The Philadelphia Phillies still have a couple of bullpen spots to sort out before Opening Day on Thursday, March 26, against the Texas Rangers. One unique reliever is making a push to begin the 2026 campaign on the MLB roster.
Kyle Backhus has the inside track for a bullpen spot, per The Athletic. In an overview of the competition among relievers, Charlotte Varnes noted Backhus “seems like the natural choice if he continues to perform in camp.”
Philadelphia acquired the sidewinding lefty in a December trade that sent outfield prospect Avery Owusu-Asiedu to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He received quite the response from hitters when they first saw him throw. Backhus could join Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks as the third southpaw in the bullpen, something manager Rob Thomson has mentioned as a priority. “Ideally, you’d like to have three lefties (in the pen),” Thomson said recently, relayed by Varnes. “But that’s not really etched in stone. … I think it’s the guys that are performing the best.”
Sidearmer Kyle Backhus Could Be in Philadelphia Phillies’ Bullpen on Opening Day
Backhus got off to a good start in Spring Training, breezing through three Pittsburgh Pirates hitters. The lefty is coming off an uninspiring debut with the Diamondbacks. He provided a 4.62 ERA across 32 games in his first taste of the big leagues. Backhus had just a 19.1% strikeout rate, but did keep his walk rate down at 7.0%.
The main bright spot for Backhus as a big leaguer was his strong work against same-handed hitters. The lefty limited left-handed bats to a meager .139/.225/.278 slash line. He had a solid 24.4% strikeout rate in those situations. Righties, however, were a problem. Backhus ceded a healthy .418 wOBA to right-handed hitters across 74 plate appearances. He punched them out at a weak 16.2% clip.
It’s easy to see how left-handed hitters would fail to find success against Backhus. He’s a sidearmer with a nine-degree arm angle last season. Backhus also ranked in the 96th percentile with an arm extension of 7.2 feet. A 91-mph sinker doesn’t inspire much confidence, but Backhus releases the ball from a low angle, and it gets on batters quickly due to his extension.
Who Will Fill Out the Phillies Roster to Begin the Season?
Philadelphia is looking to bounce back after a devastating end to the 2025 season. The club is likely looking to fill two bullpen spots. Closer Jhoan Duran will be set up by Jose Alvarado, back from a PED suspension, and free agent acquisition Brad Keller. Orion Kerkering will be in the mix as a late-inning option. Banks was solid last season as a lower-leverage left-hander. The Phillies added Jonathan Bowlan in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for lefty Matt Strahm.
Along with Backhus, veteran lefties Tim Mayza and Genesis Cabrera are at camp as non-roster invitees. From the right side, Zach Pop, Seth Johnson, and Chase Shugart are currently on the roster and in the mix for a job. The Phillies also have Lou Trivino, Jonathan Hernandez, and Trevor Richards at Spring Training, all of whom have significant MLB experience.
Phillies Reliever With Odd Delivery Pushing For Opening Day Spot