Triple-A, flashing a four-pitch mix with a four-seam fastball sitting at 95-96 mph.
The right-hander pitched to a 4.42 ERA in 37 MLB games (35 in relief) with the Giants and Dodgers earlier this year in his return from Tommy John surgery.
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“The stuff is good,” Thomson said. “He’s been throwing the ball well.”
Robert, 30, rejoins the Phillies after making 12 relief appearances for the club earlier this season, posting a 5.79 ERA.
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Trivino and Robert also provide fresh arms to a unit that has worked hard of late -- with hit-or-miss results. Philadelphia’s bullpen makeover at the Trade Deadline saw it acquire star closer Jhoan Duran, reinstate left-hander José Alvarado and bring up veteran David Robertson. Yet since Aug. 1, Phillies relievers have combined for a 4.23 ERA, tied with the White Sox for the 17th best in MLB.