TODAY: The swelling in Suarez’s hand has already considerably diminished in a single day, Thomson informed Matt Gelb and different reporters at the moment. Suarez nonetheless gained’t attempt throwing for a day or two for precautionary causes.
JUNE 1: Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez exited his begin in opposition to the Cardinals this night after simply two innings of labor after he was struck within the hand by a 106 mph line drive off the bat of outfielder Alec Burleson. As famous by Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies initially termed the harm a left hand contusion earlier than sending him for testing through the sport. Supervisor Rob Thomson informed reporters (together with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb) shortly after the sport that x-rays on Suarez’s hand had been damaging, though he was coping with some swelling.
It’s not at present clear if Suarez’s hand will get well rapidly sufficient for him to make his subsequent begin, though Thomson prompt that they “really feel fairly fortunate” to have seemingly dodged a extra severe harm. The supervisor added that the membership at present plans to provide Suarez a number of days earlier than figuring out whether or not he’ll make his subsequent begin or if he’ll require a visit to the injured record. The lefty is at present slated to make his subsequent begin on June 8 in opposition to the Mets as a part of the London collection. Because of the 2 days off the staff can have previous to the beginning of that collection, Suarez was already slated to make his subsequent begin on further relaxation.
The truth that Suarez seems to have averted a serious harm is definitely an enormous reduction for Phillies followers. The 28-year-old hurler has been among the many best possible pitchers in all of baseball this yr with a sterling 1.75 ERA via his first eleven begins this season, trailing solely Reynaldo Lopez and Seth Lugo. That determine is sweet for a whopping 230 ERA+, and Suarez has loved spectacular peripherals that largely again up his glorious efficiency. In 72 innings of labor so far within the season, Suarez has struck out a career-best 28.4% of batters confronted whereas strolling simply 5.4% and producing grounders at a whopping 53.8% clip. Amongst certified pitchers, that groundball fee ranks seventh within the majors whereas Ok-BB% of twenty-two.5% ranks twelfth.
Given how extremely productive Suarez has been for the Phillies so far within the season as they’ve surged to an MLB-best 41-18 report, even a short absence for the lefty could be a noteworthy blow. Fortuitously for the membership, nevertheless, they’ve an tailored substitute possibility out there to them within the occasion that the lefty does miss a begin or two. Proper-hander Spencer Turnbull took the ball for 3 spectacular innings following Suarez’s exit, permitting no hits and no walks whereas hanging out six batters. That sensational efficiency in reduction tonight continues what has been a robust season in Philadelphia for Turnbull.
Getting into play tonight, the righty had made twelve appearances for the Phillies together with six begins and pitched to a implausible 2.40 ERA with a 3.43 FIP in 41 1/3 innings of labor. Whereas Turnbull was pushed out of the rotation by the return of right-hander Taijuan Walker from the injured record earlier this yr, the righty has remained an impact multi-inning reduction possibility for the Phillies and after a 49-pitch outing this night might fairly take the ball for an abbreviated begin rather than Suarez on Saturday in London if vital.
