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
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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.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Blows save Saturday
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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.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Grabs save Monday
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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.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Pitches final out for save
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Phillips earned a one-out save in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Giants after walking a batter.
Phillips entered the game in relief of Alex Vesia to face Jorge Soler with the Dodgers up 5-2. Phillips would go on to walk Soler on four pitches before eventually getting LaMonte Wade to ground out to end the game. While Phillips picked up his first save since July 5, he still looked shaky on the mound and now has three walks in his last two appearances. He's now up to 15 saves on the year to accompany a 3.73 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB in 31.1 innings.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Could be used earlier in games
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Manager Dave Roberts stated Monday that the club could begin deploying Phillips any time from the seventh inning on, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Roberts didn't explicitly say that Phillips is no longer the closer, but his struggles over the last three weeks or so can't be ignored, especially with Daniel Hudson proving that he's capable of getting the job done. The Dodgers will likely choose Phillips' spots carefully in an effort to build his confidence back up. The right-hander has now allowed at least one run in four of his last five appearances.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Collapses again in ninth inning
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Phillips' hold on the closer role is in jeopardy after Sunday's latest blunder against the Red Sox, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while only managing to record one out via a strikeout.
Phillips was brought in to begin the ninth inning with the Dodgers leading 9-3 and allowed a single and two doubles to the first three hitters he faced. He was able to get Tyler O'Neill out on strikes before issuing back-to-back walks and getting the hook. Phillips has had a very rough stretch since the end of June, allowing nine runs on 12 hits and three walks while recording eight strikeouts over his last 7.1 innings. Prior to that, the right-hander had a 1.52 ERA, 0.97 WHIP in 23.2 innings. Manager Dave Roberts commented after Saturday's win that he was still a "long ways" from removing Phillips from the closing role and that he would give him "as much runway as he wants" to regain his previous form. His view on Phillips may have changed after Sunday's outing. Daniel Hudson picked up two saves over the weekend, and the Dodgers could also acquire another high-leverage bullpen arm at the trade deadline to address their closer situation.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Cedes save opportunity Friday
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Phillips wasn't used in the ninth inning with the Dodgers holding a 4-1 lead over Boston on Friday, and Daniel Hudson instead closed out the contest to earn a save.
Phillips entered Friday having squandered his last two save opportunities and holding a 7.50 ERA over his past six appearances dating back to June 30. He's been seeing more work outside the ninth inning over the past month, though those instances have largely been in high-leverage situations in which Phillips faced the opponent's top hitters. It's important to note, however, that the right-hander has struggled against lefties this season -- they've posted a .961 OPS against him, and all four of the homers Phillips has given up have come against left-handed hitters. That likely explains Phillips' absence in the ninth Friday, as all three of Boston's batters in the frame were lefties. Phillips should still be considered the top closing option for Los Angeles, but it's becoming increasingly clear that other relievers will also get save chances for the team depending on the situation.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Blown save Saturday
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Phillips blew a save in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.
Phillips was called upon to protect a 9-6 lead with a runner on second and no outs in the ninth inning, but he allowed the Tigers to tie the game on an RBI single and a two-run home run. The righty has struggled in July, yielding four earned runs and blowing two saves in five appearances while not always working the ninth inning. On the year, he is 14-for-16 in save chances with a 2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 32:8 K:BB across 29.2 innings.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Used in eighth frame again Saturday
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Phillips (2-0) was charged with a blown save and earned the win against Milwaukee on Saturday. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning.
With the Dodgers up 3-2 in the top of the eighth frame, manager Dave Roberts elected to call upon Phillips to face the heart of the Brewers order. The right-hander couldn't protect the lead, giving up a one-out solo homer to Christian Yelich. Phillips did get credited for the win, however, as a result of Los Angeles tallying two runs in the bottom of the frame and Alex Vesia closing things out in the ninth. This was the second time in the past two weeks that Roberts has called upon Phillips before the ninth inning in a high-leverage situation, so it's clear that the team is comfortable using him in that way. Phillips should still get the vast majority of save chances for the Dodgers, though Vesia has five saves on the campaign and is probably the leading candidate for ninth-inning duties when Phillips is either unavailable or deployed earlier in a contest.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Locks down 14th save
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Phillips struck out the side to earn the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.
Phillips needed just 12 pitches (nine strikes) to set the Brewers down in order to protect a three-run lead. It's an encouraging sign, as he had allowed a run in each of his last two outings. Phillips is up to 14 saves and one hold through 26.2 innings this season, and he's maintained a strong 2.03 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Nabs win Tuesday
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Phillips (1-0) allowed a run on one hit and struck out one over one inning but earned the win Tuesday over the Diamondbacks.
Phillips gave up a tie-breaking solo home run to Joc Pederson in the top of the ninth inning, but the Dodgers replied with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. The homer was just the second Phillips has allowed all year, though this was the second outing in a row he's been scored on. The right-hander is at a 2.10 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB with 13 saves and a hold over 25.2 innings this season.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Bags 13th save
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Phillips earned the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the White Sox, pitching a perfect inning with one strikeout.
Phillips entered the ninth with a one-run lead and promptly retired the side on 14 pitches, including 10 strikes. The 29-year-old right-hander has been steady in June so far, pitching to a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB over nine innings with five saves. Phillips has converted 14 consecutive save chances, with his last blown save coming against Seattle on Sept. 16, 2023.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Deployed in eighth inning
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Phillips earned a hold against the White Sox on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of work.
It was somewhat surprising to see Phillips -- who is the Dodgers' primary closer -- used in the eighth frame, but there was plenty of sense behind the move given that the White Sox were bringing up the heart of their order. Phillips got through the inning unscathed despite allowing a one-out double to Luis Robert, and Alex Vesia earned his fourth save with a clean frame in the ninth. Phillips' usage Monday suggests that manager Dave Roberts isn't opposed to using him before the ninth inning in the highest-leverage situations, but the right-hander should still receive the vast majority of save chances for Los Angeles. He's been one of the most reliable closers in baseball this year with a perfect 12-for-12 mark in save opportunities along with a 1.66 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Records 12th save
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Phillips earned a save against the Rockies on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Phillips cruised to the save on 11 pitches, punching out two of the three batters he faced. It was the fifth straight scoreless and hitless outing for the closer, who has allowed an earned run in only two of his 21 appearances this season. Phillips is 12-for-12 in save chances this season -- he's the only MLB closer with that many saves who remains perfect in save opportunities.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Grabs one-out save
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Phillips struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Tuesday's 11-9 win over the Rockies.
Alex Vesia issued a two-out walk, and Phillips was able to strike out Hunter Goodman on five pitches to secure the save after the Dodgers' ninth-inning comeback. Aside from a three-run misstep in Pittsburgh on June 6, Phillips has pitched well since his return from a hamstring injury. He's at 11 saves with a 1.89 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over 19 innings this season.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Reaches double figures in saves
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Phillips picked up the save Sunday against Kansas City, allowing one walk with no strikeouts across a scoreless ninth inning.
Phillips corralled his second save since being reinstated from the 15-day IL on May 31, increasing his season total to 10 saves. The 29-year-old hasn't allowed a hit in three of his four appearances in June but was tagged for three runs in a June 6 outing against the Pirates. On the year, Phillips owns a 1.93 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 18.2 innings.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Gets save in first outing since IL
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Phillips pitched a perfect inning and struck out one to earn the save in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Rockies.
This was Phillips' first appearance in nearly a month due to a hamstring strain. He looked rust-free, throwing 11 pitches (seven strikes) to set down the bottom of the Rockies' order for his ninth save of the season. Phillips has a 0.61 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB over 14.2 innings, and he's yet to take a blown save this year. It doesn't appear he'll be eased into the closer role again, not that he needs to be handled with kid gloves considering his track record in high-leverage spots over the last two years.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Back from IL
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The Dodgers reinstated Phillips (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Phillips was forced onto the injured list May 5 after suffering a right hamstring strain. He's since thrown 1.2 innings of shutout ball while striking out three batters and walking none during a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. The 29-year-old right-hander should immediately reclaim his spot as the Dodgers' closer, a role he thrived in prior to getting injured. Elieser Hernandez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
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Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Tracking toward return on Friday
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Phillips (hamstring) is on track for activation from the 15-day injured list Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Phillips struck out two batters in a perfect inning in his first rehab appearance with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday. He's slated for one rehab outing before rejoining the Dodgers for their weekend series at home against the Rockies, assuming all goes well. Upon activation, Phillips should immediately step back in as the Dodgers' closer.
