Padres' Brandon Kintzler: Inks MiLB deal with Friars
Rotowire
Kintzler signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Kintzler hasn't seen game action since being cut loose by the Phillies last year, but he'll now receive a chance to earn a late-season roster spot in San Diego. The veteran right-hander posted a 6.37 ERA over 29 appearances for the Phillies last season, though he was effective over the previous two campaigns with a 2.55 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 62:24 K:BB across 81.1 innings.
Kintzler was released by the Phillies on Monday, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation reports.
Kintzler was DFA'd by the Phillies last Friday and he's now not surprisingly declined a minor-league assignment after going unclaimed on waivers. While he's posted a subpar 6.37 ERA and 1.79 WHIP this season, the veteran right hander still holds a strong track record that could help him land with another club before 2021 comes to a close.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Designated for assignment
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Kintzler was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kintzler hadn't allowed any earned runs in five innings across his last four appearances, but he'll be cast off the 40-man roster after the Phillies strengthened their bullpen Friday. The 36-year-old has posted a 6.37 ERA and 1.79 WHIP this season, and it's not clear whether he'd accept an outright assignment if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Will serve as opener
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Kintzler will serve as the opener for Sunday's game against Boston, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Aaron Nola was originally projected to start Sunday, but his placement on the COVID-19 injured list forced the team to change plans. Kintzler will likely throw an inning or two prior to giving way to a bulk reliever.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: No-decision as opener
Rotowire
Kintzler didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Red Sox after allowing one run on one hit across one inning.
As expected, Kintzler worked as the opening pitcher Sunday and faced the first four batters of the game, retiring the side in order and departing the contest after allowing a Xander Bogaerts home run to begin the second frame. Kintzler, who owns a 7.61 ERA on the season, will move back to the bullpen following the All-Star break.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
Kintzler (neck) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Kintzler began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley last Friday, and he tossed two scoreless innings across two appearances in the minors. The right-hander posted an 8.50 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in 18 innings across 20 big-league appearances to begin the year, and he'll rejoin the Phillies' bullpen after right-hander Neftali Feliz was designated for assignment Thursday.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Kicks off rehab assignment
Rotowire
Kintzler (neck) made his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday, walking one and allowing no hits over a scoreless inning of relief.
Kintzler has been on the shelf for just under three weeks with a strained neck. The Phillies may want to see him make one or two more appearances for Lehigh Valley before bringing him back from the 10-day injured list.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Heads to injured list
Rotowire
Kintzler was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a strained neck, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The veteran reliever presumably suffered the injury during Sunday's outing, in which he allowed three runs while recording just two outs. The 2021 season as a whole has been a struggle for the righty, who has an 8.50 ERA in 18 innings of work. It's unclear how severe Kintzler's neck strain is or whether he'll require longer than 10 days on the IL.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Takes first loss in relief
Rotowire
Kintzler (1-1) allowed three earned runs on three hits while recording just one out in the eighth inning, taking the loss against the Mets on Sunday.
Kintzler entered the eighth inning with a one-run lead. He quickly lost the lead after giving up a leadoff home run to Kevin Pillar. Kintzler let up two more baserunners before he was pulled with one out, and they both eventually scored as part of the six-run inning for the Mets. The 36-year-old's ERA jumped to 8.00 after Sunday. He's allowed six of his seven runs in just two of his nine appearances.
Kintzler (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched, striking out one and earning the victory in Wednesday's 5-3 win over St. Louis.
The veteran went a week without game action after yielding three runs to the Giants on April 21 and appears to have benefited from the time off. Five of Kintzler's seven appearances have been scoreless, but his two bad outings have inflated his ERA to 5.87 through 7.2 innings. The 36-year-old lacks elite stuff at this point in his career, though he generates enough soft contact with his sinker to navigate through opposing lineups and record outs in the middle innings of games.
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Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Wins roster spot
Rotowire
Kintzler was informed he'd won an Opening Day roster spot Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Kintzler was in camp as merely a non-roster invitee, but it would have been tough for him to fail to win a job coming off a season in which he saved 12 games while recording a 2.22 ERA. He looked strong this spring, allowing one earned run in 8.2 innings while striking out nine batters, leaving little doubt he deserved to break camp with the team. He's not a favorite to earn saves for the Phillies this season but isn't too far down the depth chart should the top few options struggle or get injured.
Phillies' Brandon Kintzler: Clear shot at bullpen spot
Rotowire
Kintzler's bullpen spot appears to be very safe despite the fact that he's in camp as a non-roster invitee, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Looking at Kintzler's 12 saves and 2.22 ERA for the Marlins last season, it's something of a surprise the veteran had to settle for a minor-league deal. His underlying numbers weren't nearly so convincing, however, as his 13.9 percent strikeout rate and 10.9 percent walk rate were both poor, and his 57.3 percent groundball rate, while strong, wouldn't typically be enough to overcome them. Kintzler appears to be firmly in the Phillies' plans this season, however, especially as he's reportedly throwing harder than he did last year. He isn't a favorite to save games at the moment, but he has plenty of experience in the role and could be called on at some point if the Phillies' top relievers struggle.
