Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Dealing With Shoulder Soreness

This is not optimal for the Phillies, but Strahm seems relatively fine and will have plenty of time to recover before Opening Day on March 27.

The 6-foot-2, 33-year-old and former 21st-round draft pick has enjoyed his best seasons in Philadelphia. Before joining the team in 2023, Strahm had a career ERA of 3.81 over 304 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Now, he is a reliable piece at the end of Thomson’s bullpen, having recorded more than half (5) of his career saves (9) for the Phillies. In 2023, Strahm was a respectable 9-5 with a 3.29 ERA, but it was not until 2024 that he truly broke out.

The all-star campaign saw Strahm’s ERA dip to 1.87 and he had a ridiculous 0.750 WHIP in 66 appearances. The all-star nod is even more impressive, considering Strahm never saw regular save opportunities.

He will now serve as one of the key setup men for newly-acquired closer Jordan Romano. Romano should receive most of the saves this summer, but Strahm is still a significant weapon for Thomson.

His lanky, 3/4 delivery is difficult for left-handed batters to pick up. However, Strahm is actually more effective against righties. Here are his splits from 2024:

Against lefties: 19.0 IP, 21 Ks, 0.950 WHIP

Against righties: 43.0 IP, 58 Ks, 0.670 WHIP

He is not overly reliant on velocity, preferring to mix and match with a four-pitch arsenal and excellent command.

Strahm’s shoulder should not be a long-term issue, but it is worth monitoring as the season begins.