Key Takeaways
- Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly allowed closer Jhoan Duran to pitch the ninth inning despite a five‑run deficit, honoring Duran’s request to get work on the mound.
- Duran threw 22 pitches – tied for his second‑highest outing of the season – after a long day for the bullpen that saw the staff combine for a season‑high 208 pitches.
- Duran, normally used only in save situations (eight of his 34 appearances have been non‑save), last pitched in the All‑Star Game on Tuesday and had four days of rest before Sunday’s outing.
- Mattingly emphasized Duran’s self‑awareness about his workload, noting the pitcher often decides when he needs to throw based on how he feels.
- The Phillies’ pitching staff’s heavy usage raises questions about Duran’s availability for upcoming games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with his next appearance likely dictated by his own readiness.
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the ninth inning of their Sunday matchup against the New York Mets trailing 6‑1, a deficit that seemed to seal the game’s outcome. Yet, rather than handing the ball to a low‑leverage reliever or letting the game fade away, interim manager Don Mattingly summoned star closer Jhoan Duran from the bullpen. Duran’s entrance was unusually subdued: his customary entrance music played, but without the usual fireworks or staged dramatics that often accompany his appearances. The sight of the team’s primary shutdown pitcher taking the mound in a already‑lost cause surprised the remaining crowd of over 40,000 fans at Citizens Bank Park, many of whom had already begun to file out.
The decision to use Duran came after a particularly taxing day for the Phillies’ relief corps. Starting pitcher Alan Rangel labored through four innings, delivering 91 pitches before being lifted. Following Rangel’s exit, the trio of relievers—Tim Mayza, Max Lazar, and Seth Johnson—combined to throw 95 pitches over the next four innings, bringing the bullpen’s total to a season‑high 208 pitches for the game. That figure not only marked the most pitches the Phillies’ staff had thrown in a single contest all season but also represented the highest workload since May 19, 2023. By the time Duran was called upon, the relievers had already been stretched thin, making his appearance both a strategic move to give the arm some work and a nod to the pitcher’s own desires.
Duran’s role with Philadelphia has been largely that of a set‑up and closing specialist. Entering Sunday’s contest, only eight of his 34 regular‑season appearances had occurred in non‑save situations, with many of those outings coming in high‑leverage, tied‑game moments later in contests. His most recent appearance prior to Sunday had been a brief two‑batter stint in the ninth inning of the All‑Star Game, which took place on Tuesday in Philadelphia. After that outing, Duran enjoyed four days of rest; his last regular‑season appearance had been the penultimate game of the first half against the Detroit Tigers on July 11. Consequently, he was fresh enough to be trusted with a meaningful inning, even if the game’s result was already decided.
Mattingly explained the thought process behind the decision in his post‑game remarks. He revealed that Duran had personally approached the coaching staff before the game, expressing a need to get on the mound. “He told us before the game that he needed to pitch,” Mattingly said. The manager added that the staff had planned to limit Duran’s workload to roughly 20‑25 pitches, a range intended to keep him sharp without overtaxing him. Mattingly highlighted Duran’s acute self‑awareness regarding his arm’s condition, noting that there are occasions when the pitcher feels ready to go after multiple consecutive appearances, and other times when he proactively requests work because he senses a need to stay sharp. “There’s days when he’s been three in a row, and he’s like, ‘I’m great. I feel good.’ Other times, before the game, he’s like, ‘I need to pitch,’” Mattingly recounted.
To ensure Duran was still comfortable with the plan, the Phillies checked in with him during the eighth inning. His response affirmed his willingness to throw the ninth. The ensuing outing saw Duran deliver 22 pitches—a figure that tied for the second‑most he has thrown in any appearance this season. While not a massive workload by closer standards, it was enough to provide him with valuable game‑speed repetitions and to maintain his rhythm after a brief rest period.
Looking ahead, Mattingly acknowledged that Duran’s availability for the upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers will largely be dictated by the pitcher himself. If Duran chooses to pitch again on Monday, he might not be available on Tuesday; conversely, if he feels he needs additional work, he could make himself ready for a later appearance. The manager’s comment—“He knew, in some form or fashion, he needed to get on the mound today”—underscores the collaborative nature of the Phillies’ bullpen management, where veteran pitchers like Duran often have a significant say in their own usage patterns.
In sum, Sunday’s decision to deploy Jhoan Duran in a lost game was less about altering the contest’s outcome and more about honoring the pitcher’s request for work, managing his workload prudently, and preserving his readiness for the challenges ahead. The heavy pitch count across the bullpen highlights the strain the Phillies’ relief corps has endured, and Duran’s self‑regulated approach may become an increasingly important factor as the team navigates the latter half of the season.