Phillies Make Bullpen Decision Ahead of Cubs Series Final

Hernandez was picked up by the Phillies right before the 2025 season got underway after he was DFA'd by the Kansas City Royals. In his limited appearances with the Phillies, where he pitched a total of 25.2 innings, Hernandez had a 5.26 ERA and 23 strikeouts.

While he wasn't terrible by any means, Hernandez also wasn't an immensely valuable reliever for the Phillies. He typically wasn't used in high-leverage spots, and never had a chance to earn a save.

Replacing Hernandez on the MLB roster is Mercado, who has already made his MLB debut. Back in 2024, Mercado got an opportunity to pitch near the end of the season, and in his five games, including two starts, he had an 11.08 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP in just 13 innings of work.

While he struggled in 2024, during his brief period of time on the MLB roster, his Minor League numbers in 2025 look a bit more reasonable. In his 17 appearances in Triple-A, Mercado has a 5.31 ERA and a 2-0 record. He's pitched 20.1 innings and has 22 strikeouts and 8 walks allowed. 

Mercado gets the call-up to the Major League roster to replace Hernandez, and while there isn't a huge difference in their stats for 2025, Mercado has significantly more control and is just 26 years old compared to Hernandez at 28.