The Phillies have been fortunate this season that while frontline players like Trea Turner and Taijuan Walker have been on the injured list, replacements like Edmundo Sosa and Spencer Turnbull have stepped in and performed well.
They’ve also been lucky that injuries that initially seemed potentially serious turned out to be relatively minor. Which meant Rob Thomson was able to provide upbeat updates on left-hander Ranger Suarez and left fielder Brandon Marsh ahead of Tuesday night’s game.
Suarez, who was hit on the thumb of his throwing hand by a 106 mph line drive in his last start against the Cardinals on Saturday night, played catch in the outfield and will pitch a bullpen on Wednesday.
“Then we’ll find out,” the manager said. “It looks good so far. Fortunately, because it could have been really bad.”
Thomson did not rule out the possibility that Suarez, who is 9-1 with a 1.70 ERA, could be cleared to make his next start before the team flies to London on Wednesday night. “It just depends on how the bullpen goes. If it’s very good, very clean, looks normal, we can make the decision right away,” he said.
Marsh, who began showing signs of injury as soon as he reached second after doubling against the Cardinals on Sunday night, turns out to have only a minor hamstring strain. When asked if he could rate it on the standard 1 to 4 scale, Thomson smiled.
“Half, if there is such a thing,” he said. That creates the possibility that Marsh, who is on the 10-day disabled list, could be activated as early as June 13 when the Phillies play the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Meanwhile, although there is no official date for Turner’s return, Thomson is optimistic. “I think we’re pretty close (to the original six-week estimate). It’s progressing well,” the manager said.
That would mean Turner, who was hitting .343 when he sprained his hamstring on May 3, could also rejoin the lineup in mid-June.
TIME WILL TELL
Asked if he was reassessing the status of fifth opener Taijuan Walker, Rob Thomson demurred. “We’re not there yet,” he said.
Why not? “Because I trust him.”
In seven starts this season, Walker has a 5.73 ERA. His last two outings have been particularly worrying. Opponents have hit .304 against him with an OPS of .887 and his ERA is 7.36. But he’s also in the second season of a four-year, $72 million contract.
Thomson said any decision will ultimately be based on performance. “No doubt,” he said. “But I trust him. He has to control better. And hopefully, along the way, he gains some speed. We saw him go up a couple of starts ago and now he’s back down. I’m sure he’ll get there. But he has to dominate the ball, you have to keep it low and you have to divide it.
Walker’s next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Mets in London.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
RHP Aaron Nola (7-2, 3.03) will start the series finale at 4:05 pm against the Brewers on Thursday. Milwaukee, which used a starter in the first two games, has not announced its starter.
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