Alex McFarlane Comes Up Late When Phillies Needed Him Most

Alex McFarlane faced his biggest test yet with the Philadelphia Phillies and he passed it.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Phillies right-handed relief pitcher Alex McFarlane could read the room.

The Phillies were in a tie game in the ninth inning, trying to win their seventh in a row. Don Mattingly was going through his bullpen in a back-and-forth slugfest with Tim Mayza, Orion Kerkering, and Brooks Raley.

Jhoan Duran came in to pitch in a tie game in the ninth. With Jonathan Bowlan unavailable, McFarlane looked around the bullpen and noticed his number might be called if the game went to extra innings.

"I went out there and tried to stay as composed as possible," McFarlane said knowing his number was about to be called in the 10th. "Just preparing the situation over and over agin in my mind beforehand. I read the game and understood it was a possibility.”

Alex McFarlane stepped up when Phillies needed him most

Aug 11, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Alex McFarlane (71) walks off the field after the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mattingly gave McFarlane the ball in a tie game in the 10th, with the game tied at 5-5. The situation wasn't in McFarlane's favor with the ghost runner on second base.

This was just the fifth major league appearance for McFarlane. The odds weren't exactly in his favor.

"It’s tough to keep them off the board there," Mattingly said. "If you’re gonna pitch late in game, you gotta be able to hold runners."

McFarlane pitched as if he was going to get through the 10th inning unscathed. He got Blaze Jordan to line out for the first out, but José Fermín just connected on an inside sinker at 99.6 mph to left field that scored ghost runner Alec Burleson to give the Cardinals a 6-5 lead.

Alex McFarlane has tools to be difference maker for Phillies

Feb 19, 2026; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Alex McFarlane (71) poses for media day. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"That’s baseball man," McFarlane laughed. "You’re gonna get broken bats. Gotta keep putting the ball in the zone and keep pitching."

McFarlane didn't ditch that inside sinker on the next at-bat, getting Everson Pereira to ground into a double play on a ball hit right back to him. The rookie didn't hesitate, going right to second baseman Luis Arraez and throwing a perfect strike. Arraez had plenty of time to get the throw to Alec Bohm to complete the double play.

Emotions weren't being held in check there. McFarlane was fired up after getting out of the inning, allowing only the ghost runner to score and keeping the Phillies in the game.

"It gives the team a chance to win," McFarlane said. "Yeah I was fired up."

McFarlane didn't head to the clubhouse for the bottom of the 10th as Bohm rewarded the fruits of his labor with a walk-off triple to give the Phillies a 7-6 victory. He was part of the mob surrounding Bohm after the victory, rewarding a teammate who helped him out when he made a one-day appearance with the big club back in April.

The first Major League strikeout for Phillies prospect Alex McFarlane is a 100.5 mph fastball! pic.twitter.com/KvuC2y7LYf

— FuturePhils (@FuturePhils) August 12, 2026

Through five appearances, McFarlane is 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA -- striking our four and walking three.

The Phillies have brought McFarlane up three times this season, having him thrive as a reliever in Double-A Reading before giving him a longer stint in July. He was called up again on August 11, and this 11-day stint is his longest in the majors to date.

The first call-up was for a day. The second was for three days. This one feels permanent, as McFarlane's hard fastball and sinker can assist a tired bullpen in the stretch run.

"He seems to be handling it well," Mattingly said. "He's getting himself ready every day, and pretty much been available almost every day."

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