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The Phillies optioned Mercado to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday. Mercado was brought up from the minors on Monday, and he'll now head back to Triple-A after giving up four earned runs in only 1.1 innings during his outing against the Astros on Wednesday. Yunior Marte was recalled from Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move.
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The Phillies optioned Mercado to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Mercado was lit up for six earned runs in four innings during his last appearance against Oakland on Sunday, and he'll now head back to Triple-A in order to right the ship. Yunior Marte was recalled from Lehigh Valley to fill the open spot in Philadelphia's bullpen.
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Mercado (1-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks over four innings against Oakland. He struck out two. Mercado tossed a couple of scoreless innings to start his outing, but things began to unravel in the fourth. Mercado allowed three two-run homers in total -- a fourth-inning blast by Brent Rooker, a fifth-inning long ball by Lawrence Butler, then a second dinger by Rooker in the sixth that ended Mercado's day. Following a promising beginning to his career that saw Mercado allow one run in five innings against the Cubs during his first career start, things have gone downhill, with the rookie right-hander having allowed 11 earned runs over his last two appearances spanning 5.2 innings.
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Mercado could make a spot start Sunday against the Athletics, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. Mercado was moved to the bullpen after being roughed up by Atlanta in his latest start, though the Phillies have since scratched Zack Wheeler (back) from Sunday's upcoming scheduled start. That could set Mercado up for a spot start heading into the All-Star break. It's also possible that Philadelphia opts for a bullpen game instead.
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Tuesday that Mercado will move to the bullpen, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. Mercado pitched well in his first major-league start against the Cubs last Tuesday but was then roughed up in his second outing in Atlanta on Sunday, coughing up five runs while recording just five outs. Tyler Phillips was effective in long relief of Mercado in the latter outing and will replace him in the rotation this weekend against the Athletics.