MLB Player News

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.

Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Winker will yield to Harold Ramirez at DH with southpaw Jose Quintana taking the mound for the Mets. Winker is 9-for-22 with eight runs and four RBI in July.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Phillips will make his first major-league start Saturday against the Athletics, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Phillips pitched well in an extended relief outing Sunday in Atlanta, allowing one run, striking out seven and not issuing a walk over four innings. He was pressed into action following an ineffective start by Michael Mercado, who will now head to the bullpen to make room in the rotation for Phillips.

Merryweather (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

It will be his first game action in three months, as Merryweather has been shelved with a rib stress fracture. Given his lengthy absence, the reliever will need a handful of rehab appearances before the Cubs are ready to activate him.

Taylor is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Taylor started the previous seven games but will sit after going 4-for-22 with two homers, six walks and eight strikeouts during that span. Cavan Biggio will take over at the hot corner Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Pages is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Philadelphia.

He will yield to James Outman in center field as the Phillies send right-hander Zack Wheeler to the bump. Pages sports a .653 OPS versus righties this season, as opposed to his .873 OPS against left-handers.

The Phillies designated Dahl for assignment Tuesday.

After getting called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 3, Dahl appeared in 19 games and produced a .639 OPS with a 33.9 percent strikeout rate over 62 plate appearances during his time on the big-league roster. With all of Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper (hamstring) and Kyle Schwarber (groin) having since moved past their respective injuries, the Phillies no longer had room on the roster for Dahl.

The Phillies optioned Clemens to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Clemens got some run at first base while Bryce Harper (hamstring) was on the injured list, but Clemens will head back to the minors after Harper was reinstated ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus the Dodgers. In 24 contests with the Phillies this season, Clemens has slashed .242/.277/.500 with three home runs.

The Phillies activated Harper (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Harper spent the minimum 10 days on the IL while he recovered from a strained left hamstring. He'll be back in action for Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers, manning first base and batting third.

The Phillies reinstated Schwarber (groin) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Just as manager Rob Thomson suggested over the weekend would be the case, Schwarber will return to the 26-man active roster ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers. He'll likely slot back in atop the Philadelphia lineup as the team's designated hitter Tuesday against Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller.