Back in the Phillies' clubhouse Sunday morning, Seranthony Dominguez was a sight for sore eyes and sore arms.
He was officially activated prior to Sunday's game after missing nearly a month with triceps tendinitis.
It's good timing with nine of the next 12 games against the scalding offenses of the Braves and Blue Jays and the Phillies' two highest-leverage healthy relievers -- 14-year vet David Robertson and 12-year vet Brad Hand -- showing signs of fatigue.
Robertson has allowed four runs and 11 baserunners in his last 3⅔ innings. Hand has been scored upon in four of his last seven outings and put multiple men on base in five of seven. Connor Brogdon has an 8.22 ERA and .417 opponents' batting average in his last nine appearances.
The top relievers have been taxed for a few reasons. Ace Zack Wheeler, who pitches into the seventh inning as much as he doesn't, has been out for three weeks with forearm tendinitis. Kyle Gibson, Noah Syndergaard and Ranger Suarez have completed six innings in just three of their last 11 combined starts.
And, of course, the Phillies have been without the pitcher they signed to close (Corey Knebel) and the one who eventually claimed the role (Dominguez).
Dominguez appeared in just one minor-league rehab game and threw his fastball from 98 to 100 mph. That was Thursday night and the Phillies decided the next afternoon that he'd be ready to return Sunday.
MLB
Dominguez has been mostly awesome this season with a 1.64 ERA in 44 innings with 54 strikeouts. He's allowed just two home runs in 46 appearances and hasn't blown a save since earning his first of the year on June 18.
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