Lively is the most likely candidate to join the Phillies' rotation this week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Zach Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after a poor outing Sunday, creating an opening for Lively to potentially fill. He is 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA and a 45:7 K:BB in 56.1 innings for Lehigh Valley this season. The 25-year-old works in the low-90s with his fastball and relies on pitching down in the zone to try to induce weak contact from hitters. If he gets the call, his first start will likely come Saturday at home against the Giants.

Lively has joined the Phillies in Washington D.C., and he will serve as the 26th player for Sunday's doubleheader, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander will serve as depth for the twin bill. Lively owns a 2.48 ERA in 36.1 innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, striking out 24 and walking five. Lively delivered for the IronPigs with an 11-5 record and a 3.06 ERA last season, as well. Despite that success, he's lost steam as a prospect.

Lively was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

It was an uneventful stint for Lively; he made no appearances for the Phillies while serving as a replacement for paternity-bound Pat Neshek. The young right-hander will continue his development in the minors for now, but certainly could be in line for another call-up later this season.

Lively was called up by the Phillies on Wednesday, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

It appears the promotion only serves as a temporary bullpen replacement for Pat Neshek, who will miss a few games on paternity leave. Regardless, Lively may get the opportunity to make his major league debut if needed. The former fourth-round pick has a 4.09 ERA with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season after posting impressive numbers in 2016, but has never pitched in relief.

Lively was optioned to minor league camp on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Lively was in the conversation for a call-up near the end of last season, but the Phillies decided to keep him at Triple-A. Although he struggled to a 6.97 ERA in 10.1 innings this spring, the 25-year-old posted a combined 2.95 ERA across 170.2 innings between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2016. He'll head back to Triple-A to start the season, and if he continues to pitch well there, he could earn a promotion sometime in 2017.

Lively was added to the Phillies' 40-man roster Friday.

EDGE Analysis

He was believed to be a candidate for a late-season promotion in 2016 but Lively never got the call, as it seems the Phillies were content with his workload (170.2 innings). The results were fantastic for Lively last season and he hardly missed a beat upon his promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, although his strikeout rate did fall from 23.8 percent to 19.6 percent with the jump between levels.

Lively could be an option to replace Zach Eflin in the Phillies' rotation, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Phillies are more likely to go with Adam Morgan or David Buchanan, who are both on the 40-man roster already. Lively will have to be protected this winter or he will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft. That could prompt the Phillies to call him up now rather than waiting until September. He is 7-4 with a 3.35 ERA and a 62:24 K:BB in 88.2 innings since being promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in May.

Lively was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday, CSN Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mark Appel was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, which opened the door for a well-deserved promotion for Lively. He'll slot into the Iron Pigs' rotation after posting a 1.87 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 49:15 K:BB in 53 innings at Double-A this year. He actually had over 250 innings under his belt at Double-A dating back to his days in the Reds' organization, so this promotion was a long time coming.

Lively struck out three while giving up three earned runs, four hits and a walk during six innings of work on Sunday in a win.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old is touting a 7-0 record with a 1.87 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP with Double-A Reading this season. Lively has improved his numbers across the board from last season with Reading, and has only allowed 11 runs in 53 innings in 2016.

Manager Dusty Wathan said Lively's success this season can be attributed to pitching down in the strike zone, Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. "He's thrown more balls down in the strike zone in this short period this year than I saw him throw all of last year. He's a guy that pitched up in the strike zone a lot and paid the price for it," Wathan said.

EDGE Analysis

Lively was named the Eastern League pitcher of the week last Sunday after striking out a career-high 12 batters that same day. It is the second time he has earned the honor this season. He is now 6-0 with a 1.53 ERA and a 46:14 K:BB in 47 innings for Double-A Reading. He looks ready for a promotion to Triple-A.