Ahead of the second game of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Philadelphia Phillies reinstated Max Lazar from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while moving Zach Pop off the 40-man roster by reinstating him fro
For the Philadelphia Phillies, the run-up to the second game of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers came with a familiar kind of baseball math: one pitching spot on the 40-man roster, matched with another need that wouldn’t wait.
The club reinstated right-handed pitcher Max Lazar from the 60-day injured list and then optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. creating the space required for his return. Lazar’s path back has been shaped by a left oblique strain that he was dealing with at the start of the season. and his rehab assignment began on April 30.
Across 11 minor league appearances during that rehab stretch, the 26-year-old compiled a 2.70 ERA over 13.1 innings. The Phillies needed that kind of reinvestment in their depth, because Lazar’s status matters: he occupies a spot on Philadelphia’s 40-man roster.
To make room, the Phillies reinstated right-hander Zach Pop from the 15-day injured list and designated him for assignment.
Pop has been sidelined since mid-April with a right calf strain. Before the injury. he appeared in seven games for Philadelphia. allowing three earned runs across 7.1 innings while recording six strikeouts and three walks. In that short run, he finished with a 3.68 ERA and 0.1 bWAR. His final appearance came in an unexpected start against the Arizona Diamondbacks after top prospect Andrew Painter was unable to start because of migraines. Pop worked two innings as an opener in that contest.
Pop’s time in Philadelphia began in December, and he earned a bullpen role after a successful spring training, working to a 3.86 ERA in nine exhibition appearances. His designation for assignment comes even after a promising start to the season.
The Phillies will now keep their major league bullpen stable in the immediate term. With Jhoan Duran healthy and back in the closer role, Orion Kerkering, Brad Keller, Jose Alvarado, and surprise contributor Chase Shugart have helped strengthen the relief corps.
Lazar, meanwhile, is part of a growing Phillies pipeline. He signed with Philadelphia as a minor league free agent before the 2024 season. debuted in the majors that year. and served as a regular bullpen option in 2025. He made 36 appearances and threw 41.1 innings, finishing last season with a 4.79 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Lazar also collected the first save of his MLB career in an extra-inning victory over the Athletics.
While Lazar heads to Triple-A, the roster shuffle leaves the Phillies trying to balance one return with another departure—an uncomfortable reminder that, in a season built on innings, timing is always a roster move waiting to happen.
Philadelphia Phillies Los Angeles Dodgers Max Lazar Zach Pop Jhoan Duran Orion Kerkering Brad Keller Jose Alvarado Chase Shugart 40-man roster Triple-A Lehigh Valley injured list optioned