Phillips pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Diamondbacks.
Phillips was sharp in August, allowing two runs (one earned) over 12.1 innings while posting a 20:1 K:BB across 14 appearances. He picked up three saves, four holds, one blown save and one win, as the Dodgers have stuck with a committee approach to closing duties after Phillips' rough July. Overall, he has a 3.22 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB with 18 saves in 21 chances and six holds over 44.2 innings this season.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Fans two for 17th save
Rotowire
Phillips picked up the save over Baltimore on Thursday, striking out two over a scoreless ninth inning.
Phillips hit Cedric Mullins with a pitch to start off the ninth after entering the contest to protect a three-run lead. However, the right-hander was able to retire the next three batters, two by way of strikeout, to secure his 17th save of the campaign. Phillips had blown three of his last five save opportunities, but he carries a sharp 0.79 ERA in August to go along with a highly impressive 20:1 K:BB. He's also recorded multiple strikeouts in three straight appearances.
Phillips blew a save opportunity against Tampa Bay on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three batters over one inning.
Phillips entered in the ninth inning with the Dodgers up by one run and served up a game-tying solo shot to the first batter he faced (Junior Caminero). Though Phillips bounced back to strike out the next three hitters, it was nonetheless a missed opportunity for the All-Star reliever as he seeks to reestablish himself as the Dodgers' primary closer. The right-hander lost his ninth-inning role after a rough stretch from late June to late July during which he posted an 11.42 ERA and blew two saves over 11 appearances spanning 8.2 innings. Phillips has rebounded in August, as he entered Saturday with 8.1 scoreless frames and a 13:1 K:BB through 10 outings, and he notched his first save in nearly a month Aug. 19 versus Seattle. It's unclear how much Saturday's blown save will impact his opportunities for saves moving forward, but it's likely that Los Angeles will continue to distribute such chances to a variety of relievers, including Michael Kopech and Daniel Hudson in addition to Phillips.
Phillips struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Monday's 3-0 win over the Mariners.
It was far from a nervy outing, as Phillips threw nine of 13 pitches for strikes to earn his first save since July 23. All three of Phillips, Daniel Hudson and Michael Kopech had pitched Sunday, so it's noteworthy Phillips got the save chance here against the top of the Mariners' order. For the season, he has 16 saves in 18 opportunities along with a 3.40 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB through 39.2 innings. The Dodgers' have a bevy of high-leverage options, so don't expect Phillips to be a full-time closer even if he gets more looks going forward than he did over the last month.
