
Yankees want to hear John Sterling after more wins: What about patches & Monument Park?
Yankees pay tribute to John Sterling after 12-1 victory
Jhoan Duran has been cleared to be active after recovering from a left oblique strain. However, he will not be activated immediately following an intense bullpen session.
Mentioned in this story
Jhoan Duran was one of the few players on the Philadelphia Phillies roster who actually got off to a solid start to the 2026 season. Unfortunately, that was put on ice on April 18 when the Phillies placed their closer on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
Oblique injuries can hold players out for months, but it doesnât appear thatâll be the case for Duran, as Phillies skipper Don Mattingly gave an encouraging update on the reliever ahead of Mondayâs game in Miami.
"He was basically cleared to be active today [Monday], as far as medical,â explained Philadelphiaâs skipper.
The reason that Duran wasnât activated on Monday was that he had a pretty intense bullpen session on Saturday, in which he reached 100 mph.
Mattingly continued that after âtalking with Caleb and the pitching guys, they said anytime we would send the guy out, he had an inning like that, give us the intensity, they'll give him two days. And so that's what weâre doine.â
Mattingly said that, unless âanything weird happens,â the plan is for Duran to be added back onto the big-league roster on Tuesday.
Apr 1, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after pitching out of the tenth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jhoan Duran has been cleared to be active after his recovery from a left oblique strain.
He had an intense bullpen session where he reached 100 mph, and the team decided to give him an additional two days before activation.
Oblique injuries can hold players out for months, but Duran's recovery seems to be progressing well.

Yankees pay tribute to John Sterling after 12-1 victory

El Atlético de Madrid se enfrenta al Arsenal en busca de la final de la Champions League.
Timberwolves take Game 1 against Spurs, Edwards praises resilience

Mink Peeters: ConfusiĂłn por no ser titular en el Real Madrid
White Sox dominate Angels 6-0 with strong performances from Martin and Murakami

Sheila MartĂnez, de vivir en la calle a tetracampeona de Europa
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Itâs not entirely surprising that Duran is coming off the injured list almost 15 days to the date after he was placed on the injured list. Rob Thomson, who was manager of the Phillies at the time, said the Phillies didnât believe or plan on this being a lengthy absence, and thatâs exactly what came to fruition.
Hopefully, Duran can pick up right where he left off before suffering the injury. The Phillies' bullpen has struggled without their closer, but itâs very clear the group still needs some more depth and a lockdown arm in the ninth inning.
Philadelphiaâs closer has appeared in seven games this season, logging a 1.35 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. Duranâs advanced stats remain strong, too, as the reliever owns an average fastball velocity of 98.2 mph, a strikeout rate of 33.3 percent, and a whiff rate of 36.5 percent on the season.
With Duran expected to be activated on Tuesday, itâll be interesting to see what the corresponding roster move will be to make that happen.
Phillies Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. Weâd love to have you join us to talk all things Phillies. Click the âJoinâ button at the top of the page to join our community for free.