The Philadelphia Phillies have officially begun their season in Washington, D.C., but one of their key starting pitchers, Ranger Suárez, remains in Florida at the team’s spring training facility. According to Lochlahh March of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Suárez has been placed on the 15-day injured list to start the season and will continue his rehabilitation process in Clearwater. This marks the second consecutive year and the third time in his career that he has dealt with a back issue, raising concerns about his long-term durability. Despite this setback, he is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, a crucial step in his recovery, after being scratched from his final spring start last Friday. His most recent game action took place on March 9.
Suárez was expected to be an integral part of the Phillies’ five-man starting rotation before this latest injury. In his absence, veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker has stepped into his role and is set to take the mound on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. Last season, Suárez made 27 starts, delivering a solid 3.52 ERA with 145 strikeouts over 150.2 innings. His impressive first-half performance earned him an All-Star nod as an injury replacement, but ongoing back problems contributed to a decline in effectiveness as the season progressed. Managing his workload and ensuring he is at full strength for the remainder of the year has now become a priority for the team.
Since transitioning from a bullpen role to a full-time starter, Suárez has made 58 starts over the past three seasons, proving his value to Philadelphia’s rotation. The Phillies, led by manager Rob Thomson, are approaching his recovery with caution, estimating that he will miss approximately three starts. Thomson emphasized the importance of allowing Suárez adequate time to rebuild his strength and avoid further complications. If all goes according to plan, the left-hander could make his return during the Chicago Cubs series at Wrigley Field, giving the Phillies a much-needed boost as they navigate the early part of the season without one of their top arms.
While Suárez remains sidelined, the Phillies will rely on their pitching depth to maintain stability. The team remains optimistic that his absence will be brief and that he will regain his form once he is back on the mound. However, given his history of back issues, monitoring his progress closely will be crucial in determining how he fits into the rotation moving forward.
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