The clock is ticking for the Philadelphia Phillies as they work to finalize their Opening Day 26-man roster. With just six games left in their Grapefruit League slate following Wednesday’s 9-7 loss to the New York Yankees at BayCare Ballpark, the team is expected to make its final roster decisions by the end of the weekend, even if the official announcement comes closer to their March 27 regular-season opener.
One player hoping to secure a spot as the Phillies head north is veteran right-hander, whose odds of making the Opening Day roster just improved. Before matchup with the Yankees, the Phillies announced they had optioned right-hander to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, clearing the way for top veteran to emerge as a favorite for the final bullpen spot.
Devin Sweet’s option just opened the door wide for Nabil Crismatt to take the final Opening Day bullpen job
Sweet, who entered spring training with a legitimate shot at claiming the Phillies’ final bullpen spot, couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. His struggles this spring, highlighted by blowing a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning against the Pirates on Tuesday, pushed his ERA to 6.14 and signaled that the Phillies were ready to look elsewhere.
Over 7 1/3 innings of relief work, Sweet posted a 1.50 WHIP, walking four batters while striking out six. The club ultimately decided to send him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, a move made easier by the fact that Sweet still has two minor league options remaining.
The Phillies acquired the 28-year-old reliever from the Detroit Tigers last November in exchange for cash considerations. While Sweet has flashed swing-and-miss stuff—posting an impressive 13.14 K/9 rate in Triple-A last season—control issues persisted, as evidenced by his 4.50 BB/9 rate, which carried over into camp this spring.
Crismatt is taking the ball and running with it
With Sweet now out of the picture, Crismatt appears to be the leading candidate for the Phillies’ final bullpen spot. The veteran right-hander has been sharp this spring, posting a 2.35 ERA and an impressive 0.78 WHIP over 7 2/3 innings. He’s allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out seven, showing the type of command that’s crucial for a reliable bullpen arm.
The 30-year-old journeyman brings valuable experience, having pitched for four MLB teams with a career 3.71 ERA across 177 innings. Last season, Crismatt performed well in limited action with the Dodgers, logging a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over seven innings before being edged out of their crowded bullpen picture.
Initially, Crismatt had plans to leave Phillies camp to represent Colombia in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers but ultimately chose to stay and focus on securing a spot on Philadelphia’s Opening Day roster.
With Sweet out of the mix, the battle for the final bullpen spot has narrowed to four pitchers in Phillies camp. Crismatt’s strongest challenger appears to be right-hander Kyle Tyler, who has yet to allow a run across 7 2/3 innings this spring. Tyler, who is on the 40-man roster, does have a minor league option available, giving the Phillies some flexibility with him.
Meanwhile, Michael Mercado (8.10 ERA) can also be optioned to the minors, and Tyler Phillips (8.38 ERA) seems to be a long shot to make the roster and is a likely candidate to be waived.
At this point, Crismatt is firmly in the driver’s seat, and the bullpen spot appears to be his to lose as Opening Day approaches.