Phillies Expect Jonathan Bowlan to Avoid IL With Mild Groin Strain

The Phillies are trying to keep Jonathan Bowlan available for October without asking him to pitch through more than his body will allow. The right-hander has been diagnosed with a mild right groin strain, sustained during the eighth inning of Thursday’s 3-0 win over the Mets, and Philadelphia does not plan to put him on the 15-day injured list.

The timing is the central part of the decision. An injured-list placement would make Bowlan unavailable for the National League Wild Card Series, while the club believes this strain can be handled day by day and could allow him to return for Game 1 on Sept. 29.

Interim manager Don Mattingly said the early evaluation offered encouragement, even though Bowlan will not be ready to take the ball immediately.

“We’re going to work through it and keep checking him every day,” Mattingly said. “The report was encouraging. If it had been more serious, there would not be any point in trying to manage it this way.”

Bowlan dealt with a similar groin issue in April, when he did go on the injured list. This time, he said, the feeling was different and less alarming.

“There wasn’t a pop or anything like that,” Bowlan said. “That’s a good sign.”

A September bullpen calculation

Philadelphia’s expanded September roster gives the club room to carry Bowlan while he recovers. Had the injury occurred before Sept. 1, the Phillies likely would have made the injured-list move rather than risk short-handed bullpen coverage. They now have nine healthy relievers, a number the club believes can cover the final nine games.

Mattingly described Bowlan as being in decent physical condition overall, with the expectation that the absence will be brief rather than a lingering late-season problem.

“He’s in a reasonably good place physically,” Mattingly said. “He can’t pitch tonight, obviously, but we don’t expect this to be a long-term situation.”

McFarlane and Kerkering could see more work

With Bowlan temporarily unavailable, rookie right-hander Alex McFarlane is positioned for a larger share of the relief innings. The Phillies also may have an opening to get Orion Kerkering back into a steadier rhythm.

Kerkering has appeared only once over the past two weeks, partly because of turf toe in his left foot. Since late July, he has posted a 7.79 ERA across 20 outings, with 16 strikeouts, 11 walks and three hit batters in 17 1/3 innings.

Mattingly said Kerkering’s limited recent usage has not reflected a lack of readiness.

“I believe he’s prepared,” Mattingly said. “The lack of outings has been more about how the games have unfolded and not finding the right inning for him.”