Phillies recall Alan Rangel, reinstate Kyle Backhus ahead of Nationals series

Alan Rangel was back in Philadelphia's bullpen puzzle as the Phillies reshaped their staff for a series opener that still did not have a named starter. The right-hander from Hermosillo, Mexico, was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday and was lined up to handle bulk relief against the Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C., giving the club a length option behind the first arm in line.

Kyle Backhus rejoined the Phillies at the same time, coming off the 15-day injured list after missing time with left elbow inflammation. Backhus had been sidelined since April 30, retroactive to April 27, and had just made his fifth rehab appearance with Lehigh Valley on June 20. The Phillies were expected to use him in middle relief, a role that should help stabilize the innings around the late-game options after the club's Sunday night win over the Mets.

The rest of the move sent Max Lazar back to Triple-A and removed Bryse Wilson from the 40-man roster by designating him for assignment. Wilson, 28, had signed a minor league free-agent deal with Philadelphia on Dec. 12, 2025, and his only appearance for the Phillies came June 18, when he worked two scoreless innings. In a bullpen that had already absorbed heavy lifting, the Phillies kept cycling through fresh arms to cover the next game on the schedule.

Rangel's return is the clearest sign that Philadelphia still sees him as a workable innings bridge when the calendar tightens and the bullpen needs protection. He made his major-league debut June 6 at Pittsburgh, allowing two earned runs over three innings with two walks and a strikeout, and he has now appeared in five games over three stints with the Phillies this season. The club's player page says he became the 10th Mexican-born pitcher to appear in a game for the Phillies, a marker that underscores how quickly he has moved from Triple-A insurance to a real option when the major-league staff needs a body and more. For Lehigh Valley, it means losing one of the more experienced arms it had been able to lean on all season, at least for as long as Philadelphia needs him to soak up innings in the Nation's Capital.