Phillies SP Ranger Suarez eases fears after being struck by line drive

Suarez eased Phillies fans' minds 

In his postgame scrum with the media, Suarez acknowledged how lucky he was not to get seriously hurt, but was aware that he needed to be better to give the Phillies a chance to win the game. 

Ranger also made sure to say he was good to make his next start, which will come in the National League Divisional Series against winner of the wild-card series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and either the New York Mets or Cincinnati Reds. 

“I was lucky,” he said through the team’s interpreter. “Aside from getting hit by that liner, that wasn’t what I wanted today as a whole, as a team tonight,” Suárez said. “I feel good. Physically, I feel fine. I don’t know what’s with it, but the last outing every year for the past two or three years hasn’t been good. But I’m ready to go for the next one.”

Ranger Suarez is a key piece to the Phillies' postseason roster 

Already down their ace Zack Wheeler, the Phillies can ill afford to lose another one of their arms. Cristopher Sanchez, Suarez and Jesus Luzardo have gotten the Phillies to this point, and keeping them healthy gives them the best chance to win it all. 

Suarez has proven to be one of the Phillies' most reliable arms in the playoffs, having a career 1.43 ERA in 37.2 innings. In the division series, Suarez is 2-1 with a 1.10 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16.1 innings, which gives the Phillies a good chance to take at least one game. 

Suarez will be an unrestricted free agent this winter and is possibly playing his final year with the Phillies. A client of Scott Boras (who the Phillies know well), Suarez will command top dollar. 

The Phillies have a lot of money committed to other players and will need what’s available to re-sign Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies also have a full rotation, featuring Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Luzardo, Taijuan Walker and possibly top prospect Andrew Painter.