The Philadelphia Phillies open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday before heading back east on Thursday. The Phillies have not won a series against the Giants in San Francisco since 2013. 

Despite not winning a series in the Bay Area in well over a decade, the Phillies will be getting one of their top relievers, right-hander Orion Kerkering, back. 

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According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, Kerkering is with the Phillies to start the series, but won’t be officially activated to the roster until tomorrow. Kerkering made one appearance this spring, allowing two hits, an earned run, and a strikeout in one inning, before a hamstring injury sidelined him. 

Orion Kekering is one of the Philadelphia Phillies best relievers 

Even though Kerkering’s blunder in the National League Divisional Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers — throwing the ball to catcher J.T. Realmuto at home with two outs instead of first base — Kerkering has proven to be one of the Phillies’ better relievers. The 25-year-old went 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA with four saves and 65 strikeouts in 60.0 innings last season. 

Kerkering doesn’t seem to have any rust on his arm after missing so much time. In 4.0 innings, Kerkering posted a 2.25 ERA, striking out five with the Leigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies Triple-A affiliate). 

The Phillies already have a solid back-end of the bullpen, with right-handers Brad Keller (6.75 ERA) and Jhoan Duran (1.93 ERA and three saves) as the setup man and closer. Once he’s back, Kerkering will likely pitch the seventh or the eighth innings for manager Rob Thomson.Â