Why Jhoan Duran pitched in a non-save Phillies outing
Jhoan Duran entered a non-save situation because he told the Philadelphia Phillies he needed to pitch. Interim manager Don Mattingly said the closer asked for work before Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mets, then confirmed again in the eighth. Duran threw a scoreless ninth with 22 pitches after four days of rest. Fans who stayed for the final frame of Sunday's series finale were surprised to see the set closer jog in with the Phillies already trailing the New York Mets by five. For more celebrity breaking news, BlasterPost is tracking every high-profile sports moment.
Key Takeaways
- Jhoan Duran asked for the ball before the game and again in the eighth.
- He threw 22 pitches in a scoreless ninth during a 6-1 loss.
- Only eight of his 34 appearances entering Sunday were non-save spots.
- His last regular-season outing had been July 11 against Detroit.
- Mattingly capped him near 20–25 pitches after a heavy bullpen day.
Why did Jhoan Duran pitch with the Phillies losing big?
According to Phillies Nation, Duran told the staff he needed to pitch. Mattingly said the closer is usually clear about when he feels ready after back-to-back days versus when he simply needs work.
Philadelphia checked with him again in the eighth to confirm he still wanted the ninth. The outing was maintenance, not a late-game save opportunity.
How long had it been since Jhoan Duran last pitched?
Duran's previous appearance was Tuesday's All-Star Game in Philadelphia, when he faced two batters in the ninth. That left him on four days of rest entering Sunday.
His last regular-season outing came in the penultimate first-half game against the Detroit Tigers on July 11. Entering Sunday, only eight of his 34 appearances had come in non-save situations, some of them high-leverage ties.
What else shaped the Phillies' bullpen decision?
It had already been a long day for Philadelphia's relief corps. Starter Alan Rangel threw 91 pitches through four innings, and Tim Mayza, Max Lazar, and Seth Johnson combined for 95 more over the next four.
Phillies pitchers finished with 208 pitches, their most in a game this season. Mattingly said the plan was to keep Duran around 20–25 pitches; his 22 tied for his second-highest total in an outing this year.
If Duran works again Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he might not be available Tuesday—or he might be. As Mattingly put it, the closer largely dictates that call.