HÉCTOR NERIS NEWS

Stroman sharp in return, Mets beat Phillies 8-4 for 1st win

Marcus Stroman tossed six sharp innings in his first start since 2019, Dominic Smith and Pete Alonso each hit a two-run homer and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8...

APRIL 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillies rally for 5-3 win over Mets after deGrom pulled

A throwing error by Mets third baseman Luis Guillorme allowed the go-ahead runs to score, and the Philadelphia Phillies used a five-run eighth inning to rally for a 5-3 win over Ne...

APRIL 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Records first save of season Neris was credited with the save after tossing a scoreless inning Sunday against the Braves. He walked two and struck out one.

Impact Neris has made three appearances already this season and has yet to allow a run while fanning five. His two walks created a stressful situation, as the Braves were holding a one-run lead in the ninth, but the veteran right-hander eventually closed the door to earn his first save of the campaign.

APRIL 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Phillies pitchers dominate again, sweep Braves on Bohm hit

Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, Zach Eflin gave Philadelphia another strong start and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the defending NL East ch...

APRIL 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Segura's RBI single gives Phillies 3-2 win over Braves in 10

Jean Segura hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies over the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in their season opener

APRIL 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phillies Notebook: Even with remade bullpen, Joe Girardi keeps Hector Neris as closer Before the Phillies' first 2021 game, Joe Girardi made his first bullpen call.

MARCH 31, 2021 • DELCOTIMES.COM

Confirmed as closer Manager Joe Girardi said Neris would open the season as the Phillies' closer, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Impact After posting a 14:0 K:BB while allowing just five hits in 9.2 innings this spring, Neris was awarded the job over Archie Bradley and Jose Alvarado, who Girardi confirmed would be the Phillies' top right-handed and left-handed setup man, respectively. Though Neris has converted 70 of his 87 save chances (80.5 percent) over the past four seasons, an inability to consistently keep the ball in the yard has prevented him from building up much job security. With two high-quality options in Bradley and Alvarado waiting in the wings, Neris will likely need to avoid blowups early on in April and May to ensure he finishes the season as the Phillies' top option for saves.

MARCH 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Working on slider Neris worked on a slider over the offseason and has been trying it out in spring games, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Impact Neris threw a slider infrequently earlier in his career, last using it in in 2017. His profile is led by a splitter that can be a dominant pitch at times, but he may need something more after a disappointing season that saw him struggle to a 4.57 ERA and a career-worst 12.6 percent walk rate. There's no guarantee the reborn slider will have the desired effect, but there's at least a chance it helps him get back to being the guy who posted a 3.23 ERA from 2016 to 2019. He currently looks to be locked into a tight race with Archie Bradley for the Phillies' closer job, with the team yet to offer much clarity about the situation.

MARCH 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Role for 2021 not yet defined Neris' role in Philadelphia's bullpen is uncertain heading into the 2021 season, Kerry Kauffman of Fansided reports.

Impact Neris was brought back by the Phillies on a one-year deal following a disappointing 2020 campaign, accruing a 4.57 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with a 27:13 K:BB across 21.2 frames. He secured five saves and finished with three blown saves. While Neris appears to be firmly in the mix for save chances to open the year, Philadelphia's signing of Archie Bradley gives the team more options at the back end of the bullpen, as Bradley has collected 24 total saves over the last two seasons. The closer's role in Philly will be something to keep a close eye on as spring training continues.

MARCH 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Phillies news & notes: Andrew Knapp's value, Héctor Neris' new pitch, Bowa barbs Phillies news and notes on J.T. Realmuto's recovery from a broken thumb, Andrew Knapp's value, Héctor Neris' slider, Larry Bowa and more.

MARCH 7, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Improved Phillies seeking to end 9-year postseason drought

Joe Girardi held up the Philadelphia Phillies’ roster on a sheet of paper and made it clear improvements in the offseason don’t matter once players hit the field

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NL East teams at the start of spring training

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bradley joins Phillies, urges new team to keep Realmuto

Reliever Archie Bradley and the Philadelphia Phillies have finalized their $6 million, one-year contract

JANUARY 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Schwarber, Bradley, Duvall among 59 cut in pandemic fallout

Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. were cut loose by the Chicago Cubs after helping the team win its first World Series title in more than a century, among 59 players who became...

DECEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reaches deal for 2021 Neris signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Phillies on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Impact The team declined the right-hander's $7 million option for next season in late October, but he'll remain in the organization after agreeing to the new deal. Neris had 28 saves with a 2.93 ERA during 2019, but he struggled during the shortened season with a 4.57 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB over 21.2 innings.

DECEMBER 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Option declined but still a Phillie Neris' option was declined by the Phillies on Friday, though he remains with the team as he's still arbitration eligible, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Impact The Phillies evidently were uninterested in bringing Neris back for $7 million. Whether they attempt to bring him back at a lower salary or not remains to be seen. Neris has saved 72 games with a 3.38 ERA and a 30.1 percent strikeout rate over parts of seven seasons with the Phillies, though he (along with the rest of the Philadelphia bullpen) struggled last season, posting a 4.57 ERA.

OCTOBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs fifth save Neris walked two batters in a scoreless seventh inning to record his fifth save of the season in an 8-7 win over the Blue Jays in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.

Impact The right-hander continues to walk a tightrope with his control, but Neris has mostly been able to avoid any serious damage, posting a 1.93 ERA through 9.1 innings in September and converting all three of his save chances despite an 11:7 K:BB. He should be the top closing option for Phillies over the final days of the regular season.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Pujols moves past Mays on HR list; A's clinch playoff spot

SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Handed loss Wednesday Neris (2-2) allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in the ninth as he took the loss Wednesday against the Mets.

Impact Neris came in to begin the ninth with the score knotted at four and was unable to withhold the Mets from taking the lead. He was a double-play away from getting out of the inning with two men on and one out but surrendered a line-drive single to center field by Andres Gimenez, bringing around Ahmed Rosario to score to eventually win the game for the Mets. Neris has had a down year in comparison to recent seasons with a 4.86 ERA and a career-worst 1.86 WHIP across 16.2 innings.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

DeGrom exits with hamstring spasm, Mets rally past Phils 5-4

Jacob deGrom left after two innings with a right hamstring spasm, but the New York Mets rallied from four runs down to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Wednesday night

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers beat Padres, become 1st to clinch postseason berth

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches fourth save Neris gave up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Mets.

Impact Brandon Workman has been scored upon in each of his last two appearances, while Neris has a 0.90 ERA over his last 10 innings, so the pendulum may be swinging back his way in the Phillies' closer battle. That strong stretch hasn't erased his poor start, however -- on the season, Neris is still saddled with a 4.60 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and career-worst 11.6 percent walk rate.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gregorius' 2-run homer helps Phillies beat Mets 4-1

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rangers snap 6-game losing streak, beat Angels 7-1

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nabs save Monday Neris allowed one hit and one run (none earned) but recorded the save Monday against the Mets.

Impact Brandon Workman pitched in the ninth inning in a tied game, opening up the save opportunity for Neris in the tenth. Neris allowed the runner starting on second base to score on a single, but otherwise held the Mets in check to earn his third save. Workman has emerged as the team's primary closer since being acquired at the trade deadline, but Neris may still see occasional save chances.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE