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Phillies Rotation Depth Tested as Ranger Suarez Heads to the Injured List; Kolby Allard Recalled

Anthony SanFilippo

By Anthony SanFilippo

Published:

May 21, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez in a game against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The one thing Rob Thomson always says is his biggest concern is health.

The Phillies have endured several injuries this season, from Trea Turner to J.T. Realmjuto, to Taijuan Walker to Spencer Turnbull. Heck, even Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper spent 10 days on the injured list with minor injuries.

But if the Phillies are going to accomplish their goal as the team to win it all, they are going to have to rely on their greatest strength – their starting pitching, where their four horses have carried them to this point in the season.

But now, one of them is down.

The Phillies announced on Saturday that Ranger Suarez was placed on the 15-day I.L. with lower back soreness. It’s retroactive to his last start, which was July 24th, so he can return as soon as August 9th in Arizona.

“He woke up (Friday) with tightness in his back,” manager Rob Thomson said. “It’s on the left side, so it’s not the same side as it was before. He thought he could work through it in his bullpen (session) and he couldn’t. He was still tight afterward, so we’re going to be super precautious and give him a little rest.”

The plan is for the rest to be just two weeks. But, time will be the ultimate predictor.

“We’re hoping it’s not (longer),” Thomson said. “We’re hoping he’s back during the Arizona series. We hope.”

The Phillies pitching depth is already being tested, with Tyler Phillips serving as the No. 5 starter. Kollby Allard, a former top prospect of Atlanta who flamed out both with the Braves and the Texas Rangers, is being called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he hasn’t pitched all that well, although he’s been better in his last few starts.

“He’s been pitching good,” Thomson said. “The fastball is going to be 88-to-90 or 91, but he’s really commanding the baseball right now and he’s using all his pitches… He’s one of the top pitchers in the International League right now.”

So far this season Allard has appeared in 19 games (13 starts), mostly with the Iron Pigs (he had three starts with Double-A Reading). In 72 1/3 innings he has a 5.60 ERA, allowing 86 hits and 30 walks for a ghastly 1.604 WHIP. Of the 86 hits he’s allowed, 14 have been homers. He has 69 strikeouts.

Although in four of his last five starts he has pitched at least six innings and given up three or fewer runs in each, so there has been progress after a disastrous start to his season.

Allard will pitch in Suarez’s place Sunday against Cleveland.

The only good news about this injury is that it has occurred prior to the trade deadline, meaning Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski can go out and acquire another starter prior to the 6PM deadline on Tuesday.

Rumors started to seep out this week about the Phillies interest in White Sox starter Garrett Crochet, who also has bullpen experience.

I highlighted how the addition of Crochet could work earlier this week, but now it could be even more paramount to add a pitcher of his caliber if there is greater concern about how much time Suarez will have to miss.

Alternatively, Walker threw live batting practice at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon. Thomson said he threw 38 pitches and it was the “best (he’s) seen him in a long time.”

Walker is slated to throw another live batting practice on Wednesday.

That said, Thomson said Walker would not be ready to return to the majors before Suarez’s I.L. stint is up, meaning he’s likely to go on a rehab assignment first, which would keep him out to mid-August.

Turnbull threw from 90-feet today and is expected to get on the mound for the first time Monday, so he’s behind Walker currently as far as a timeline.

How this all plays out will probably be clearer by the time the Phillies and Yankees first pitch happens on Tuesday night.

Anthony SanFilippo
Anthony SanFilippo

Anthony SanFilippo writes about the Phillies and Flyers for Crossing Broad and hosts a pair of related podcasts (Crossed Up and Snow the Goalie). A part of the Philadelphia sports media for a quarter century, Anthony also dabbles in acting, directing, teaching, and strategic marketing, which is why he has no time to do anything, but does it anyway. Follow him on Twitter @AntSanPhilly.

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