Brett Myers Ready to Return to Phillies After Break

Phillies starter Brett Myers -- who recently accepted a demotion to the minors after going 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA over the first half of the season -- has told The Reading Eagle he is ready to return to Philadelphia after rediscovering his form while facing Triple A and Double A hitters.

"Sometimes you need to take a step back and take a deep breath, and I was able to do that," said Myers. "I think I'm ready to get back up there. I feel like I'm ready."

Appearing against Akron in a Reading home game as General Manager Pat Gillick, assistant Mike Arbuckle and senior adviser Dallas Green looked on, Myers struck out 10 while holding opposing batters to a 1.61 average in his most recent outing, in which he gave up three runs. Though he lost 3-2, he gave up just five hits and two walks over eight innings while throwing 118 pitches. Myers had also been effective in two Triple A appearances for Lehigh Valley -- allowing five earned runs on 12 hits over a total of 12.1 innings.

The Phillies are set to play the Mets in New York on July 22, though it appears likely the team will wait to decide on bringing up Myers until he makes one more appearance at Lehigh Valley or Reading.