Kerkering walked one and struck out one while giving up an unearned run in the 10th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in an 11-9 win over the Pirates. With Jhoan Duran not yet pitching on back-to-back days and Brad Keller having worked Wednesday and Thursday, interim manager Don Mattingly has to get creative with his high-leverage arms. Jose Alvarado struck out the side in a scoreless ninth, then after the Phillies rang up three runs in the top of the 10th, Kerkering got the call and allowed only the phantom runner to score. The right-hander hasn't seen much usage in key situations this season, and through 16.1 innings over 18 appearances he sports a 2.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB with just one win and one hold in addition to Friday's save.
Richard Kerkering: Everything you need to know
Unlock the latest Philadelphia Phillies news — direct to your inbox.
Status
ACTIVESTATS
Richard Kerkering Game Log 2026
-
Regular SeasonDateOppResultIPKBBHBPCGSHOHRER5/30W 4-31.0200002115/26W 4-31.0310000005/25W 3-01.0200000005/23W 3-01.0200000005/20L 9-40.2200002115/18W 5-40.1000000005/15W 11-91.0110000105/13L 3-10.1000002115/9W 9-31.0100000005/8L 9-71.0100001005/6W 6-30.1000000005/3W 7-21.0000000005/1W 6-51.0101000004/30L 2-10.1000000004/28W 7-01.0200000004/25W 8-51.1110000004/23L 8-71.0110001004/21L 7-40.1020000004/17L 8-00.2000002114/13W 13-71.1300001004/11W 4-31.0100000004/10L 5-41.0000001004/7L 6-01.001000222
Regular Season Totals 17.12371001476
Richard Kerkering Splits 2026
-
SplitsGSIPWLERAKBBHBPCGHRERSVOSAVGHR
Overall 021.1300.0238101676110.2002Away 010.0100.011700754110.1891Home 011.1200.012100922000.2091Night 015.0300.0157001165110.2002Day 06.1000.08100511000.2000vs Righty 00.0000.0126101050000.2171vs Lefty 00.0000.011200620000.1761April 010.2000.08600933000.2251May 010.2300.015200743110.1751Opponent vs SF 0 2.2 0 0 0.0 2 1 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 0.333 0 vs SD 0 2.0 0 0 0.0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 vs AZ 0 2.0 0 0 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.167 0 vs PIT 0 1.0 0 0 0.0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0.000 0 vs ATL 0 3.1 0 0 0.0 1 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.167 1 vs BOS 0 0.1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.667 1 vs CHC 0 2.2 0 0 0.0 4 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0.200 0 vs MIA 0 2.0 0 0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 vs CLE 0 1.0 0 0 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 vs ATH 0 0.1 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 vs CIN 0 1.0 1 0 0.0 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.333 0 vs LAD 0 1.0 1 0 0.0 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.400 0 vs COL 0 2.0 0 0 0.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.143 0 Venue @ Chicago 0 1.1 0 0 0.0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.200 0 @ Philadelphia 0 11.1 2 0 0.0 12 1 0 0 9 2 2 0 0 0.209 1 @ Los Angeles 0 1.0 1 0 0.0 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.400 0 @ Pittsburgh 0 1.0 0 0 0.0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0.000 0 @ San Francisco 0 1.0 0 0 0.0 0 1 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 0.400 0 @ Miami 0 2.0 0 0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 @ Boston 0 0.1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.667 1 @ Atlanta 0 1.1 0 0 0.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0 @ San Diego 0 2.0 0 0 0.0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0
Richard Kerkering Player Profile
Career History
Richard Kerkering: Breaking News
Turns in another scoreless outing
Kerkering threw a clean seventh inning Friday against Miami. He struck out one. Following a delayed start to the season due to a hamstring strain he sufferend during the spring, Kerkering is off to a solid start as one of Philadelphia's high-leverage arms. The right-hander has rattled off seven consecutive scoreless outings, and he has a 2.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB with one hold across his first 11.2 innings on the year.
Activated from injured list
The Phillies activated Kerkering (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. Kerkering got a late start to the season after straining his right hamstring during spring training, but he's ready to roll after four rehab appearances. The 25-year-old will settle into a setup role for the Phillies, though he could be eased back into high-leverage situations following the layoff.
