The Philadelphia Phillies roster will be without Zach Pop for a matchup on Wednesday, April 15, against the Chicago Cubs, with the right-hander heading to the injured list due to a calf strain, the team announced. Left-hander Kyle Backhus will be recalled to take Pop’s place in the bullpen.
The 29-year-old Pop was off to a strong start early in the season. He had a 3.68 ERA through 7.1 innings. Pop served as an opener on Sunday, April 12, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He allowed two earned runs over two innings in the 4-3 loss.
The Phillies roster has shuffled frequently this week. The club recalled Seth Johnson and Chase Shugart. Jonathan Bowlan went to the injured list. Griff McGarry was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yoniel Curet was claimed by the Detroit Tigers. Backhus is the latest addition to the group. The lefty surprisingly broke camp with the club. He was sent down when Orion Kerkering came back from injury.
Philadelphia Phillies Roster Update: Zach Pop to the Injured List, Kyle Backhus Recalled
Pop first appeared in the big leagues with the Miami Marlins in 2021. He appeared in 50 MLB games that season, recording a 4.12 ERA. Pop was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays for shortstop Jordan Groshans in August 2022. The Blue Jays also received right-hander Anthony Bass and a Player To Be Named Later in the swap. Pop logged innings across three seasons with Toronto, but the results were underwhelming. He finished his tenure with the club with an unsightly 4.89 ERA.
The Seattle Mariners added Pop on a minor league deal heading into the 2025 campaign. He appeared in four games with the team and was pounded for eight earned runs. Pop latched on with the New York Mets to close the year. He continued to struggle, allowing three earned runs in his lone appearance.
The Phillies had Pop increase the usage of his slider this season. He ramped it up to 26.2%, his highest mark since 2023. Pop’s slider was hit hard, but had a decent 23.1% whiff rate. Pop posted a 19.4% strikeout rate, which, while underwhelming, was his best mark since 2023.
Backhus Gets Another Shot With the Phillies
Backhus joined the organization via trade this past offseason. The Phillies sent outfield prospect Avery Owusu-Asiedu to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the deal. He made the Opening Day roster as part of a lefty-heavy bullpen that included Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks, and Tim Mayza. Backhus tossed seven innings with a 1.29 ERA during Spring Training, which helped him secure a roster spot. The results in the majors weren’t as enticing.
The first game of the season marked a rough team debut for Backhus. He was charged with three earned runs in the 9th inning against the Texas Rangers. The Phillies held on for a 5-3 win, but the rough outing from Backhus forced the club to use closer Jhoan Duran in what should’ve been an easy victory. The return of Backhus will push the Phillies back into a non-traditional four-lefty look in the bullpen. The unit has struggled to a 4.64 ERA so far.
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