On Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a huge blow after losing reliever Brad Keller. The Phillies placed Keller on the 15-day injured list, but it turns out that he will miss the rest of the season. The veteran pitcher suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, leaving the team stranded for now.
The good news is that the trade deadline is approaching, and the Phillies are expected to pursue a few targets. They need another starting pitcher for sure, but Keller’s absence will cost the team. The Phillies are still trailing the Atlanta Braves by 2.5 games in the competitive National League East division. The Miami Marlins are not too far behind, and they can’t afford to lose games in the second half of the season.
Keller is seeking a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister before they conclude whether he requires Tommy John surgery or not. Irrespective of his status, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly believes that he will be out for the rest of the season.
Prior to tonight’s game against the New York Mets, the Phillies placed RHP Brad Keller on the 15-day injured list (retro to 7/13) with a right elbow UCL tear. To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, RHP Seth Johnson was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 16, 2026
Keller was upset with the situation despite having the confidence to get back on the mound. The Phillies called up Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Keller. The right-handed pitcher holds a miserable 6.75 ERA with a 1-0 record.
Keller’s injury could open the door for a possible trade, but the Phillies already have the perfect replacement in the minors.
Alex McFarlane Could Be the Perfect Candidate To Step in for Brad Keller
This is the right time for the Phillies to consider their internal talent. Rather than exploring other options on the trade market, the Phillies could bring in Alex McFarlane. The right-handed pitcher is doing a fine job in Double-A Reading.
McFarlane is already on the team’s 40-man roster. They need to give him a promotion and invite him to the big leagues. Notably, the righty reached 102 mph on his fastball last month. McFarlane has been consistent, but the biggest question is whether he’s ready for the majors yet.
Don Mattingly Shares Mixed Reactions on Alex McFarlane
It’s still unclear whether McFarlane will be called up to replace Keller. While a promotion to Triple-A might be underway, Mattingly’s reaction to McFarlane replacing Keller was mixed.
“Until I start hearing his name, he’s not really an option at this point. Anyone that’s on the roster always ends up being a possibility,” Mattingly said via Sports Illustrated.
According to Mattingly, the only reason the Phillies are holding McFarlane back is probably due to his inexperience. He further admitted that the franchise might not be ready to push him too fast. McFarlane certainly lacks the experience pitching in Major League Baseball, especially when compared to Keller. However, there’s no better situation to try him than now.
Either way, the Phillies must bring in a couple of extra arms for their bullpen. The starting rotation is also in a tough spot with Aaron Nola struggling. The MLB trade deadline is not too far away, and Philadelphia is one of the many teams that desperately need to trade.
Keller’s injury will have an immediate impact on the team. Keller himself was a setup man for Jhoan Duran. That said, the Phillies are now again in a tough position with their bullpen. The pressure will fall on Johnson until the Phillies find another pitcher.
Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
