The Philadelphia Phillies have had one of Major League Baseball’s best starting rotations over the last few years. But entering 2026, there are more questions surrounding the unit that’s helped lead the Phillies to back-to-back National League East titles.
Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo project to be rocks at the top of the Phillies’ rotation. But with Zack Wheeler coming back from venous thoracic outlet syndrome, Aaron Nola aiming to bounce back from an injury-plagued season, and Taijuan Walker and Andrew Painter expected to round out the back end, it is fair to wonder how Philadelphia’s starting staff will perform, especially to start the season.
With questions surrounding the club’s rotation, the Phillies’ bullpen being strong would be a big help. And it’s a unit that very well could be up to the task.
Jhoan Duran will be the closer. He’ll be joined by Brad Keller and Orion Kerkering among Philadelphia’s group of right-handed, high-leverage relievers. José Alvarado and Tanner Banks will be high-leverage left-handers.
That group of five should be one of the better high-leverage units in baseball.
Duran is a premier closer who helped turn the Phillies’ bullpen around over the final two months of last season after being acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. Keller, signed to a two-year contract in December, found strong footing as a reliever for the Chicago Cubs last season; he posted a 2.08 ERA in 68 appearances. Kerkering was the face of the end of the Phillies’ postseason run last October. But he’s still young, and even though he struggled at times a year ago, he still figures to be a plus reliever.
Alvarado is more of a question. Suspended 80 games for PEDs last year, his season eventually ended because of a forearm issue suffered after returning from suspension. He won’t be expected to lead the bullpen, but will be expected to be the Phillies’ best left-handed reliever. He’s talented enough to thrive in that role. Banks was the unsung hero of the Phillies’ 2025 bullpen. The now 34-year-old was second among Phillies relievers in appearances (68) and win probability added (1.55); he pitched to the tune of a 3.17 ERA.
There are also plenty of options to fill out the Phillies’ bullpen along with a strong group of depth relievers, something the club struggled to produce a season ago.
Last Opening Day, it did not have Duran, and behind Kerkering Philadelphia employed Jordan Romano, Joe Ross, José Ruiz, and Carlos Hernández as right-handed options. None of those four were close to good. Romano finished the season hurt while Ross, Ruiz, and Hernández did not finish 2025 in the Phillies organization.
Right-handers Jonathan Bowlan, acquired from the Kansas City Royals for Matt Strahm, and Rule 5 Draft selection Zach McCambley are two middle relief options for the Phillies’ Opening Day bullpen. Both have flashed good stuff in the past; Bowlan in the majors and McCambley in the minors. Chase Shugart, among others, is also a viable right-handed bullpen option.
From the left side, Kyle Backhus, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December, and Tim Mayza, signed to a minor-league deal, will also provide middle relief depth.
A season ago, before the trade deadline, the Phillies ranked 24th in the majors in bullpen ERA (4.48), 23rd in FIP (4.30), and 24th in WPA (0.37). With the concerns about its starting rotation, Philadelphia will need this year’s relief corps to be better than that. And with a strong group at the top and many solid options for the middle, there are reasons to believe it will be.
