Matt

Strahm

The Phillies scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning which gave them a save situation, and they went to Strahm with the bottom of the Blue Jays lineup up. He did give up a solo home run to Leo Jimenez but was able to close the door and pick up his second save of the season. Still, he is not really in the saves mix for the Phillies.

Strahm got a surprise save opportunity on Tuesday night after Jeff Hoffman was tasked with keeping the Twins off the board in the eighth inning. Rather than go to struggling closer José Alvarado in the ninth, the Phillies opted to go with Strahm, who was perfect in the inning while totaling two strikeouts. It’s possible Strahm (1.93 ERA) could see more spot-save opportunities as the Phillies attempt to figure out what to do with Alvarado.

It’s the first of what should be many All-Star game nods for the studly 22-year-old hurler who has gone 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 78/12 K/BB ratio through his first 10 MLB starts. He’ll be joined on the N.L. All-Star squad by fellow pitchers Ranger Suarez, Tyler Glasnow, Shota Imanaga, Reynaldo Lopez, Logan Webb, Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, Ryan Helsley, Tanner Scott, Robert Suarez, Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman.

There is also a club option for the 2026 season. After beginning his career as a starter, he has found his home in the bullpen. He was stretched out as a starter last spring but it seems unlikely that he will start for the Phillies this time around. Since 2022, the lefty has a 3.47 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 160/38 K/BB ratio across 132 1/3 innings (106 appearances).

This was a bullpen game for the Phillies. Although Strahm was stretched out last spring and did very well in six starts as Ranger Suárez’s replacement at the beginning of the year, he’s being treated as a pure reliever this time around. If the Phillies were to lose a starter prior to Opening Day, Spencer Turnbull might be the top choice to step in.

Strahm got the call out of Philadelphia’s bullpen to protect a two-run lead after southpaw Gregory Soto allowed a pair of runners to reach base safely to open the ninth inning. He got Kevin Pillar to pop and also induced a harmless fly out to left field from pinch-hitter Eddie Rosario before striking out rookie Vaughn Grissom to end the contest. It was a remarkable effort from Strahm considering the circumstances after Phillies manager Rob Thomson used José Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel earlier in the contest.

Craig Kimbrel threw a scoreless ninth inning to get the game to extra innings and then Strahm came in and closed it down. He did allow the ghost runner to score on a sac fly, but the left-hander didn’t allow a hit in the inning and now carries a 3.20 ERA into the final week of the season. Still, he is not a regular end-of-game option in Philadelphia and is not worth being on fantasy rosters at the moment.

Strahm walked one and struck out one in the ballgame. The Diamondbacks scratched out a run against him in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Evan Longoria. They then added two more on a two-run single by Pavin Smith -- the final batter Strahm faced before exiting in the third. He got just two swings and misses on 50 pitches in the ballgame, posting an underwhelming CSW of 22 percent. Strahm now holds a 4.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 56/13 K/BB ratio across 45 innings on the season.

Strahm will take the ball to open Saturday’s contest against the Nationals before handing things off to the rest of Philadelphia’s bullpen. The 31-year-old southpaw is missing plenty of bats, but has allowed at least one run in three off his last four relief outings since May 23. He holds a solid 3.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 52/11 K/BB ratio across 39 1/3 frames (15 appearances, seven starts) this year.

He struck out three. Gabriel Moreno crushed a two-run homer off Strahm in the second inning after an Evan Longoria double. It was the first time Strahm had given up a run since May 2nd, boosting his ERA on the season to 3.09. Successful in whatever role he’s been assigned to this year, Strahm will likely remain in relief for the Phillies going forward.