The Los Angeles Dodgers will likely get a mainstay back in the bullpen as soon as this week. According to manager Dave Roberts, reliever Evan Phillips is close to making his return and season debut for the team.
Roberts indicated that Phillips will start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, which is just a couple of outings away from being ready. Phillips also noted that he is “antsy” about returning to the team.
Phillips was placed on the 15-day Injured List before the season with a shoulder injury that he aggravated back in 2024 during the NLCS. The 30-year-old right-hander has thrown 3.2 innings in the Dodgers’ farm system since the season’s start and has given up two earned runs on five hits.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips (59) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field.
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
In 2024, he posted a 3.62 ERA in 61 appearances for Los Angeles. Phillips is another player whose career was revitalized after joining the Dodgers; his last three seasons are by far his most productive as a pro. He is also one of 12 Dodgers pitchers currently on the IL.
The Dodgers could use the assurance in the bullpen from guys like Phillips and Michael Kopech, as the team’s overall ERA is 15th in MLB. Although it’s still early in the season, Los Angeles is supposed to have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, and it hasn’t been encouraging to see that they haven’t reached that potential just yet.
On RotoWire, Phillips is estimated to return from the IL on April 18, but there has been no official work on a reinstatement date.
