Ranger Suarez is set to make his season debut, as the Phillies reinstated the left-hander from the 15-day injured list, per a team announcement. Suarez is slated to start Saturday night’s game against the Rockies. The corresponding move was made Friday, when the Phillies optioned right-hander Luis Ortiz to Triple-A.
Left forearm tightness prematurely ended Suarez’s work with Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, and the southpaw ended up starting the season on the 15-day IL due to what was described as an elbow strain. While missing almost a month-and-a-half of action is no small matter, it is at least good news that Suarez avoided any of the more serious and longer-term injuries that can arise from forearm and elbow issues. Suarez looked pretty sharp over three minor league rehab outings, allowing just one earned run over nine total innings pitched at Double-A and Triple-A.
After beginning his first three big league seasons as a reliever, Suarez had a breakout 2021 season while working out of both the rotation and the bullpen, posting a 1.36 ERA over 106 innings. Given a full-time role in Philadelphia’s rotation in 2022, Suarez posted a 3.65 ERA over 155 1/3 frames, capitalizing on a 55.4% grounder rate and some solid hard-contact numbers despite below-average strikeout and walk rates. Suarez then took things up another level during the Phillies’ playoff run, delivering an excellent 1.23 ERA over 14 2/3 postseason innings.
Technically, the Phillies didn’t miss much from Suarez’s absence, since Matt Strahm pitched well in fill-in capacity in the rotation. However, Strahm was moved back to the bullpen in advance of Suarez’s return, as the Phils have opted to continue using Bailey Falter as a starting pitcher. Falter has only a 5.75 ERA over 36 innings and seven starts this season, but he isn’t alone in struggling, as Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Taijuan Walker have all gotten off to varying degrees of slow starts.
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