Phillies recall Max Lazar, option Kyle Backhus before Reds
The Philadelphia Phillies recalled right-hander Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and optioned left-hander Kyle Backhus on July 7, 2026, before their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. The move adds a fresh arm to a bullpen still hunting for reliable middle relief in front of closer Jhoan Duran after Backhus struggled post-injury.
The swap was the latest twist in a season of bullpen shuffling for manager Rob Mattingly's club. Philadelphia announced the roster move in Cincinnati ahead of the three-game set with the Reds, continuing a pattern of relief changes as the team pushes through a demanding stretch of games.
Key Takeaways
- Max Lazar was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley; Kyle Backhus was optioned to make room on the 26-man roster.
- Backhus posted a 7.94 ERA in seven appearances since returning from an elbow injury at the end of June.
- Lazar brings a 3.93 ERA across 18⅓ Triple-A innings and can work multiple innings out of the bullpen.
- Outside of Orion Kerkering, Philadelphia lacks settled middle-relief options bridging to closer Jhoan Duran.
- Outfielder Brandon Marsh took a scheduled day off Tuesday against lefty Andrew Abbott, with Edmundo Sosa starting in left field.
Why did the Phillies recall Max Lazar?
Philadelphia needed fresh bullpen depth heading into the Reds series. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Lazar gives the club a rested arm after Backhus also pitched in Monday's 15-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Lazar has been effective at Triple-A this season, posting a 3.93 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 18.1 innings, per Sports Illustrated. The 27-year-old right-hander missed a large chunk of the 2026 season because of injury and has made three appearances for Philadelphia, throwing four innings with a 4.50 ERA.
He was a key part of the team's middle relief last summer and now has another chance to earn a consistent role. SI noted Lazar can also serve as a multi-inning option, a useful quality for a staff trying to stabilize the bridge to Duran.
What went wrong for Kyle Backhus?
Backhus' demotion followed a difficult stretch since his return from the injured list. The left-hander was activated from an elbow injury at the end of June, but his results did not bounce back.
In seven appearances since that activation, Backhus carried a 7.94 ERA, according to the Inquirer. He also threw an inning during Philadelphia's blowout loss to Kansas City on Monday, leaving the bullpen thin ahead of the road trip to Cincinnati.
Optioning Backhus to Lehigh Valley signals the Phillies are still searching for dependable left-handed help in a pen that has been reshaped repeatedly in 2026.
How does this affect Jhoan Duran and the bullpen?
The Lazar-Backhus swap is less about the ninth inning than the outs before it. Sports Illustrated reported that outside of Orion Kerkering, there is not much of a sure thing for Mattingly when it comes to building a bridge to Duran.
That uncertainty helps explain why Philadelphia keeps rotating arms through Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Lazar's recall is the latest attempt to find middle-relief stability without overworking setup pieces ahead of Duran.
Wednesday's matchup adds another wrinkle: the Reds are scheduled to start All-Star right-hander Chase Burns, who enters at 10-1 with a 2.40 ERA, in what the Inquirer described as a bullpen game for Philadelphia.
Where can fans follow Phillies roster and TV alerts?
Roster moves like this one can change which relievers fans see on any given broadcast during a road series. For ongoing watch-party and streaming updates across MLB, check the latest Streaming & TV Alerts coverage at BlasterPost.
Off the mound, Brandon Marsh took a scheduled day off Tuesday against lefty Andrew Abbott. Edmundo Sosa started in left field, Justin Crawford remained in center, and Derek Hill started in right as Mattingly managed a lineup facing consecutive left-handed starters.