Trust ranking the Phillies’ bullpen: Installment No. 6

The Phillies are going to use much of September trying to figure out what they have in the bullpen — not just who they have, but how they can use them. Tanner Banks has been thrown into increasingly chaotic situations and just keeps passing the test. Orion Kerkering has been given new challenges and it hasn’t gone smoothly. Jhoan Duran is still the ninth-inning guy because that’s how the Phillies want to use him in October, and there’s not much reason to mess with him right now.

There are new faces. David Robertson has performed amicably. Tim Mayza might be something. José Alvarado’s return has been shaky and it doesn’t really matter all that much, beyond the pursuit of a first-round bye. There might be more movement to come.

This is the sixth edition of this list, and for the first time, there isn’t anyone in the bullpen who really, truly, genuinely inspires dread. Concern, though? That’s still there, in places.

Here’s the current pecking order. Ranking No. 5 is in parentheses.

9 — Daniel Robert (NR)

Robert has been solid if unspectacular for the Phillies this year. He’s allowed two hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings since coming back up from Lehigh Valley.

8 — Lou Trivino (NR)

Trivino has worked two scoreless innings with the Phillies after posting a 4.42 ERA with the Dodgers. He doesn’t get much chase or many strikeouts, but he limits walks and hard contact.

7 — Tim Mayza (NR)

Mayza has the chance to climb this list quickly. His Phillies debut was a success, a 1-2-3 fifth on Monday with a strikeout and two groundouts. He reached 94.7 mph twice. Lefties have a .485 OPS against him this year; they had a .612 against him last year and have a .571 in his career.

6 — José Alvarado (NR)

The Phillies would’ve been happy with 80% of the pre-suspension Alvarado, and they haven’t exactly gotten it. He couldn’t get an out on Aug. 24, leaving after loading the bases, then surrendered a game-losing homer to Drake Baldwin on Sunday. The hard contact and exit velocity is way down, actually. But so is the command.

5 — Orion Kerkering (2)

The Phillies have to get Kerkering right, and fast. Inherited runners have been a problem, but he started a clean inning on Sunday and allowed three straight baserunners before exiting. He’s walked five of his last 22 batters faced. Maybe it’s mechanical? His average arm angle was abnormally high in August. That’s probably nothing? Regardless, the Phillies need to fix him before October. Kerkering is too important.

4 — Matt Strahm (5)

Strahm slowly rounding into form, if that’s indeed what’s happening, is a huge development. He’s allowed one earned run on seven hits in his last 9 1/3 innings, stranding all three inherited runners. We’ve raised concerns about his average launch angle, which is still second-highest among qualified MLB relievers — but after allowing a 34-degree figure in June, it was 24 in August. That’s still too high, but it’s better.

3 — David Robertson (6)

The 40-year-old’s velocity has held steady so far with the Phillies, and he allowed just one earned run across 7 2/3 innings before a hiccup in Milwaukee. An unexpected development: He’s struck out 14 batters already. He’s issued five walks, but it’s still early in the season for him, so we’ll issue him a free pass for now.

2 — Tanner Banks (3)

You can add “escape artist” to Banks’ long 2025 resume. Twice in his past five outings, he’s inherited the bases loaded with nobody out and kept the damage to one run. His average exit velocity was at a season high in August, and his chase rate a season low. It’ll take way more than that for Banks, whose August ERA was nonetheless a season low and against whom lefties are slashing .172/.206/.247, to fall out of favor.

1 — Jhoan Duran (1)

Duran is not infallible because he pitches to contact more than his arsenal would suggest. He had his first real blip — eight hits across two-plus innings between Aug. 22 and 26, including a no-out, four-single walk-off against the Mets. He’s been perfect with four strikeouts in three outings, two of which came on consecutive nights, since. He looks to be back on track.