The Phillies were busy on Saturday morning making roster moves. The first move was one that we were anticipating: Ben Lively was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Saturday's matinee against the San Francisco Giants. The corresponding move was that Mark Leiter, Jr. was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room.
But, the Phillies were not done.
Reliever Joaquin Benoit was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a knee strain. Benoit was said to have incurred the injury on Friday night. However, the Phillies did not tell Leiter to turn around and come back to Philadelphia, since he had worked much in the last week.
Instead, the Phillies added left-handed reliever Adam Morgan. Morgan will serve as a long man in the Phillies bullpen that has needed one frequently as of late. Morgan last appeared in a game for the IronPigs in that role on Thursday, when Cesar Ramos made a spot start after Lively was pegged to start Saturday.
The Phillies are not done making roster moves, however. It would appear that Nick Pivetta will return from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start on Monday. Pivetta takes the rotation slot of Vince Velasquez, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list and figures to be out until at least the All-Star break.
Pivetta was scratched from his anticipated Saturday start for the IronPigs. Mark Appel will start for the IronPigs instead on Saturday night, while Jake Thompson is slated to start on Sunday. Former Phillies starter Zach Eflin started Saturday night.
