The Phillies have some pitching injuries as Opening Day gets closer.
With two weeks left until the start of the 2023 season, the Phillies have had some unwelcome news come out of spring training. First, the team’s top prospect— Andrew Painter— was sidelined due to a UCL sprain in his throwing elbow. Then just a few days later, Ranger Suarez— a key piece to the Phillies rotation— was called back from the World Baseball Classic after he experienced tightness in his forearm. Luckily, neither injury appears serious at the moment.
While Painter will be shut down for a month or so, Suarez has resumed throwing and has reported that he feels good. Matt Gelb of The Athletic, reported that Suarez and the Phillies seem optimistic that he will be ready for the start of the regular season. Manager Rob Thomson indicated, however, that Suarez will not be at full strength to start the season.
It is good news that Suarez appears to be on track to join the Phillies in Texas in two weeks. However, if the left-hander has not built up his arm strength, he will not be going deep into games to begin the 2023 campaign. This leaves the Phillies wondering who can provide some length out of the bullpen. Given the increase in bullpen depth, the Phillies have some options to allow Suarez to ease into his starting role.
Thomson told reporters that he plans to have left-handed reliever Matt Strahm pitch two innings on Friday in a split-squad game in Dunedin against the Toronto Blue Jays. The manager added that he wants to have Strahm stretched out to pitch three innings by the end of spring training. The Phillies will also look to have Connor Brogdon, Yunior Marte, and Andrew Bellatti pitch multiple innings in spring training games to prepare them to appear in long relief appearances.
All four relievers have pitched well to this point in spring training. If each could get to the point in which they could pitch two innings in regular season games, the Phillies will be able to ease their starters into the beginning month of the season. While Marte is not a lock to make the club out of spring training, he has pitched well enough to garner significant attention. Teams always end up needing pitching depth and the Phillies have that in their relievers.
The Phillies could also opt to use a six-man rotation to begin the season. Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Taijuan Walker all appear healthy. Suarez should be able to begin the season in the rotation. Bailey Falter and Michael Plassmeyer would figure to be the other two starters in a six-man rotation. The Phillies know what they have in Falter and Plassmeyer has pitched well this spring. They could also use one of these pitchers in long relief to give the starters some time to build arm strength.
Injury news is never good, but the Phillies are more equipped to handle injuries this year. The bullpen is deeper than it has been in years. The rotation, while strong up front, could become more of a question mark if more injuries arise. Though, once Suarez is at full strength, the Phillies should have one of the better rotations in the National League East when healthy. They will need all the pitching help they can get to compete in a strong division.
