The Phillies need the lefty back as soon as possible, but it appears he will be out a little longer than anticipated.
With the Philadelphia Phillies struggling terribly of late, having lost seven of their last eight and compiling a 4-12 record since the All-Star break, they were looking forward to the return of crucial rotation piece Ranger Suárez this weekend to help the club turn around its fortunes.
Unfortunately, the most recent report on the 28-year-old left-hander is surely depressing, as Suárez’s return date has been pushed again.
Phillies provide discouraging Ranger Suárez IL update
Initially, after being placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 24, Phillies manager Rob Thomson stated that Suárez was likely to rejoin the team for the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend. However, he is anticipated to return during the Phillies’ homestand following their West Coast trip.
It obviously seems sense to allow Suárez more time to heal. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and this was Suárez’s second back injury this season. Previously, he was forced to skip his first All-Star participation due to right-side back spasms.
The good news about his most recent back trouble was that it was on the left side, ruling out the possibility of a recurrence problem. Nonetheless, Suárez’s protracted absence, which will now go longer than the projected two weeks, is a source of concern for the future.
Suárez has been a revelation for the Phillies this season, having begun the year as possibly the best pitcher in the league. He went 9-0 in his first ten starts, with a 1.36 ERA and striking out 68 in only 66 innings pitched.
However, due to recent back difficulties, Suárez has struggled in his previous five starts, losing four of them. There is little doubt that his symptoms contributed to his decreased performance since the end of June.
Hopefully, with the time off, Suárez will be able to reset and return to his dominant form from earlier this season. One thing is certain: the Phillies will need him to perform at his peak so that they can right the ship before it’s too late.
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