Phillies receive positive Jhoan Duran update

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Phillies receive positive Jhoan Duran update

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated May 3, 2026 3:41 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have been without their flamethrowing closer, Jhoan Duran, since April 11 (left oblique strain). Before the Phillies matchup with the Miami Marlins on Saturday, Duran threw a bullpen session, where he was hitting 100 miles per hour, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

According to interim manager Don Mattingly, the coaching staff wanted Duran to "go through some intensity" (h/t OnPattison) before deciding whether he would need a rehab assignment. When asked if he felt he needed to throw some innings with either the Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A) or the Leigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A), Duran told Zolecki, "I don’t think I need to." Duran did add that he would go on a rehab assignment if the Phillies decided that was the route to take.

The Phillies need Jhoan Duran back to help even out the bullpen

Since Duran ended up on the injured list, former manager Rob Thomson and Mattingly have struggled to find someone to close out games. Duran was 5-for-5 in his save opportunities and had a 1.35 ERA in seven appearances for the Phillies before his injury. Since, the Phillies' bullpen has a 4.75 ERA and recorded one save while blowing three.

Right-hander Brad Keller has the lone save for the Phillies, which came against the Marlins on Friday. Keller walked a tightrope in the 6-5 win over the Fish, walking infielder Javier Sanoja to lead off the inning, followed by two strikeouts and a single to infielder Otto Lopez, which scored Sanoja. Keller would settle in and close it out with a flyout to center field from infielder Xavier Edwards.

Having Duran occupy the ninth inning would allow Keller to go back to pitching the eighth inning, which he was signed to do in the offseason. In nine appearances in the eighth inning this season, Keller is pitching to a 2.35 ERA, while having a 5.40 ERA in four appearances in the ninth inning. The Phillies should decide on whether or not Duran will need to be sent out for a rehab assignment after Sunday's game with the Marlins. However, with the Phillies needing to lock down the ninth, Duran could be back in the bullpen for the series finale against the Marlins on Monday.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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