The Philadelphia Phillies made several roster moves ahead of their matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, adjusting their pitching staff while managing space on the club’s 40-man roster.
One of the key developments was the return of right-handed pitcher Max Lazar from the 60-day injured list. Lazar had been sidelined since spring training with a left oblique strain that delayed the start of his 2026 campaign. After completing a lengthy rehabilitation assignment that began on April 30, the 26-year-old showed encouraging signs in the minors, posting a strong 2.70 ERA across 13.1 innings over 11 appearances. Despite being officially reinstated, the Phillies opted to send Lazar to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to continue building his workload and regain full game readiness.
Lazar’s activation required a corresponding move, prompting the Phillies to make a difficult roster decision. The club reinstated right-hander Zach Pop from the 15-day injured list before immediately designating him for assignment, effectively removing him from the 40-man roster.
Pop had been recovering from a right calf strain that kept him out since mid-April. Prior to the injury, the veteran reliever had delivered respectable results, appearing in seven games and posting a 3.68 ERA while striking out six batters over 7.1 innings. He also made an emergency start against the Arizona Diamondbacks when highly regarded prospect Andrew Painter was scratched due to migraines. In that outing, Pop served as an opener and provided two innings of work.
The 29-year-old joined Philadelphia during the offseason and quickly impressed the coaching staff with a strong spring training performance. His solid showing earned him a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, and he carried that momentum into the regular season before his injury setback. Despite a productive start, the Phillies ultimately chose to designate him for assignment as they looked to create roster flexibility.
Pop’s MLB journey has included stints with multiple organizations over six seasons, making him a valuable depth option who could attract interest from other teams if he becomes available.
Meanwhile, Lazar continues his path back toward the major leagues. Since signing with Philadelphia as a minor league free agent ahead of the 2024 season, he has steadily worked his way into the organization’s plans. After making his big-league debut in 2024, Lazar became a frequent bullpen contributor in 2025, appearing in 36 games and recording a career-first save during an extra-inning win over the Athletics.
Although Lazar will remain in Triple-A for now, Philadelphia’s bullpen remains in a strong position. With closer Jhoan Duran healthy and anchoring the late innings, relievers Orion Kerkering, Brad Keller, Jose Alvarado, and breakout performer Chase Shugart have played important roles in stabilizing the relief corps as the Phillies continue their push in the National League standings.
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