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Phillies get bad Luis Arraez injury news as playoffs loom
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Phillies get bad Luis Arraez injury news as playoffs loom

The Philadelphia Phillies have not officially clinched a playoff spot, but the odds are heavily in their favor as the regular season enters its final weekend. But they received some bad injury news on Thursday night when infielder Luis Arraez had to leave their game against the Milwaukee Brewers with what the team is initially calling a sprained left ankle.

Phillies get bad Luis Arraez injury news as playoffs get close

Arraez was injured when he grounded out to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning and was trying to avoid a tag from an errant throw. 

He awkwardly fell to the ground and was in obvious pain before leaving the game. He was unable to put much weight, if any, on his ankle as he was helped off the field. 

The Phillies later updated that it is initially being diagnosed as a sprained ankle and he will undergo further testing.

Arraez was one of the Phillies' big trade-deadline acquisitions this year and entered the game with a .312 batting average that was tops in the National League. 

He doesn't hit for much power, but he is one of the best pure contact hitters in baseball and is aiming to win his fourth career batting title as a member of his fourth different team.

He previously won batting titles with the Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. 

After going 0-for-3 on Thursday, his average dropped down to .310 for the season, just a couple of points ahead of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno. 

Depending on the severity of the sprain, and assuming it is not anything worse than a sprain, that figures to put his availability for the playoffs in some serious jeopardy. 

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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