The Phillies have three regular-season games left, including Saturday, in which they need a fifth starter to be on the mound. They won’t need one in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean the role isn’t important.

Manager Rob Thomson will rely more on his bullpen in the playoffs, and in recent weeks that bullpen has been heavily used every fifth day. On September 8, Seth Johnson made his major league debut at fifth and allowed nine earned runs in 2 ⅓ innings in his major league debut.

Tyler Phillips, who started on Sept. 3, lasted only two-thirds of an inning and allowed six earned runs against Toronto. Taijuan Walker pitched six innings on Aug. 28 but allowed six earned runs and has since been moved to the bullpen.

They’ve tried pretty much everything and are hoping that left-hander Kolby Allard will be the answer. Unfortunately, that’s not clear with the Phillies.

The 27-year-old, recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, got his chance against the Mets in the Phillies’ eventual 6-4 win on Saturday afternoon. He allowed a leadoff single in the first inning and three consecutive walks with two outs, one of which forced in a run. He ended his day after just three innings, having allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and three strikeouts.

Before Saturday’s start, Allard had posted a 3.50 ERA in four major league games (three starts). He has spent most of this year in Triple A, where he has been used both out of the rotation and as a relief pitcher. He has a 5.38 ERA in 82 innings with the IronPigs, with 74 strikeouts and 34 walks.

He doesn’t have any overpowering stuff and doesn’t cause a lot of odor problems, but he had kept walks to a minimum before Saturday afternoon.

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As a corresponding move, reliever Max Lazar was sent to Triple A. Lazar has pitched well for the Phillies but still has minor league options, making him a clear choice for an option.

“I really like him,” Thomson said of Lazar. “He pitched great for us and saved the bullpen for us a couple of times. We told him to keep going. The last time we sent him out, he was back in two days, I think because (Wes) Wilson was on paternity leave. It’s a funny game. Things happen in a hurry. So you have to stay ready.”

Walker gets used to the role of reliever

The transition to the bullpen was never going to be easy for Walker, but he said he was on his way there. Before Saturday’s three shutout innings against the Mets, he had only pitched out of the bullpen in two games — one in Toronto and one in Miami last week — and had a 7.20 ERA in five innings pitched.

The sample size is small, which means the numbers are somewhat inflated. He felt much better pitching on Sept. 3 in Toronto because he had more time to prepare. Walker allowed just three hits in three innings, but one of those hits was costly – a two-run home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

On September 7 in Miami, he wasn’t feeling quite as good. Walker started warming up in the seventh inning, which ended up being a seven-pitch inning. He wasn’t ready, and it showed in his results. He allowed three runs (two earned) and two walks, as well as a home run in two innings.

It’s a learning process. The biggest part will be figuring out what his new routine will look like.

“I think the most important thing is to prepare multiple times a day,” Walker said. “Preparing myself early to play catch and then preparing myself again for the game. I make sure I stay loose throughout the game.”

Walker has relied on his bullpen mates to do this. The game can always get faster in the bullpen, so he’s tried to find ways to focus quicker. That’s something the Phillies relievers are good at.

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“It’s pretty special to see what it’s like down there,” Walker said. “These guys – (Jeff) Hoffman, (Matt) Strahm – are laughing and talking, and then their name is called and it’s just serious. They’re all into it.”

Hays is still a long way away

Austin Hays (kidney infection) is close to returning to the team, but it is unclear whether that will happen during the remainder of the season or in the postseason.

“He’s getting better, but it’s not yet – I feel like one day he’ll wake up and it’ll be gone,” Thomson said. “The antibiotics will work and it’ll be out of the system. But it hasn’t happened yet.”

“He’s feeling a little better every day, but he’s still a little tired and hasn’t done anything for a few weeks. So he’s probably lost some weight and strength and that’s something that needs to be gained back.”

If Hays goes on a rehab assignment, it’s possible he’ll do so in Clearwater, Florida, as the minor league season is about to end. Hays has been on the injured list since September 5 (retroactive to September 2).