The Philadelphia Phillies made a series of roster adjustments ahead of their second game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, reshuffling their bullpen depth chart and 40-man roster in the process.
Reliever Max Lazar has been activated from the 60-day injured list after completing his rehab assignment, but instead of joining the major league club, he has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Because he was added back onto the 40-man roster, Philadelphia also needed to make a corresponding move.
That move involved Zach Pop, who was also working his way back from injury and had finished a rehab assignment of his own.
Although he was reinstated from the injured list, he was designated for assignment, putting his future with the organization in question.
The decision to move on from Pop came as a surprise to some, given his earlier role in the bullpen. He made seven appearances this season before landing on the injured list in April, posting a 3.68 ERA over 7.1 innings with six strikeouts and three walks, along with a 0.1 bWAR.
His final outing before the injury even saw him pressed into a spot start due to an unexpected late scratch in the rotation.
Meanwhile, Lazar—who was a regular bullpen option in 2025 with 36 appearances and 41.1 innings pitched—reclaims a spot on the 40-man roster despite a 4.79 ERA and limited strikeout totals last season.
He now stands as a potential call-up option if the Phillies need reinforcements in the coming weeks.
For now, Philadelphia’s bullpen remains stable under interim manager Don Mattingly, with closer Jhoan Duran anchoring the late innings.
Orion Kerkering continues to thrive in a setup role, Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado have provided reliable support, and Chase Shugart has emerged as a pleasant surprise.
However, struggles from Tanner Banks have highlighted that the relief group still has areas needing improvement.
